Micah Stanley
The cistus grows in Mediterranean regions and is a real miracle flower simply because of its unique flowers. But the healing effects of cistus are also impressive. If you have the plant in your medicine cabinet, you are already well taken care of in an emergency. Because the special areas of the cistus are diarrhea, skin problems, aphthae, candida, and flu infections. The plant can therefore be used preventively or for therapy in the case of many different complaints. It is easy to use: you drink the tea or use it to apply pads to your skin.
Rockrose – A powerful medicinal plant
Rockrose (Cistus) is a very old and very strong medicinal plant. The first references to the use of cistus for medicinal purposes date back to the 4th century BC. At that time it was common to use particularly effective medicinal plants for religious rituals, so the cistus was a frequent burial object.
The cistus is a small bush native to the Mediterranean region. In hot summers, the cistus simply folds its leaves and waits for the next rain. It can remain in this inconspicuous form for months.
After the first autumn rains, it opens its leaves and forms thick flower buds over the winter. In the spring, the extremely delicate petals appear, those of Cistus albidus in a unique pink crinkled look.
The leaves of the cistus are used to make teas and oils. They are slightly sticky, indicating their high resin content. The resin of the cistus is called labdanum. In ancient times, it was used to accelerate wound healing and treat skin diseases.
The cistus is not a rose
Despite its name, the cistus has nothing to do with the rose family. Instead, it forms its own family, the cistus family. This in turn consists of about 20 types of cistus.
The grey-haired cistus (Cistus incanus) is said to have particularly strong healing powers. It is said to contain more healing and antioxidant substances than other types of cistus.
Nevertheless, many types of cistus have been used for medicinal purposes in folk medicine for thousands of years. Field reports also confirm that not only a single cistus can offer healing effects, but many others as well – whether they are called Cistus incanus, Cistus albidus, Cistus monspeliensis, Cistus laurifolia, Cistus creticus or whatever.
Rockrose reduces the negative consequences of oxidative stress
As early as 2000, the Italian University of Catania showed that the antioxidant power – i.e. the ability to neutralize free radicals – was more pronounced in Cistus monspeliensis than in Cistus incanus.
The aqueous extract of both types of cistus was clearly able to protect the DNA (the genetic material) from damage – with the antioxidant capacity increasing with the administered dose. Fat peroxidation (damage to fats by free radicals) was also significantly inhibited with the cistus extract.
Due to the strong antioxidant effects, the researchers assumed that cistus extracts could also be an excellent way to protect the skin from UV radiation and also to treat all diseases in which oxidative stress plays a key role.
Rockrose’s antioxidant potential is attributed to its high polyphenol content and is said to be three times that of green tea and four times that of vitamin C.
Rockrose for skin problems: neurodermatitis, acne & wrinkles
Traditionally, the highly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant rockrose is used for stomach problems, and diarrhea and as a remedy for a wide variety of skin diseases (internal and external).
The ingredients of cistus have an astringent (contracting) effect, which means that diarrhea disappears quickly, skin wounds heal faster and itching is relieved. The last two properties make cistus an important part of holistic therapy for neurodermatitis.
Thanks to the cistus, the skin is also tightened, appears smoother and wrinkles are reduced. Rockrose tea is therefore also an excellent anti-aging facial tonic.
In the case of acne, a study in a specialist clinic for skin diseases found as early as 1993 that after a month, acne-related inflammation had decreased noticeably if a cistus extract was applied twice a day to the previously thoroughly cleansed skin.
Rockrose for the digestive system
What protects the outer skin also seems to be good for the mucous membranes inside the body. An Italian study by the University of Catania from 1995 found that a briefly boiled aqueous extract of Cistus incanus – i.e. simple cistus leaf tea – can protect the gastric mucosa from all kinds of damage. The more the subjects drank, the better protected they were.
Rockrose for aphthous ulcers, caries, and periodontitis
The cistus has just as good a healing effect on the oral mucosa, for example with aphthae, those painful blisters in the mouth that often make eating torture. You simply rinse your mouth with cistus tea several times a day.
At the same time, the teeth are protected from harmful bacterial plaque, as researchers from the University of Freiburg were able to prove. They found that mouthwashes with cistus infusion (in addition to brushing teeth) protect teeth better against plaque and against tooth decay and periodontitis than brushing alone.
Rockrose for hemorrhoids
In the case of hemorrhoids, a painful problem of the rectum, for which astringents generally help, sitz baths with a cistus infusion can relieve the itching.
For a sitz bath, use 10 g of dried cistus leaves (rock rose tea) that are boiled in 200 ml of water for five minutes. This infusion is now poured into the lukewarm hip bath. Do not bathe for more than five minutes. You can also apply a cistus ointment.
