Cistus incanus: a powerful immune booster from greek tradition

Known since the times of Theophrastus, a Greek botanist and disciple of Aristotle, Cistus incanus (also known as Red Rockrose, Cretan Rockrose, or Maritime Rockrose) is a perennial shrub belonging to the Cistaceae family. It grows spontaneously in arid and rocky areas of the Mediterranean region, particularly in island regions, on the island of Crete, and in southern Greece. Even in the book of Genesis, reference is made to this plant, described as a panacea for all ailments.

In Greek and Mediterranean folk medicine, the plant was highly valued for yielding Labdanum, one of the earliest aromatic substances in the ancient world. It is a gummy resin secreted by glandular hairs on the leaves, used for centuries in perfumes and incense. Moreover, it was used to combat infections, coughs, rheumatism, and intestinal and menstrual disorders.

This product was highly prized due to its challenging extraction method. Ancient Greeks used to graze goats amid Cistus bushes covered in this sticky resin, which remained attached to their fur. After the animals were sheared, the collected fur was placed in boiling water to separate the trapped resin.

Modern extraction techniques have developed more efficient and less costly methods. However, in the Greek islands, especially on Crete, there are still cultivators who collect Labdanum using a unique tool resembling a rake, equipped with long strips of leather passed over the bushes. The resin sticks to these strips and is then manually removed.

Labdanum resin is also obtained from other Cistus species, particularly Cistus ladaniferus, distinguished by its fragrant white flowers.

Cistus incanus is not only valuable for Labdanum extraction; the plant possesses therapeutic properties not yet widely known but potentially beneficial and effective for human health.

Following various pharmacological investigations, it has been possible to isolate and study the most active principles. A significant presence of polyphenols and flavonoids (molecules also found in abundance in wine) has been identified, believed to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

The unique combination of these substances makes Cistus incanus an excellent remedy for countering the excessive production of free radicals, which can result from high-stress situations, exposure to pollutants (smog, air pollution, cigarette smoke, increasingly prevalent toxic substances in our homes), and viral diseases.

When taken as a decoction, the plant promotes the functionality of the body’s detoxification systems and, most importantly, acts as a stimulant for our body’s natural defenses. For example, continuous and consistent intake of Cistus incanus has proven useful in treating various fungal infections such as candida, as well as Helicobacter and other intestinal infections. The plant appears to promote the formation of positive intestinal bacterial flora and restore disturbed balance. This action is especially crucial in today’s world, where environmental pollution and stress factors are increasingly prevalent in daily life, contributing significantly to the alteration of intestinal bacterial populations.

Symptoms include slow digestion, irritability, general fatigue, and intestinal disorders.

The immune-stimulating action of this plant is accompanied by its significant anti-inflammatory action and its ability to resolve respiratory system infections. In this manner, like Echinacea, Cistus should be considered a good preventive measure in the pre-winter period when the onset of colds, flu, and bronchitis is likely.

Its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties are also essential for external use. Applying products based on Cistus incanus to wounds promotes healing and proves very useful in cases of neurodermatitis.

In cosmetics, the plant is used as an anti-wrinkle agent due to its significant antioxidant action.

Once again, a natural remedy, passed down through the centuries and widely used in folk tradition, is reemerging in the herbal landscape. Further pharmacological studies are needed to investigate the active principles in the plant and its mechanisms of action, ensuring the safety and efficacy of a gift from nature capable of protecting us from external aggressions, especially in the winter season.

ELISA CARNEVALE