Cistus Tea: Health Benefits of Cistus Incanus

Cistus tea is known for helping to ameliorate cold and flu symptoms and repel mosquitoes and ticks.

Cistus Tea: A Perennial Favorite

Have you heard about Cistus tea? Cistus incanus has long made headlines for its many health benefits. It’s a popular herbal tea all year long, but in summer regular drinkers often drink it to avoid being bitten mosquitoes and ticks.

All-natural Cistus incanus herbal tea and herbal extract are a perennial global favorites for the broad range of support the herb provides to overall health and wellness.

Here’s why:

1. Its antibacterial, antiviral, and biofilm-busting properties have been shown to ameliorate cold and flu symptoms.
2. Drinking this delightful tea can help repel mosquitoes and ticks, making it an excellent natural alternative to DEET.
3. It has well-documented antimicrobial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, and antioxidant properties.
4. It provides great eczema, psoriasis, and acne support.
5. It makes a refreshing and soothing mouthwash.

You’ll want to learn more about this fantastic Mediterranean plant and the equally fantastic tea you can make from it. Below, I’ll share some information about where this plant is sourced and why it’s so amazing.

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 plant reaches 1-3 feet in height. The grey-green leaves are ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, measuring 1/2 inch to 1 inch long. The branches and sometimes the leaves are hairy and sticky. The flowers have five petals, are pink to purple, and bloom for only one day.

Cistus incanus Key Characteristics

Plants growing in the 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 them against these stressors. Cistus incanus has the highest polyphenol content of any plant in Europe.

Cistus has also developed a symbiotic relationship with a root fungi. The fungi complements the root system in its task of absorbing water and minerals from the soil, thus allowing the host plant to dwell on particularly poor soils. It also helps Cistus fight off other fungi.

Cistus tea is a source of polyphenols, proanthocyanadins, bioflavonoids, catechins, gallic acid, rutin, and other beneficial bioactive compounds. It makes a a pleasant tasting loose tea with a mild, floral-like flavor.

Cistus incanus Traditional Uses

The traditional use of Cistus reaches back millennia. The Book of Genesis references the resin of Cistus plants. Ancient traditional uses include treating colds, coughs, menstrual problems, and rheumatism. Cistus was used in ancient Greece as a wound healer and a beauty product.

In Moroccan traditional medicine, Cistus tea has long been used to maintain a healthy mouth and throat. In traditional herbal medicine, the leaves of Cistus have been used to treat skin and inflammatory diseases.

Cistus Tea Therapeutic Uses

Recent scientific research has confirmed the validity of this traditional herbal knowledge. Studies have shown that Cistus leaf extracts have powerful antibacterial, antiviral, and biofilm-breaking qualities. Cistus has shown anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, and Aspergillus fumigatus.

Cistus incanus makes a great mosquito repellant and tick repellant. Drink Cistus tea daily (about 2 cups a day) for at least a week in order to realize its biting insect-repellent effects.

Cistus incanus herb is rich in bioflavonoids and polyphenols. Tea made from this herb may ameliorate cold and flu symptoms in about 2 days after drinking the first cup. (Read the Cistus FAQ.)

In addition, a 2021 study published in Cardiology Journal suggests that Cistus incanus decreases cardiovascular risk factors including oxidative stress and dyslipidemia. The study’s authors conclude that these cardiovascular benefits support the idea of consuming Cistus incanus tea on a daily basis as an effective dietary component to help decrease cardiovascular risk and prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disorders.

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 herbal version of a powerful antidandruff shampoo by using a batch of tea to wash your hair.

Cistus also works well for oral cavity hygiene. You can use it as a mouthwash. Its biofilm-busting activities significantly reduce oral bacteria and leave your mouth feeling clean.

Interestingly, recent studies suggest that Cistus extract targets viral envelope proteins, preventing the primary attachment of the virus to host cells. This reduces the virulence and reproductive ability of the pathogen. Cistus may have even more verified uses in the future.

Green Tea Benefits Without the Jitters

Looking for all the benefits of green tea without the caffeine jitters? Try Cistus tea.

