If plants are used in cosmetics, collected in the natural conditions of their growth, then this method of collecting herbs is called Wild Harvesting, which means “Collecting wild plants” in English.

This is the same "gathering" of herbs, roots, fruits, which our ancestors have been doing for thousands of years. What is unique about herbs harvested in this way?

Let's start with the fact that the herbs that are collected on an industrial scale are grown in specialized farms. Grasses are sown, fertilized and cultivated like ordinary cereals for the greatest yield. Chemical fertilizers are often used. The collection is also carried out using agricultural machinery. It is difficult to talk about the observance of folk traditions of collection and storage in this case. Undoubtedly, such herbs will also be beneficial, or at least not harmful if used correctly.

Wild Harvesting collects herbs that have grown independently - in the natural conditions of their growth, without being exposed to outside influences, which means that they do not contain harmful substances; such plants have gone through natural selection - only viable, strong plants rich in useful, active components remain.

Wild Harvesting imposes a number of requirements: the collection period must be timed to coincide with the time of maximum accumulation of valuable nutrients and biologically active substances in the plant. With premature or belated collection, plant materials are completely devoid of therapeutic action. Healers and herbalists, who have been treating people from time immemorial, have very clearly built a calendar for collecting medicinal herbs.

It is very important when harvesting wild plants to observe the alternation of their collection, to strive not to pluck the same places every year. It is recommended to collect grass and leaves in the same area after a year, roots and rhizomes - after 2-3 years, and some plants after 5-6 or more years, in order to give nature the opportunity to restore lost reserves.

Another important rule: the collected plant materials must be sent for drying or other processing methods as soon as possible. The grass, which has lain in the basket for more than 3-4 hours, cakes, warms itself, since after collection, the processes of respiration and heat release intensify in it. At the same time, vitamins and other biologically active substances are quickly destroyed, useful properties are lost.