Broad knowledge about the processing of herbs lies in the Domaco tradition.
In 1922, the country doctor Aufdermaur discovered the healing power of natural herbs and successfully developed herbal tablets for coughs and hoarseness; in 1962 Alfons Meier founded the company Domaco Dr. Med. Aufdermaur AG and continued the success with bronchial tablets made from special medicinal herbs.
The pure nature of the Swiss Alps provides us a multitude of valuable herbs, of which our fine herbal teas, herbal hard-boiled candies and herbal pastilles are composed.
From delicious, ripe fruits high-quality fruit concentrates are made and used in fruit lozenges, fruit pastilles and fruit glucose tablets – the result is a broad range of products which we manufacture to improve your health, well-being and to taste great.
Herbal or plant-based medicine belongs to the oldest therapeutic methods for human afflictions. One comes across it in every part of the world and it finds application in every culture, such as in European herbal medicine, Indian medicine, the medicine of the aborigines, in India, traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine. Knowledge of the effects of medicinal plants has been handed down since primeval times, based on the wealth of human experience. The most famous names in plant-based medicine in the history of Europe are doubtless Pedanius Dioscorides, Hildegard von Bingen, and Paracelsus as well as Sebastian Kneipp and Johann Künzle. Plant-based medicines have proven themselves in the treatment and prevention of many mild and moderate illnesses and afflictions, even chronic diseases. The appropriate plants are used as in their fresh form, drugs or as extracts and taken or used in a processed form as pastilles, powders, ointments, tablets, teas, tinctures, and so on. Plant-based medicines deploy their healing power in the human body through the pharmacological effects of their numerous ingredients. Generally speaking, they produce far fewer undesirable side effects than synthetic medications.
History: In ancient times the Greek physician Dioscorides employed Valerian as a diuretic and antidote. In the Middle Ages valerian enjoyed great popularity as a painkiller and stress reducer as well as granting quiet, restful sleep. It was considered a protective spirit. As with other strong-smelling plants, valerian was attributed anti-demonic effects.
Effects: Valerian root is considered a psychic restorative. At present three principal areas of application for valerian root exist; they are in use against states of nervous excitement, insomnia due to nervousness, and nervous heart conditions. Through combination with other medicinal herbs, the effects of this root allow themselves to be amplified.
Geography: Valerian is native to Europe, Asia Minor and Central Asia. It is also cultivated in North America.
History: In ancient times blackberries were known to the Greeks as medicinal plants and were recommended for, among other things, strengthening gums, treating diarrhoea, and improving blood flow. Even in the Middle Ages the herb was also used to improve blood flow, mouth ulcers, skin diseases, and so on. In Christianity and Judaism the blackberry is considered a symbol of the voice of God.
Effects: Blackberry leaves help with inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucous membranes, as well as hoarseness in the throat.
Geography: Blackberries are native to Europe; a number of species exist throughout the continent.
History: The eucalyptus tree requires a great deal of water, for which reason it was earlier used in the drainage of wetlands. The Western World came into contact with eucalyptus in 1770 through the discovery of the fifth continent by the Englishman James Cook.
Effects: Eucalyptus leaves are effective against cold-like illnesses of the upper respiratory tract, bronchial problems as well as pharyngeal inflammation. The oil they contain is antibacterial. The cineole contained in eucalyptus is used for various illnesses of the respiratory tract. Externally eucalyptus oil helps with rheumatic complaints, but should never be used in the area of the eyes. For infants and small children there is a danger of glottal cramping or respiratory arrest.
Geography: The eucalyptus tree is native to the subtropical rainforests of southern Australia including Tasmania, but is now spread around the world. Eucalyptus species make up the greater part of Australia’s tree stock.
History: Already around 3000 BC the Sumerians were using fennel. As an ancient remedy it was recommended by the Greek physician Dioscorides to promote lactogenesis, for snake bites and to strengthen the eyes. North of the Alps fennel was introduced into folk medicine via the monasteries. In the Middle Ages it was used, among other things, as a remedy for drunkenness.
