Labdanum or oleander, or cistus, or hookworm, or Cistus Landaniferus, Myrrh (according to the scriptures), is a plant that we find very often in Greece, but also in our neighboring Cyprus. We mainly find it in Crete, where it is collected in May, by hitting the plant with a special construction to “tear” the resin.
Characteristic are the pink flowers with their yellow center, and the thin “wrinkled” petals.
Due to its characteristic aroma and resin, it was used as incense (hence the name myrrh).
Despite all this, the plant was already mentioned by Herodotus, Dioscorides and Hippocrates for its properties.
Beyond this use, however, labdanum was widely used to treat cholera, but also in the embalming of the dead.
Nevertheless, today we can use this special plant and herb as a warming and emollient, for its anti-inflammatory action, as an expectorant and antispasmodic.
It is a plant that has been proven to support the body against insomnia, sagging skin, diarrhea, and toothache.
Medical science is studying labdanum for its action against cancer cells, and this makes it a very special herb indeed. As it turns out, labdanum leaves have the highest polyphenol indices of any plant in Europe, and this makes it a very powerful antioxidant.
It is worth getting to know labdanum better and incorporating it into our daily routine, as an infusion, tea... or even as a plant in our yard, since it has very few care requirements.
photo EyeEm, Image license by freepik.com
