My cheeks are red from the sun and this is my personal sign for the beginning of the new season. Spring is the ideal time for cleansing with all these greens and the life thriving around (for us in the northern hemisphere at least), and like every year I feel I need it so much. The challenge of this month by The HerbalHive community, this amazing caring warm little corner, is Detox and I couldn't be more interested in the theme :)
This time I will focus on one herb that it is just out of my door and I will focus on it, because it is one of my favorite herbs and a very important plant in so many levels. Cistus cretica is the name of it, ladania in Greek and it is a type of rockrose. We are talking about a powerful herbal ally that has been supporting us for thousands of years. Which also means that it is a very resilient plant. It grows on our mountains and I feel blessed coming in contact with it every single day!
It is sticky due to the resin and when I touch it, the first thing I think is that this sticky herb will remove old remains in the body. And somehow it does. It is one of the hardest harvests I must say, a quite difficult one.
It has been found to be a source of 12 phenylpropanoids-flavonoids, rutin and bioflavonoids, gallic acid and antioxidants.
It has anti-inflammatory properties (it is used in cases of rheumatoid arthritis), antibacterial and antiviral properties (it has been proved to be effective against H1N1 and H7N7, I wonder if there was a research about covid as well), it eases anxiety and helps people dealing with insomnia, it is a great expectorant and so many more.
It also has very important detox properties. It is highly effective in destroying the free radicals from the body, but also removing toxic heavy metals from cigarette smoke, dental fillings and environmental pollution.
Being around this plant, my feeling is that it doesn't only cleanses the body from toxins, but also cleanses my thoughts. It is so vivid and strong, it transfers an inspiring energy, to move forward, to let go. Somehow, it makes things look easier.
Since ancient years it is used for protection, power and spiritual growth.
Lavdano, the sticky substance that comes from the leaves, is one of the basic ingredients of myrrh.
In older times they used to let goats graze in fields with ladania, the sticky substance stuck to the goats belly hair and then they removed it with a complicated way. Nowadays it is collected by the famous "Ladaniarides" that they use leather lashes to collect it. I couldn't find a better photo, although I love this old lady. It still is a very complicated process, and let me tell you, I think ladania requires in general patience and time to work with. Once you do this, then what gives back is multiplied and priceless.
The flower is another story. All the powerful properties of the plant are in the leaves. The flower has its own power. To me, it is one of the most fragile flowers I have ever seen. So beautiful, it reminds me of Japanese origami art as it looks like made of fine paper.
Should I say that it makes me HAPPY??? And inspired! I mean it is a piece of art. A study on its own.
What I love most about these questions on Herbal Hive is that they make us think deep and often beyond herbs and remedies.
What is so toxic that we need to detox from? From improper food to environmental pollution, but also the stress that we experience daily, this inquietude that doesn't leave any space or time to the brain and the body to live in the Now, the present - the only time that exists. Everything is moving so quickly, not to mention the images and life styles that bombard us daily trying to make us feel unworthy, not enough. I can only imagine how many toxins we produce and how hard we make everything, from the work of the leaver to the poor mind that never rests.
I hope the following photos will soothe your anxieties and warm your hearts as they do for me.
I would love to invite 
PS. I wanted to post from Day 1 of the contest, but couldn't find any flowers to shoot and I couldn't talk about ladania without showing you this magnificent flower. Yesterday I found these two beautiful ones at the herb garden, so all fixed :)
If you would like to know more about me this is my introduction post!