Effects: Due to its flatulence-inhibiting properties fennel blossoms are used chiefly for gastrointestinal complaints, indigestion and feelings of fullness, stimulation of the appetite and to promote the secretion of gastric juices. Fennel fruit preparations are especially recommended for infants with indigestion and diarrhoea. They are believed to promote lactation in breastfeeding mothers.
Geography: Fennel originates in the Middle East and Mediterranean region. In agrarian cultures it is cultivated mostly in the Mediterranean countries and the Balkans.
History: Elder was already known in the Neolithic Age. The elder tree was revered by the Germanic peoples as a tree of healing. The people would cut complete pieces and use them to maintain health and well-being. In the Middle Ages it was then considered a “Holy Tree”.
Effects: Both the blossoms and the berries of the elder are variously used and suitable as a medicinal remedy, a food and a pigment. The blossoms help above all with febrile colds and influenza infections. Furthermore, they promote the expectoration of bronchial secretions. The juice of the berries is more palatable cooked than fresh and is considered particularly effective for the treatment of coughs and colds.
Geography: Black elder is native to all of Europe (except the North), North Africa, Western and Central Asia.
History: Iceland moss is a lichen and was formerly used as a grain substitute in alpine countries. In mythology Iceland moss was once a succulent herb from the enjoyment of which livestock produced excessive amounts of milk. Consequently the alpine herders cursed and damned the herb on account of the extra work. It subsequently withered.
Effects: In Iceland and Norway Iceland Moss is used both for nourishment and as a medicinal plant. Iceland moss is rich in mucilage, which alleviates irritation of the mucous membranes of the pharynx and in the gastrointestinal tract. By virtue of the bitter components it contains in combination with the mucilage, the lichen works to reduce the hydrochloric acid content of the gastric juice.
Geography: Like many lichens Iceland moss appears in mountainous regions and on lower ground with silicate and lime soil.
History: The plant described in ancient times by the Greek physician Dioscorides as “anthemis” is probably chamomile, which was used to promote menstruation and lochia. In those times the plant was already employed against inflammation, flatulence, liver disease, and so on. Since approximately 1500 practically all herbal compendia have reported on chamomile.
Effects: The substances contained in chamomile flowers have, in particular, a flatulence- and inflammation-inhibiting, antispasmodic and abirritant effect. Preparations of chamomile flowers often find application in the treatment of infections of the mucous membranes in the gastrointestinal tract or in the oral and pharyngeal cavities. Even today chamomile is still recommended for gynaecological complaints. It is generally well tolerated.
Geography: Chamomile, which is originally native to southern and eastern Europe as well as the Middle East, is found today all over Europe, North America and Australia.
History: The Greek physician Hippocrates is supposed in ancient times to have given the Cornflower the name Centaurea, which is possibly derived from the Centaur Chiron. Chiron, it is said, healed a wound on the foot of the hero Achilles. The Roman goddess of agriculture, Ceres, wore a cornflower in her hair.
Effects: By virtue of the bitter substances and tannin they contain, cornflower blossoms are used above all for indigestion. They can also be employed for skin problems and aggravated mucous membranes. In tea blends the flower serves in visual enhancement and is considered a so-called brightening agent.
Geography: Cornflower is originally native to the eastern Mediterranean region, however today it is to be found almost worldwide.
History: Medicinal effects of the linden tree were already known in antiquity. In the Middle Ages the tree faded somewhat into obscurity, only to be revived in the 18th century. The linden tree was associated with gentleness, safety and mildness and was considered a tree of fortune and the family.
Effects: Linden flowers are effective against catarrh. They milden hoarseness, in particular dry chesty coughs, and are traditionally used in combination with other herbs to loosen phlegm from the respiratory passages.
Geography: Those lindens native to Europe are the summer and winter lindens. The winter linden is native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, and the summer linden to Southern Europe. Today both types are cultivated across the continent.
History: The first unambiguous discourse on the dandelion appears in Arabic texts of the 10th and 11th centuries. Whether and to what extent it was known in antiquity is not clear. In the Middle Ages it was barely mentioned, though it gained importance during the Renaissance, when it was said to be therapeutic for illnesses of the liver and bile duct in particular. In that period dandelion was grown for numerous other afflictions, such as fever, dysentery, haemoptysis, peripheral pain, blurred vision, and so on.
