Maria Macari brings natural wellness to Mândrești with medicinal plants
Some individuals, through their daily passion and work, succeed in preserving health and tradition within their community.
Maria Macari from Mândrești village, Telenești district, is a prime example: a woman who discovered a source of healing and natural wellness within the power of medicinal plants in Moldova.
Five years ago, Maria Macari returned home from Italy and immediately opened a small herbal shop. She meticulously prepares a range of natural products, including teas, syrups, and ointments, using plants gathered from local fields and forests or cultivated in her own garden.
Continuously building her knowledge, Macari has completed several specialized courses in Italy and Romania. She studied both traditional remedies and scientific methods for preparing her various products.
“Five years ago, we came back from abroad, and I finally managed to realize my dream by opening this herbal shop for natural products. I took a course at the Academy of Herbal Arts in Rome and an intensive course in Brașov. More recently, I finished a scientific phytotherapy course, also in Romania,” Maria Macari told Radio Moldova.
She elaborated: “We now offer plant-based products, over 20 different tea mixtures, various syrups like dandelion syrup, and essential oil. I even keep a home library filled with natural remedy books about plants.”
Macari maintains that she deliberately avoids mechanical machinery to process the plants; instead, she cuts them manually and ensures personal attention is paid to every step. She chose this hands-on method specifically to preserve the plant's natural energy and medicinal effects.
“This year alone, I collected over 38 medicinal plants. We harvest them from the field and forest; we already know the best spots. The species we cannot find are cultivated in a special garden. Immediately after harvesting, they are put to dry,” she explained.
Macari’s dedication to detail extends to storage: “We have special rooms with wooden racks, built by a local craftsman, where we let them dry naturally. Afterward, we package and store them in paper and cardboard boxes. I cut them by hand, without machines. This was my choice because I believe that when you have contact with the plant, you give it an energy that goes further. The essential oil is added only at the end of the batch.”
Maria Macari combines her deep passion for plants with professional expertise, delivering natural products that honor both traditional remedies and the modern science of phytotherapy. Through her careful work and all-natural ingredients, she brings measurable health benefits to the community in Mândrești village.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
