Cistus Tea Benefits: That’s Some Good Tea!

Curious about Cistus tea benefits? I’ll answer common questions about Cistus incanus tea. (Find more answers here.)

What is Cistus incanus?

Cistus Incanus is an evergreen dwarf shrub herb in the family Cistaceae. It’s native to the arid Mediterranean region. The flowers have five petals, which are are pink to purple and bloom for only one day.

What phytoconstituents are in Cistus?

The main active phytoconstituents of Cistus are flavonoid phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, rutin, and other flavonol glycosides based on quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin. The diverse profile of phenolic substances provides strong antioxidant and other healthy Cistus tea benefits. The goal: maximize the tea’s flavinoid phenolic profile.

Plants growing in arid Mediterranean ecosystems endure multiple stressors and harsh conditions, such as drought, high sun exposure, and high temperatures. Mediterranean plants produce high levels of polyphenols to protect themselves against these stressors. Cistus incanus has the highest polyphenol content of any plant in Europe.

Cistus incanus is an antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-retroviral, and wound healing.

Does Cistus offer immune support and relief of cold and flu symptoms?

Cistus may offer significant immune support and relief of cold and flu symptoms. Studies show that Cistus has powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and biofilm-breaking qualities. That’s why it’s one of 6 super-botanicals included in our proprietary Immune Support Kit.

Is Cistus tea a natural insect repellant?

Regular Cistus tea drinkers may suffer fewer mosquito bites and tick bites. (And many Cistus tea drinkers prefer a natural insect repellant to DEET.) Drink 2-4 cups a day of Cistus tea for at least a week in order to realize its natural insect repellent effects. It’s a fantastic tea for summer and winter!

What are some other Cistus tea benefits?

Traditional use of Cistus reaches back millennia. The Book of Genesis references the resin of the Cistus plant. Traditional uses include treating colds, coughs, rheumatism, and menstrual problems. In traditional herbal medicine, its leaves have been used to treat inflammation and skin diseases. It was used in ancient Greece as a wound healer and as a beauty product.

The therapeutic uses of Cistus are many. In Europe, Cistus is widely used to fight germs, viruses, and fungi. It’s used externally to cleanse the skin and ameliorate eczema, acne, and psoriasis. You can create your own antidandruff shampoo by washing your hair with a large batch of the herbal tea. The tea can be used as a mouthwash. Its biofilm-busting activities reduce oral bacteria and leave your mouth feeling clean.

Recent scientific studies have shown that Cistus leaf extracts have powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and biofilm-breaking qualities. The plant has shown anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, and Aspergillus fumigatus.

Does it matter where Cistus is sourced?

Yes. It’s important to source wild-flowering plants that grow in their native Mediterranean soil and climate. Terroir — land, sun, and rain — matters.

Plants growing in arid Mediterranean ecosystems endure harsh conditions, such as drought, high sun exposure, and high temperatures. Mediterranean plants bring the highest levels of Cistus tea benefits because they produce high levels of polyphenols to protect themselves against these stressors.

Should Cistus be cultivated or wild grown?

Greenhouse-grown Cistus and field-cultivated Cistus lack certain flavonoids and phenolic acids. Wild grown Cistus is preferable, and we sell only wild grown, nature-crafted Cistus.

How can I find a reputable source for Cistus?

High-quality, spring-harvested, Mediterranean Cistus tea is in high demand and short supply. It can be difficult to identify a reputable, reliable source.

Our Cistus comes from Crete, the ancestral home of Cistus. It’s wild grown and responsibly harvested from the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems to ensure the highest quality, most available polyphenol content. Grown in its natural Mediterranean habitat and collected at the height of potency, it offers better availability of phytonutrients and higher potency than the tea many other suppliers sell. We also pay a premium for the raw material to secure a high-quality product and maintain our philosophy of supporting a non-violent economy.