Effects: Dandelion finds application in treating indigestion, loss of appetite and diarrhoea. It is particularly effective for illnesses that cause increased urinary flow such as urinary tract infections and kidney stones. It is often used as an excipient in the treatment of disturbances in biliary flow.
Geography: Common dandelion originates from Western Asia and Europe, but today appears in the meadows and planes of the entire northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere it is seldom to be found, and then only as an introduced species.
History: In the Middle Ages the abbess Hildegard von Bingen wrote of a “Lungwurtz”, she could have been writing about the lungwort. The herb was lauded to be effective against haemoptysis and, as the name suggests, lung diseases. In parts of England the herb is called “lady’s milk sile” – the white spots on its leaves are said to be drops of milk from the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Effects: Owing to its high mucilage content lungwort works to soothe irritation associated with illnesses of the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal regions. The high silicic acid content has a beneficial effect on connective tissue. Today lungwort finds application in homeopathic methods.
Geography: Lungwort is native to large parts of Europe and is grown in South-Eastern Europe in particular.
History: In antiquity mallow was considered a great medicinal plant. It had various uses, such as against constipation, uterine complaints, scorpion stings, and so on. In Southern Europe in particular it ranks among the oldest cultivated plants.
Effects: Mallow blossoms can be taken for catarrh with dry, inflammatory coughs and are suitable for long-term application. Furthermore, they have a protective effect on mucous membranes and are suitable for the treatment of irritation in the oral and pharyngeal cavities as well as the gastrointestinal tract.
Geography: Wild mallow originates from the southern European and Asian regions. Today it grows particularly in Europe, Western Asia and North Africa in locations where the soil is loose and nutrient-rich.
History: In ancient times myrrh already played an important role in various cultures – for example, in Greek mythology but also in medicine – and was, in particular, believed to heal wounds. For the Israelites it was an ingredient in curative oils, which were used to embalm corpses. As one of the three gifts brought by the Three Wise Kings of the East to Christ at his birth, they are said to symbolise suffering, anguish and sorrow.
Effects: Myrrh describes a red-brown resin that is secreted from the bark of the shrub genus Commiphora and dried by the air. By virtue of its astringent and disinfectant effects, myrrh is used to treat inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucous membranes. It is also used for coughs and intestinal inflammation. At the same time it is considered an antipyretic.
Geography: Species of myrrh shrubs have spread to subtropical Africa as well as Arabia and appear occasionally in Madagascar and on the Indian subcontinent.
History: Passionflower seeds have been found at excavation sites in North America and were estimated to be more than a thousand years old. Native Americans used the calming, invigorating and nerve-relaxing effects of the passionflower, but they also knew of its intoxicating properties. During the 16th century the plant came to be known gradually in Europe, where it was used to treat insomnia and pain.
Effects: Today passionflower herb finds application in the treatment of neurasthenia, nervous insomnia and nervous restlessness; for the latter, above all, when a state of anxiety exists simultaneously. The herb is said to be especially suitable for nervous disruptions in children. Numerous other types of passionflower are used alongside the flesh-coloured passionflower.
Geography: The passionflower is at home in the tropical rainforests of America and East India. For pharmaceutical use they are grown in Florida and India, and to a lesser extent in Italy and Spain.
History: Mint is counted among the oldest medicinal plants in the world. Already in ancient times it played an important role and was considered a good agent against gastric complaints and nausea. In monastic medicine and herbal compendia of the Middle Ages, mint was attributed great importance. In the Synopsis methodica Stirpium Britannicarum, peppermint is described as superior to all other species of mint for the treatment of gastric weakness and diarrhoea.
Effects: Peppermint leaf extracts are particularly effective in the treatment of cramp-like complaints in the gastrointestinal tract and in the bile ducts. Peppermint leaves have antibacterial, antifungal as well as mild soothing properties. They work to stimulate the appetite and promote digestion. Peppermint oil must not be used with biliary illnesses and liver injuries. In small children under two years of age Menthol can cause respiratory arrest.
Geography: Peppermint probably originates from Eastern Asia. Nevertheless, from the earliest days it has been cultivated around the world.