Rockrose is effective against bacteria and fungal infections
In 1999, a study by the University of Marrakesh/Morocco was published in the journal Thérapie. It was shown in vitro how strongly antibacterial and antifungal the leaf extracts from Cistus incanus and Cistus monspeliensis worked.
In Greek folk medicine, this antibacterial effect has long been known. It was not for nothing that midwives used a broth made from cistus to wash their new mother. In this way, infections and the dreaded childbed fever could be prevented.
The antifungal effect of cistus is a real gift today in view of the widespread of Candida.
The application here is very simple: Experience has shown that rockrose can be used internally and externally for fungal diseases. Internally, cistus tea is drunk throughout the day (e.g. ½ to 1 liter).
Externally, skin dressings are applied by dipping kitchen paper or other thin cloths in a particularly strong cistus decoction and applying these directly to the affected areas three times a day for at least 20 minutes.
In the case of vaginal thrush, tea or decoction is used to wash the intimate area. Here, too, the tea is drunk in parallel with the external application.
Rockrose tea is also drunk every day in the case of intestinal fungal infestation (Candida albicans).
Rockrose for colds and flu
In 2009, the first clinical studies with cistus were carried out. At the Charité in Berlin, researchers initiated a randomized and placebo-controlled study with 160 patients with a cold (infection of the upper respiratory tract). They received a cistus extract (CYSTUS052) that contains a high percentage of polyphenols and has historically been shown to be a powerful antiviral agent against influenza.
Most cold symptoms and also the inflammatory marker CRP decreased significantly in the cistus group, while there was hardly any noticeable improvement in the placebo group.
Rockrose is effective against fungal infections as well as viral and bacterial diseases. And even with stubborn diseases, such as Lyme disease, the cistus can possibly be used as an accompaniment:
Cistus against Lyme disease
After Lyme disease patients in self-help groups reported that their symptoms (pain in the joints) improved considerably after taking cistus preparations (leaf extract from Cistus creticus), the University of Leipzig published a study in April 2010 and showed that in particular, the Rockrose essential oil has a lethal effect on Borrelia.
Unfortunately, since this was only a laboratory test, no dose can be given in which the cistus oil would actually be effective so those affected should choose an individually suitable dose together with the doctor.
Rock rose against diabetes
In Turkey, too, preparations of cistus are used for naturopathic therapies, for example for gastric ulcers, diabetes, and various forms of pain, such as e.g. B. Cistus laurifolius L. (the laurel rockrose).
A Turkish study then found in April 2013 that cistus can actually lower blood sugar levels and therefore has anti-diabetic properties.
Rockrose in Alzheimer’s
Also from 2013 comes an Italian study by the University of Calabria. The researchers discovered that rockrose inhibits acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, two enzymes involved in the breakdown of brain messenger substances.
It is well known that the so-called cholinesterase inhibitors are used for drug treatment in Alzheimer’s disease. They inhibit the enzymes mentioned and thus ensure a higher content of messenger substances in the brain and consequently better brain performance, which delays the development of dementia.
The mechanism of action of cistus appears to be similar. The potency of the medicinal plant will of course be lower than that of the medicines, but the cistus could at least be helpful preventively or in the accompanying therapy.
Rockrose can even be helpful for heavy metal elimination:
Rockrose eliminates heavy metals
The polyphenols in cistus are said to be able to bind and eliminate heavy metals. This prevents the heavy metals from being absorbed into the body and damaging body cells.
Minerals that the organism needs are not affected by this property of cistus, since these are not free but bound to other food components and therefore cannot be bound by the cistus.
To eliminate heavy metals, it is recommended to drink 50 ml of cistus tea twice a day on an empty stomach for four weeks (of course together with other elimination measures). If you don’t like the tea, you can also mix it with juice.
Rockrose – The application
We have already explained important possible applications above, e.g. B. Sitz baths, compresses (pads on the skin), mouthwashes, tea, essential cistus oil, etc.
The cistus tea tastes aromatic but tart. It does not contain stimulating caffeine.
To prepare the tea, pour one liter of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of dried cistus leaves and let the tea steep for 5 minutes. A second infusion is conceivable just for enjoyment, but not useful if you are hoping for a therapeutic effect.
Of course, you can also mix in other herbs that improve the taste, such as B. Lemon balm, peppermint, verbena, and some stevia leaves.
For skin dressings and mouthwash, you can make a cistus decoction (a slightly stronger tea). To do this, pour 0.5 – 1 liter of water over 10 g of cistus leaves and allow the brew to simmer gently for 5 to 10 minutes after boiling.
Pour the brew into bottles through a fine sieve and keep them in the fridge.
For internal use of cistus, there have long been capsules and tablets that simplify the use of cistus. However, the fresh and natural power of cistus tea cannot be surpassed, so we recommend drinking it when using the capsules.
