As early as antiquity, the sought-after ‹Labdanum› was made from the resin of the rockrose. It had both a wonderful scent and, as people expressed it at the time, protected against ‹evil spirits›. See also this study, recently conducted at the University of Regensburg:
‹Potent in vitro antiviral activity of Cistus incanus extract against HIV and Filoviruses targets viral envelope proteins›, published in ‹Scientific Reports› (Nature Group), February 2016.
Rockrose can be used both as an aqueous extract, that is, tea, and as an alcoholic extract, which is more concentrated and also remains shelf-stable for longer. Traditionally, rockrose was used externally as a medicinal remedy and also for beauty care. This is related to the bitter compounds, tannins, and essential oils contained in its leaves.
As for internal use, researchers attribute the effects of rockrose observed in studies primarily to its high polyphenol content. The plant produces the secondary plant compound polyphenol to protect itself from herbivores, viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Find out more about the ingredients, research, and our experience with Cistus in our comprehensive Cistus overview.