Cistus herb is rich in polyphenols, including catechins and ellagitannins. These powerful compounds have caught the attention of scientists, who recognize Cistus incanus as a valuable source of polyphenols that can do wonders for your health.

Scientific studies have underscored the impressive cardiometabolic benefits of Cistus tea. Its unique bioactive components contribute to maintaining healthy lipid metabolism and blood sugar levels, giving your heart and metabolism the love they deserve.

And, unlike green tea, Cistus tea is naturally caffeine-free.

Cistus incanus Antimicrobial Properties

According to the CDC, more than 2.8 million people in the U.S. face infections that are resistant to antibiotics, and more than 35,000 people die annually due to antibiotic-resistant infections. It is important for a collaborative approach across all public health sectors, including scientific research on herbs with antimicrobial properties, to help address this public threat.

Cistus incanus tea offers a range of bioactive compounds. Cistus incanus herbal tea with antimicrobial properties may provide valuable support, especially in combination with traditional medicine.

Cistus tea has a broad antimicrobial spectrum, being both anti-fungal and antibacterial. It also has antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory agents. In particular, Cistus incanus has a high content and diverse profile of polyphenolic substances with strong antioxidant activity.

Polyphenols may act as antioxidants through suppression of reactive oxygen species formation. Reactive oxygen species are involved in pathogenesis of diverse human diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases.

Cistus incanus and Immune Health

Cistus incanus provides immune system support by interfering with viral binding strategies. It’s a great everyday drinking tea, and it’s one of six healthy extracts in our ShieldsUp! Immune Support Kits. The kits are a proprietary collection of extracts designed to fight colds, flus, coughs, and invading pathogens; bolster the respiratory tract; inhibit the lifecycle of common viruses; and protect against overactive immune response inflammation.

In addition, Cistus incanus is one of three extracts in our Persister Desister Lyme Support Kits. Persister Desister is a powerful combination of scientifically researched and time tested all-natural herbs. This advanced immune support formula is designed to provide you with the necessary ingredients to help support your immune system re-engage and fight off persisting pathogens.

How to Brew Cistus Tea

Cistus tea is making waves in the healthy tea circles once again. Understandably, there’s a lot of debate over the best way to brew the tea.

We get Cistus brewing questions A LOT.

Some suppliers will say it doesn’t matter. Just brew it! Others will say you absolutely have to brew it this one particular way — or else.

We suggest you get the facts and start with our Cistus tea brewing video. You can watch it HERE.

Where to Buy Your Cistus

What is Cistus tea good for? The answer is almost everything.

Not surprisingly, Cistus incanus tea has grown quite popular in some circles. High-quality, spring-harvested, Mediterranean Cistus is not only in high demand but also in short supply.

Cistus tea may offer the outdoor protection from mosquitoes and ticks that many have been seeking. Some people have had trouble identifying a reputable, reliable source of the tea. Linden Botanicals currently has Cistus tea stock. Our Cistus is cut and prepared to ensure the highest quality and most available polyphenol content. Our Cistus tea offers more phytonutrients and potency than the whole leaf cuts many other suppliers sell.

Ready to buy Cistus tea? Here are three rules to follow:

• Buy from a reputable supplier who sells high-quality Mediterranean Cistus incanus at a fair price. Don’t accept imitators. By imitators, we mean low-cost herbal teas harvested at an indeterminate date in an undisclosed region. Low-cost Cistus tea is cheap for a reason.
• Don’t buy (or buy into) “magically potent” Cistus sourced from the “world’s best supplier” in the only country on the globe where it has been “proven” that the world’s “best Cistus herb” grows.
• Don’t choose tinctures and capsules over fresh Mediterranean loose-cut tea. You’ll pay an extremely high premium for small, ineffective amounts of the Cistus tea you should be drinking.

Buy Cistus Tea from Linden Botanicals

To learn more about Cistus incanus, including the science behind its potential health benefits, read the FAQ. Then start drinking your healthy, Mediterranean Cistus tea!

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