through forest and meadow

english
through forest and meadow
looking for and collecting medicinal herbs
rediscover the forest on our educational trail

Information:
Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH
A-6764 Lech am Arlberg
Tel. 0043/5583/2161-0, Fax 0043/5583/3155
Email: info@lech-zuers.at, www.lech-zuers.at
Georg Schnell, Tel. 0043/5583/2617
Imprint:
Publisher: Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH
Photography: Georg Schnell and Rupert Pöttinger
Text: Rupert Pöttinger – 6714 Nüziders
Georg Schnell – 6764 Lech
Arnica meadow against
the “Mohnenfluh”
Mountain ash at
the “Spullersee”

our medicinal plants are a gift of nature!
More and more people are using their healing powers to do something
for their health – and rightly so, because medicinal plants
work naturally and have almost no side-effects. Nowadays, medicinal
plants are used successfully in everyday medicine – as teas, tinctures
and special medications made from single active ingredients.
They can support the healing process of various illnesses, alleviate
complaints and work with a preventive effect.
However, the use of this little herb compendium only makes sense
if you are completely familiar with the plants and are also aware of
the possibilities and limits of using them.

collecting
● Anyone who collects their own medicinal herbs takes on a serious
responsibility, as a lack of knowledge can result in confusion - possibly
even with poisonous plants! (In case of doubt, please obtain
herbs from a pharmacy).
● The best time to go collecting is in the morning when the sun is shining,
never when it is raining or damp.
● Do not pick any dirty plants or those growing at the roadside, as
medicinal herbs must never be washed!
● Protect nature:
– Avoid depletion by taking only as many plants as you need, and no
more than required for one year.
– Use scissors when collecting, to avoid ripping out the roots.
– Do not collect any protected plants! (Visit a pharmacy instead)
– Tread carefully through meadows, and do not trample them to pieces.
Collecting in open nature already has a „medicinal effect“, but please
remember that all herbs are available in top quality from your pharmacy.
drying
● Immediately after the harvest.
● Quickly and protectively.
● In a shady, well-ventilated place, ideally on a sifting screen or hung
in bundles.

storage
● Ideally in a well-sealed and tinted glass jar.
● Remember to add a label and the date of collection.
● Do not store for longer than one year, as older plants lose their efficacy.
preparation
● Rule for making tea: pour 1/4 litres of boiling water over 1 – 2 tea -
spoons of herbs; allow to infuse for 10 minutes.
● Prepare mixtures in equal parts.
● Roots: bring 1 teaspoon with 1/4 litre of water to the boil and allow
to infuse for 10 minutes.
… and remember
● Also use medicinal herbs when you are feeling well: prevention is the
best cure.
● No one herb is grown to cure everything: Despite all the positive
experiences had with our medicinal herbs, you should always consult
a doctor immediately if you fall ill!

1
2
3
4
field horsetail
equisetum arvense
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups per
day. Effect: Helps with kidney and bladder infections,
rheumatism, gout, arthritis, blood cleansing,
connective tissue (hair, finger nails, cellulitis)
arnica arnika montana
Use: Apply externally only (poisonous!).
Effect: For strains, grazes, contusions and bruises!
Arnica wraps also for greasy, poorly healing
wounds. Good for inflammation in the mouth and
throat.
eyebright euphrasia officinalis
Use: Wraps and eye washes, tea (made from the
whole herb), 2 cups per day.
Effect: The tea works through wraps on various eye
inflammations, especially conjunctivitis, blepharitis
and tear-flow. The tea strengthens the powers of
resistance (especially in children).
mugwort (common) artemisia vulgaris
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 1 – 2 cups
per day. Effect: For promoting the production of
stomach and intestinal juices. Highly recommended
for bilious complaints. Excellent herb for fatty
dishes (roast duck and goose)

5
6
7
8
greater burnet saxifrage pimpinella major
Use: Tea (from the root), chopped root is boiled
briefly and strained. Effect: For inflammations of
the upper respiratory tract: hoarseness, sore throats
(gargling and swallowing). The tincture is used
for bronchitis and asthma (30 drops in a glass of
water). Note: Danger of Confusion!
silver birch betula pendula
Use: Tea (leaves), 2 – 3 cups per day.
Effect: Strongly diuretic. Helps with kidney and
bladder complaints.
blood root potentilla erecta
Use: Tea (made from the root), 2 – 3 cups per day
or tincture. Effect: Gargling agent for inflamed tonsils
and gum inflammations. Works excellently on
heavy diarrhoea. Note: In some Alpine areas an
aromatic and digestion-promoting blood root
schnapps is produced (Lech!).
selfheal (common) prunella vulgaris
selfheal (grandiflora alpine)
prunella grandiflora
Use: Tea (made from the whole plant), 2 – 3 cups
per day – rinses. Effect: Helpful for diabetes, liver
and gall bladder complaints (Chinese medicine).
Gargle with the tea for tonsil inflammations.

