Medicinal and aromatic plants have many uses: they are used in gastronomy, to create cosmetics and medicines, and essential oils also come from them. Its applications in different areas of health are common, but not for that reason, they do not stop presenting their risks.
Investigate medicinal and aromatic plants and study possible applications of essential oils, in addition to training users in the safe use of these products. This is the activity of Emovere Natura, an innovative company in the field of health based in the TecnoCampus of Mataró.
They define themselves as a consultancy with a branch dedicated to training, as explained by their technical director, Roberto Vimbert. The company is made up of researchers in the field of health, and is part of the CRESCA (Food Safety and Control Research Center) cluster of the UPC.
Thus, on the one hand, it is dedicated to research on new uses of these oils in clinical applications with scientific evidence. In this sense, they have developed a database that allows to consult interactions between medicinal plants and drugs.
On the other hand, they have a training platform for the general public interested in the use of aromatic plants and essential oils. “We work on safety in the use of essential oils,” explains Vimbert, pointing out the risks that misuse of these products can have: “they are not harmless because they are of natural origin,” he warns. Essential oils are produced by distillation of aromatic plants, and their function depends on the components of each plant.
On the platform you can find information and courses on the different bases and the use of oils in areas such as gastronomy or psychotherapy, among others. “Not everyone knows how to mix or dose,” explains Vimbert, so he trusts that his platform will contribute to increasing knowledge in this field.
From this e-Learning platform they want to contribute to the responsible use of medicinal and aromatic plants and essential oils, at a time when their use as a cell regenerator, natural antibiotic or even as a hormone substitute is growing.
In parallel, they organize events to delve into these issues. Thus, last year they organized a conference on molecular sensoriality and aromatic plants, and how a communication channel is established through smell in contact with essential oils.
This year they will repeat the initiative, with a first international symposium that will take place on November 4 and 5, and which is entitled “Sensoriality, microbiota and health”. This conference will also deal with the topic of aromatic molecules and medicinal plants, their relationship with the microbiota, sensoriality as our form and means of communication, the impact of all this on the balance of our microbiota and that of the mother in the gestation. As Vimbert explains, “smells accompany us from pregnancy and are a form of communication between the child and the mother.”
He adds that the modification of the microbiota can also lead to the modification of behavior. Different international experts will participate in this conference, contributing their knowledge to this debate.
