Rock Rose (Cistus)

1. What Is Rock Rose (Cistus)?

Rock rose is a shrub from the Mediterranean region. For tea and preparations, Cistus incanus and Cistus creticus are mainly used. The leaves and twigs contain many polyphenols. The plant also produces a fragrant resin called labdanum.

2. Where Is It Found, and What Is It Made From?

Rock rose is found in tea from leaves and shoots, in extracts such as lozenges, in mouth rinses and in combination preparations. The plant grows on dry, sunny slopes around the Mediterranean, for example in Greece, on Crete and in Turkey. The leaves and young shoots are used. Dried herb, extracts, lozenges and mouth rinses are available commercially.

3. What Does Rock Rose (Cistus) Do? What Research Shows

Mouth, Teeth and Gums

For mouth and gums, the picture is mixed. A chewing gum with extracts from Cistus incanus and a second plant was better than a placebo (dummy) chewing gum in one study 2. A mouth rinse made from rock rose tea was not better than a mouth rinse with sage tea 3. The evidence is low because there are only two controlled studies (with a comparison group) with a total of 120 participants. Whether rock rose alone is beneficial is open.

Colds and Respiratory Tract

In upper respiratory tract infections, adults did better with a rock rose extract as a lozenge than with placebo 1. The evidence is low because only one controlled study is available. Which species was studied and how long the use lasted is open.

Immune Defence and Inflammation

In a study of 160 patients with respiratory tract infections, an inflammation marker in the blood decreased with a rock rose extract 1. The summary does not mention a comparison with placebo. An extract was studied, not the tea. The evidence is low because only this one controlled study is available. Further studies on immune defense and inflammation are missing.

Other Outcomes

In a pilot study (small preliminary study) in healthy adults, some blood values changed with tea from Cistus incanus, including HDL cholesterol and triglycerides 4. The study had no control group and measured only before and after use 4. The evidence is unclear because controlled studies on these measurements (measured value) are missing. Whether the changes can be confirmed is open.

4. How Was Rock Rose (Cistus) Taken in the Studies?

In a pilot study, tea from leaves and shoots was tested as a drink 4. Doses and durations of use are in the table.

5. Is Rock Rose (Cistus) Safe? Side Effects in the Studies

In the study with the mouth rinse made from rock rose tea, the tea was well tolerated, without clear differences from the comparison rinse 3. In the study on the chewing gum with rock rose and a second plant, tolerability was investigated but not reported 2. Details on side effects are in the table.

All details with tables and sources: full expert page on Rock rose (Cistus)