9
10
11
12
stinging nettle urtica dioica Use: Tea (made
from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups per day. Effect: For
promoting the body’s overall metabolism, diuretic,
therefore highly recommended for rheumatism and
gout. Promotes formation of blood cells, therefore
beneficial for anaemia. Liver and gall bladder complaints.
Favourable influence on diabetes.
watercress nasturtium officinale
Use: Raw leaves as salad.
Effect: Contains vitamins A, C and D, as well as
potassium and iron.
Cleans the blood and lowers fevers. Highly recommended
for diabetes.
common speedwell veronica officinalis
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day.
Effect: For chronic skin complaints, eczema and
abscesses, also for bronchial catarrh, lowers cholesterol.
gentian (yellow) gentiana lutea Use: Tea (made
from the root), or as a tincture. Effect: Promotes the secretion
of stomach juices, thereby helping with poor digestion
due to a lack of acid. (Not suitable for a nervous stomach
with excess acid). Effective on exhaustive conditions
(schnapps on sugar lump).In the Alpine regions, the excellent
Gentian Schnapps is distilled from the gentian root.

13
14
15
16
cornflower (mountain) centaurea montana
Use: Baths.
Effect: The flower in the bath works well on the skin
and promotes elimination.
lady’s mantle alchemilla vulgaris
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day and rinses. Effect: Women’s tea – especially
for complaints during the menopause – for heavy
periods. For stomach and intestinal complaints
with diarrhoea. Externally, also for gargling in the
mouth and around the throat.
lady’s mantle (alpine) alchemilla alpina
silver mantle (alpine form of lady’s mantle)
Use and Effect: As for no. 14 Lady’s Mantle
Also good for obesity.
silverweed potentilla anserina
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 1 – 2 cups
per day.
Effect: Relieves cramp during heavy periods.
Also for rheumatism, gout and diabetes.

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18
19
20
golden rod solidago virgaurea
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day. Effect: Especially for the treatment of
bladder and kidney inflammations, for painful urination,
as well as for passing of water.
good king henry chenopodium bonus-henricus
Use: Wild vegetable – wraps
Effect: Very good wild vegetable (use like spinach)
Effective for anaemia, calms inflamed skin and
mucous membranes (wraps for abscesses).
whortleberry vaccinium myrtillus
Use: One small glass of tea (made from the dried
berries), several times a day. For small children 3 –
5 tablespoons to alleviate diarrhoea.
Effect: Helps internally with diarrhoea and as a gargle
for mouth, gum and tonsil inflammation.
shepherd’s purse capsella bursa-pastoris
Use: Tea 2 – 3 cups per day
Effect: Especially as a haemostyptic during heavy
periods.

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23
24
black lace sambucus nigra
Use: Tea (made from the flowers), 3 – 4 cups per
day. Effect: Sweating tea for feverish colds and flu.
Mobilises the body’s own powers of defence. For
the prevention of flu and colds.
coltsfoot tussilago farfara
Use: Tee (made idealy from the young leaves or
from the flower).
Effect: Excellent against coughs and bronchitis.
For chronic bronchitis, the tea facilitates the coughing
up of bronchial mucous.
iceland moss cetraria islandica
Use: Tea 2 – 3 cups per day.
Effect: Helps colds with coughs, bronchitis
As a gargle for sore throats.
st. john’s wort (common) hypericum perforatum
Use: Tea 3 cups per day over 7 – 8 weeks. Oil made
from the flower and leaves. Effect: Has a calming
effect. Anxiety, insomnia, depressive conditions, bed
wetting – recently also as a prevention for heart
attacks. St. John’s Wort is also very good for swollen
glands, back pains, sciatica and as a skin care agent.

25
26
caraway carum carvi
Use: Tea (made from the seeds), 2 cups per day.
Effect: Helps with digestive problems.
Note: Careful! Only collect the plants if you a certain
you can identify them. There are few extremely
poisonous types amongst the umbellates to
which the plant belongs.
27
28
woolly mullein verbascum thapsiforne
Use: Tea (made from the flowers (pharmacy or herb
stockist)), 2 – 3 cups per day. Effect: Excellent for dry,
hacking cough. The effect increases if Ribwort Plantain
and Coltsfoot leaves are added in equal measure. This
mixture has also proven very effective for bronchitis.
white bedstraw galium mollugo
yellow bedstraw galium verum
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day – pressed juice. Effect: Both types of Bedstraw
are excellent against all types of kidney complaint.
The freshly pressed juice is often used to
fight skin conditions such as scaliness and eczema.
Now also used for bathing psoriasis.
dandelion taraxacum-officinale
Use: Tea (made from the root), 3 cups per day.
Effect: Stimulates the kidneys and liver to increase
activity and improves the general feeling of weak -
ness in people. No further formation of gall stones
(4-week treatment).