History: The marigold was first mentioned in the 12th century by Albert the Great. It was hallowed to the sun brides. The marigold had an especial importance for the Aztecs, as a representation of various symbols including those of the love goddess or the patroness of marriage.
Effects: Marigold blossoms find application particularly in the healing of wounds. They are superior to other methods for treating poorly healing wounds. They have a curative effect on various inflammations, eczemas and burns. Marigold blossoms are brightening agents e.g. in Teas.
Geography: Marigolds originate from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and have spread today throughout Central and Southern Europe, Western Asia and the USA.
History: In ancient Greece sage enjoyed a high standing. It was lauded as being anti-haemorrhagic, diuretic, restorative and so on, and played a role as an aphrodisiac. Likewise, sage was of great importance in the Middle Ages and was, for example, considered an important plant for longevity.
Effects: Sage leaves are today also considered one of the most important drugs derived from a medicinal plant. They inhibit inflammation and combat fungi and viruses. Owing to the bitter substances they contain, sage leaves are administered for digestive disturbances such as a feeling of fullness, flatulence, etc. They can also be used for inflammations of the oral and pharyngeal cavities.
Geography: The Balkan Peninsula is renowned as the home of sage. Today, sage has spread throughout the Mediterranean region and is grown in many countries.
History: In ancient times yarrow was widely used in folk medicine. It was especially used for wound healing, but also for pulmonary disease, colds, and so forth. Owing to its hemostatic and wound-healing effect the plant was called “Soldier’s Herb” in the Middle Ages.
Effects: Yarrow herb finds application particularly in treating loss of appetite, indigestion, liver illnesses, and biliary and gynaecological complaints. It is considered an anti-haemorrhagic agent and is contained in many blood-cleansing teas. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, the herb works internally and externally to heal wounds.
Geography: Various species of yarrow are native to the subtropical and temperate regions of Eurasia and appear in Europe up to the arctic circle and in alpine regions.
History: Whether cowslip was known in antiquity is uncertain. In the Middle Ages the abbess Hildegard von Bingen recommended cowslip against melancholy, calling the flower “the key to heaven”. As other spring flowers Cowslip was attributed the power to ward off demons.
Effects: The roots and blossoms of cowslip generally work against mucous congestion in the bronchi and lungs and are useful to treat chronic bronchitis. Cowslip is also used as an active ingredient in anti-cramping and sedative medications.
Geography: Cowslip appears in calcareous soils across Europe, except in the south of Mediterranean countries and in the far North. Outside of Europe it is found in Central Asia and the Middle East
History: The narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) was respected above all other plants by Native Americans. All three species – the pale purple, purple and narrow-leaved coneflower – were important hunting companions, as the chewing of their roots was considered to impart strength. The coneflower came to Europe as a decorative plant. Its healing value was not realised until later.
Effects: As a healing agent the herb and roots of the purple coneflower, but only the roots of the pale purple coneflower, are used. These parts in particular contain substances with an immune-modulating effect. Coneflower helps with infections of the respiratory and efferent urinary tracts as well as with influenza-like infections.
Geography: The known species of coneflower, which are used as medicinal plants and include the purple and pale purple varieties, originated from the south-west of the USA and have now spread from the northern to the subtropical regions.
History: In the Neolithic Age, as humans became more settled, plantain was the master of the road, including that which lead into the Realm of the Dead. In the 11th century AD its anti-haemorrhagic effect was known. Since primeval times plantain species have enjoyed the highest esteem and have been used in various ways.
Effects: The ribwort plantain in particular has antibiotic, anti-hepatotoxic and antispasmodic properties. It is believed to accelerate clotting, soothe chesty coughs and can be used for oral and pharyngeal inflammations.
Geography: Ribwort plantain has spread to all temperate climate zones of the world (Europe, Northern and Central Asia) and grows above all in meadows and pastures, and frequently by waysides and rubble tips, too.
History: Star anise has been known in China as “Ba jiao hu tian” (Eight-Horned Fennel) since the 3rd century BC. The plant was brought to Europe from the Philippines in the 16th century.
