"Edelweiss – isn't that a protected species?" We encounter questions like this all the time. 48grams customers pay close attention to the ingredients in our creams, masks, and serums. Therefore, in this blog, we will now – and in no particular order – answer the most important questions about the valuable ingredients in our products. Today, we're talking about... surprise... the origin of the edelweiss extract used in our Skin Repair Cream. As a bonus, we've compiled the most interesting facts and fascinating myths surrounding the "Star of the Alps."
Harvest legally instead of picking illegally
First things first: 48grams uses exclusively organic active ingredients; we don't use any chemicals. Anyone who knows this and then sees that we use edelweiss has every right to question the origin of the extract. Because: Leontopodium alpineum, to use its botanical name, is considered – depending on its origin – to be "protected" or even "critically endangered." The consequence, however, is always the same: Whether you discover this aristocratic flower in Germany, Switzerland, or Austria: Hands off! It must not be picked. Otherwise, hefty fines await. Judges can impose fines of up to €15,000 on "robbers." The fact that this roughly 20-centimeter-tall plant can still be used – and fortunately – has a simple explanation: Throughout the Alpine region, there are nurseries, essentially farms, that cultivate large areas with this "eternal flower." They thrive in mountainous areas at altitudes of at least 1000 meters and are in no way inferior to their counterparts grown on slopes, both in beauty and in the richness of their ingredients. That's good news – because we at 48grams want only the best products nature has to offer. That's why we source our edelweiss extracts from one of the largest organic farmers in Switzerland.
Antioxidants, tannins & tannins
Now that the question of "where it comes from" has been answered, it's time to take a closer look at the numerous uses of this member of the daisy family. First and foremost, of course, is its application in cosmetics. The edelweiss is a true survivor. It migrated from Central Asia to the Alps after the end of the last Ice Age (10,000 years ago) and established itself only in the highest mountain regions. The edelweiss is therefore naturally exposed to extreme climatic conditions – and high levels of UV radiation. Researchers discovered long ago that the "star of the Alps" must possess remarkable resilience – and have also learned to harness its effects. The edelweiss is a true "anti-aging" flower. Among the plant's active ingredients are highly concentrated antioxidants. These are precisely the substances that neutralize free radicals in humans, thus protecting the skin from aging. In addition, secondary compounds such as tannins and astringents – both in large quantities – have been detected in the "Silver Star" plant. All of this has a positive effect on human skin. Skincare expert Bernd Kuhs swears by the extracts from the alpine flower: "No other plant combines a comparable and so effective amount of protective active ingredients as the edelweiss. A true fountain of youth."
Medicinal plant of the year 2019
That alone would explain the title of "Medicinal Plant of the Year 2019." But the possibilities of the extracts go even further. It's not without reason that this member of the daisy family is also known as "Bauchwehbleaml" – meaning stomachache flower – in the Alpine region. The stem and leaves are boiled with milk and honey and administered as a drink for stomach or intestinal problems. Folk medicine also relies on edelweiss because of its leoligin compounds.They have a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels, lower cholesterol levels, and protect against arteriosclerosis. The so-called flavonoids should also be mentioned. This plant pigment protects against the formation of spider veins and rosacea.
Myths and fiction
After so much information about its effects, let's not forget the entertaining part. Many myths surround the edelweiss. Much of it is exaggerated, most of it pure invention. The most well-known claim is that the "Star of the Alps" is the greatest declaration of love for a woman – only particularly daring men could pick the flower for their beloved. This legend is based on the second film of the "Sissi" trilogy from 1956. In it, Emperor Franz Joseph climbs a steep cliff face to pick the flower for his Sissi. In reality, however, the alpine rose has always been considered by the mountain people to be the symbol of true affection – it is regarded as the most beautiful flower of the mountains. There were even prominent figures who couldn't make sense of the edelweiss. For example, after a trip to Switzerland in 1881, the US writer Mark Twain noted remarks about an “ugly Swiss favorite flower”, the blossom even having the “color of cigar ash”.
The Sound of the Edelweiss
Incidentally, this flower, considered aristocratic, would never have achieved this status without the Salzburg naturalist Karl von Moll. In a study from 1785, he first named his research subject "Edelweiss"—thus departing from the previously common names "lion's foot" or "felt flower." However, it wasn't until the mid-19th century that the term Edelweiss became established among botanists. The alpine flower then achieved true worldwide fame through the 1959 US film musical "The Sound of Music." One of the songs is titled "Edelweiss." The melody was so catchy—and so closely associated with Austrian tradition for Americans—that it even caused a faux pas on the international political stage in the mid-1980s: When Austrian Federal President Rudolf Kirchschläger traveled from Vienna to Washington in 1984, the band mistakenly did not play his national anthem. According to legend, the then US President Ronald Reagan personally believed that "Edelweiss" was the national anthem – and had this information conveyed to the brass band.
Mountain guides and farmers
To return to the aspect of nature conservation one last time. Even today, edelweiss is still picked from the mountains. This sometimes leads to incidents involving celebrities. In 2019, presenter Michelle Hunziker was photographed climbing in the Bernese Alps with a fresh edelweiss on the lapel of her thermal jacket. The backlash was swift. The Swiss native countered that her mountain guide had given her the flower as a gift – and that he cultivated the plants himself. However, she also saw a positive side to the criticism – in a video released afterward, she said: "This allows me to talk about important issues like nature conservation."
Endangered, but no longer threatened
The Hunziker affair would have barely registered with the public in earlier times. Picking an edelweiss was long considered a minor offense – but it was carried out with great finesse. At the beginning of the 20th century, mountain rescue patrols frequently had to become the plant police – and wage war against the light-fingered thieves. They found the stolen goods in canteens, in lunch boxes (naturally with false bottoms), in the rolled-up sleeves of mountain shirts, or under the sweatbands of hats. "The thieves display a high degree of creativity," noted an Alpine police officer in 1928. Fortunately, the understanding of such crimes is different today.The measures taken by conservationists, authorities and farmers have led to the Alpine edelweiss no longer being on the list of endangered plants.
