Sir,

Weeders have been representing for two centuries (till 1960-1970) a joyful rite that was defined as a seasonal job only for women, who used to work for 11-12 hours a day in the swamps and marshes of rice fields, generally from half August for fourty days, under inclement sun.

The movie Arroz amargo represent this cruel reality in the post war period in Northern Italy.

Women working in a garden were often tasked with weeding and sometimes referred to simply as ‘weeding women’ or ‘weeders’. They were also given other monotonous tasks such as pest control, looking for insects and caterpillars, and gathering fruit, or they could be employed as ‘bothy women’ – cooking and cleaning for the gardeners who lived on site in a garden building known as a bothy.

Garden work was irregular and women were employed seasonally and only when needed, usually earning half the pay of a male labourer and often less. They were sometimes even paid less than a garden boy for similar work.

This work, however, was one of the few ways ‘respectable’ working-class women could earn money, and could provide a lifeline for unmarried women and widows in the countryside where there might be a lack of other employment. Sometimes they were the wives of gardeners or estate workers, adding a small supplement to the household income….but I would like to recall that these tales were referable to England of XIX century and not Italy were the nuances were neorealistic.

These girls and women was forced to work nodding in the marsh to separate weedy rice from good rice even though in 1970 machines apt to do this upleasant job appeared.

Notwithstanding there are three provinces in Piedmont and Lombardy (Vercelli, Novara and Pavia) where today these types of workers do exist to assure the precise elimination of the crodo (infestant rice) from the good one, that machines are not able to distinguish.

Weeders, donc, do still exist and the malaises connected with this hard work are presently real and cruel, that is the weeder’s foot, that was soaking in dirty water full of parasites and caterpillers, mosquitoes and other dangerous insects, keeping on account even the occurrence of rheumatological and arthitic malaises [1–3].

As far as dermatological concerns the most important disease is the dyshidrosis:

Dyshidrosis (also known as dyshidrotic eczema, pompholyx, or vesicular palmoplantar eczema) (1-4) no-contagious form of dermatitis, not caused by sweat gland issues as previously thought, but rather by inflammatory processes [4].

While there is no cure, symptoms are managed with topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, and, in severe cases, oral steroids or UV light therapy.

Keeping the skin moisturized, using barrier creams (e.g., Vaseline, CeraVe), and avoiding irritants is crucial.

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are potent immunosuppressant drugs—including tacrolimus and pimecrolimus—that block T-cell activation to treat autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus nephritis, psoriasis) [5].

Topical formulations (TCIs) are used for atopic dermatitis. While effective, they carry risks of nephrotoxicity, hypertension, and infections.

Tacrolimus (Prograf) is a potent immunosuppressant used primarily to prevent organ transplant rejection by inhibiting T-lymphocyte activation. Key effects include. It requires regular blood tests for therapeutic monitoring.

In Italy it is marketed as Protopic ointment in pharmacies.

Two hundreds of weeders are present nowaday in the region of Lomelline in Piedmont and often they seem to be sexuagenarian women and effectively they are only 2-30 y old and seem to have contracted Parkinson’s disease. progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, primarily caused by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, leading to movement-related symptoms like tremors, stiffness (rigidity), bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and balance issues.

So it is important that using all the evening the specific ointment they take amoxicillin (to treat eventual nefritis) and mild betha blockers.

It is not easy to remain safe after 12 hours under the sun in summer, with bare feet soaking in the marsh.

Legend has it that in XIX and XX centuries weeders used to prepare decoctions of all these herbs easily retrievable in Northern Italy and then mixing the expressed liquor in beewax and tallow to make spredable ointments.

Plantain (Plantago major) and Comfrey (Symphytum officinale): These were perhaps the most common, combined together to create a «healing salve» for wounds, burns, and bruises. Comfrey, in particular, was known as «knitbone” for its ability to help heal broken bones and sprains.

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): Used in ointments for skin irritation and aching joints, often carried over from earlier, traditional medicine [6,7].

White Bryony (Bryonia alba): While poisonous in large amounts, its roots were used in ointments to treat pneumonia, bruises, and joint pain in Eastern and Northern Europe.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus): Leaves and roots were used for congestion, but also made into topical applications.

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): Used in ointments for its antiseptic and pain-relieving properties.

Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum): Used for various ailments, including rheumatism.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): The sap was used for skin issues.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare): Used in salves for wounds.

Garlic and Onion: Used as a base for many pastes and ointments to treat infections.

REFERENCES

1.  Dosseur-Hauteville B. Traitement de la dyshidrose par aromathérapie. Rev Podolog. 2019;15:29–31.

2.  Benvenu SP. La dyshidrose:de la sueur et des larmes. Rev Podolog. 2017;13:29–30.

3.  Guillet HY, Le Ru G, Morvan C. Resultats d’exploration de 111 dyshidroses. Rev Française Allergol Immunol Clin. 2001:125.

4.  Bahtaoui W, El Fetoiki FZ, Hali F, Soussi-Abdellaoui M, Chiheb S. [Plantar dysidrosis:epidemiological, clinical and mycological study of 112 cases]. Our Dermatol Online. 2020;11(Supp. 1):19-23.

5.  Masri M, Rizk S, Boujbel L, Bellahirich W, Baassoumi D, Attia M, et al. Prograf five milligrams versus Tacrolimus medis in healthy volunteers:a bioequivalence study. Transplant Proc. 2013;45:3453-7.

6.  Durańska W, Modzelewska AM, Modzelewski W, Szczupak M, Chmielewski H, Komar J, et al. Topical corticosteroids versus topical calcineurin inhibitors in atopic dermatitis:A comparative review of efficacy and safety. Our Dermatol Online. 2026;17:250-7.

7.  Sterneck M, Fischer L, Gahlemann C, Gundlach M, Rogiers X, Broelsch C. Mycophenolate mofetil for prevention of liver allograft rejection:initial results of a controlled clinical trial. Ann Transplant. 2000;5:43-6.