Effects: Star anise is used as a plant-based remedy, an aromatic and a seasoning substitute for anise. The plant contains substances such as trans-Anethole and foeniculin, which are also contained in fennel. In Asia the fruit is taken at meal times to promote digestion and improve breathing. Star anise, like anise, helps to dissolve bronchial secretions. The plant works as an antispasmodic and flatulence-inhibiting agent.
Geography: Originally, star anise was probably native to southern China and northern Vietnam. Today the plant has spread in particular throughout southern China, India, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Jamaica and the south-eastern United States.
History: In ancient times the Greek physician Dioscorides and naturalist Theophrastus lauded the juice of the liquorice root as a medicine for coughs and pharyngeal catarrh. Likewise, in the Middle Ages the root attracted a great deal of attention. The abbess Hildegard von Bingen used it together with ginger to counter slow digestion.
Effects: Liquorice roots have shown themselves an appropriate therapy for illnesses of the stomach and duodenum. By virtue of their inflammation-inhibiting and expectoration-promoting effects, liquorice roots serve to treat catarrhs of the upper airway.
Geography: Liquorice appears in large regions of south-eastern Europe and across the Middle East, Central Russia, and Afghanistan up to western China.
History: The use of tea tree oil was borrowed from the Aborigines, the indigenous people of Australia, who grind up the leaves in their hands or crush them in containers and inhale the released oil vapour. They also use tea tree extracts externally to combat parasites.
Effects: The clear essential oil of the tea tree, which contains and smells of terpene, has antimicrobial properties. Tea tree oil can be applied externally for herpes infections, eczema, acne and so forth, while it works against infections of the respiratory tract as well as mouth and gum inflammation when administered internally.
Geography: The Australian tea tree comes from the east of Australia and grows there naturally in humid locations alongside rivers and in marshes.
History: In ancient Egypt various species of thyme were grown, which served, among other things, in the healing of wounds. In ancient Greece the plant held an important place in rituals honouring Demeter, the Greek goddess of the earth and fertility. In the Middle Ages thyme was said to bestow courage upon knights, for which reason they carried cloths embroidered with thyme branches.
Effects: Thyme is used especially for catarrh of the upper airway, bronchitis and whooping cough. It is believed to “loosen” coughs and assuage cramps, the latter of which can be helpful to asthmatics. For skin diseases either the essential oil or the thymol in thyme is used.
Geographie: Thyme is common in the Mediterranean area, especially from Spain to Italy, wherefrom it spread to Central Europe. These days thyme is cultivated throughout Europe.
History: Since time immemorial hawthorn has offered protection to human settlements from all the dangers lurking in the wilderness. The protective function was later mentioned in fairytales, in which maidens such as Sleeping Beauty sleep on a bed of hawthorn. Alongside its protective function hawthorn was considered by the ancient Greeks and Romans as a symbol of marital fidelity, love and happiness.
Effects: The fruit and branches of hawthorn, which are bearing blossoms, are used, particularly for heart and circulatory diseases such as congestive heart failure. The substances in hawthorn that are believed to determine its efficacy are flavonoids. Furthermore, protective properties for articular cartilage are observed, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are observed.
Geography: Common hawthorn is native to southern and northern Europe, while midland hawthorn appears all over Europe.
History: The medicinal use of mullein in ancient times has been proven. The Greek physicians Hippocrates and Dioscorides used the plant for healing wounds and for chronic coughs. In the Middle Ages it was supposedly administered under the name “Wullena” to people with faint and sorrowful hearts, but also for illnesses of the respiratory tract and skin.
Effects: Mullein blossoms are a mild expectoration-promoting agent and are used for airway catarrhs, in particular for irritable chronic bronchitis. In folk medicine they are also known as a diuretic.
Geography: These plants are to be found at higher altitudes in central, eastern and southern Europe, Asia Minor, in North Africa and other temperate zones.
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| Valerian | Blackberry | Eucalyptus | Fennel | Black Elder |
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| Iceland Moss | Chamomile | Cornflower | Linden Tree | Dandelion |
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| Lungwort | Mallow | Myrrh | Passionflower | Peppermint |
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| Marigold | Sage | Yarrow | Cowslip | Coneflower |
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| Ribwort Plantain | Star Anise | Liquorice | Tea Tree | Thyme |
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| Hawthorn | Mullein |