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31
32
masterwort imperatoria ostruthium
Use: Tea (made from the root).
Effect: Masterwort is highly prized, especially in
the Alpine countries. Especially for stomach,
intestine, gall bladder and liver problems. Strengthens
the powers of resistance (1 teaspoon of powdered
root in a glass of red wine).
Note: Danger of Confusion
motherwort ligisticum mutellina
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day. Effect: Strengthens women’s abdomens,
increases milk secretion. Note: Danger of Confusion
lingonberry vaccinium vitis-idaea
Use: Marmalade or mousse (1 – 2 teaspoons before
meals).
Effect: Helps with lack of appetite, especially in
children. Popular in the kitchen (e.g. as a dressing
for Wiener Schnitzel).
pot marigold calendula officinalis
Use: Tea (made from the flowers), 2 – 3 cups per
day, ointment.
Effect: Blood cleansing, stomach cramps, large
intestine inflammation and liver complaints.
The Pot Marigold works excellently on poorly healing
wounds, lower leg ulcers, nail bed inflammation,
sprains and dislocations.

33
34
yarrow achillea millefolium
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb; upper part), 2
– 3 cups per day. Effect: Promotes digestion,
dispels bloatedness, heartburn. Helps with gastritis
and intestinal inflammations. Also for liver diseases.
Very good for women – especially for menopausal
complaints.
35
36
herb robert geranium geranium robertianum
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), as a gargle
and for ablutions.
Effect: Ablutions (tea) for scaly skin and eczema.
As a gargle for gum inflammation.
cowslip primula veris
Use: Tea (made from roots and flowers), 2 – 3 cups
per day.
Effect: Helps with coughing, phlegm in the throat,
bronchitis, tea made from the flowers has diuretic
effect and helps with migraine.
garlic allium schoenoprasum
Use: Herb
Effect: Stimulates digestion, diuretic, reduces
blood pressure like all types of garlic.

37
38
39
40
ribwort plantain plantago lanceolata
hoary plantain plantago media
Use: Tea (leaves). Effect: Excellent for coughs (contains
antibiotic substances). Apply Plantain leaves on
bee and wasp stings.
Note: Careful! Only use on bee and wasp stings if the
person does not have an allergy to this poison.
heartsease viola tricolor
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 3 cups per
day. Wraps and ablutions.
Effect: For a wide range of skin complaints (also for
acne – tea treatment for 8 weeks).
deadnettle (white) lamium album
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day. Effect: Effective for women’s complaints,
painful periods (ideally with Lady’s Mantle and
Shepherd’s Purse).
deadnettle (yellow) lamium galeobdolon
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day.
Effect: Especially for bladder conditions.

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44
creeping thyme (quendel) thymus serpyllum
Use: Tea (made from the herb), 3 cups per day.
Effect: Helps with bronchitis, whooping cough,
hacking cough, stomach and intestinal complaints.
alpine juniper juniperus alpina
Use: Tea (made from the berries), 1 – 2 cups per day.
Effect: Diuretic, rheumatism, gout, poor digestion.
Note: Careful! Do not use for kidney conditions or
during pregnancy.
rosebay willow herb (narrow-leaf)
epilobium angustifolium
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day.
Effect: Helps with prostate inflammation.
willow herb (small-flowered types) epilobium
Use: Tea (made from the whole herb), 2 – 3 cups
per day.
Effect: Helps with prostate inflammation!

Notes:
45
kidney vetch anthyllis vulneraria
Use: Tea (made from the flowers), 2 cups per day.
Ablutions, dabbing
Effect: Blood cleansing and purging tea
A popular means, especially in the Alps, f.or the
cleaning of human and animal wounds.

oberlech instructional forest path
...indigenous trees and shrubs.
If you want to find out as much as possible in the shortest distance
about the larch, the spruce, the dwarf pine, the stone pine, the Alpine
rose and many other trees and plants, you are dead right here. A
newly laid out hiking trail connects the „Petersboden“ with the „Schlegelkopf“
and provides information right down to the last detail about
the characteristics, growth, distribution and use of the various plants.
important information on the instructional forest path
Starting point: Can be reached by the Bergbahn Oberlech. After the
„Petersbodenbahn“, turn right and walk uphill for a short distance
along the „Waldabfahrt“ descent, from where the instructional forest
path branches off to the left in the direction of the „Schlegelkopf“.
Walking time: on the instrucional path approx. 15 – 20mins.
Way back: Continuing your walk via the „Schlegelkopf“ to Lech is
a lovely experience and definitely worthwhile. You can walk back to
Oberlech half way along the track to Lech via the „Skiabfahrt“ des
cent.
Lech Zürs Tourism offers a guided hike on the topic of healing herbs
each week during the summer.

Information and bookings
Lech Zürs Tourismus A-6764 Lech am Arlberg
Tel. 0043 / 5583 / 2161-0 Fax 0043 / 5583 / 3155
www.lech-zuers.at info@lech-zuers.at
plant your own
tree in lech
and receive a certificate bearing
the number of „your personal tree“!
Information and application at
Lech Zürs Tourismus: Tel. 0043/5583 / 2161-0