Rockrose, a great anti-wrinkle and firming

Rockrose, known for its beautiful flowers, is very important in perfumery, since labdanum, a highly aromatic resin, is obtained from it. From its stems you also get a precious essential oil whose aroma transports to summer.

This essential oil, with regenerative and anti-wrinkle properties, has different uses in aromatherapy, although it is mainly used for skin care.

The rockrose plant, pure aroma and beauty

The rockrose (Cistus ladaniferus) It belongs to the Cistaceae family. It is a shrubby evergreen plant that can reach up to 2 meters in height. The leaves are deep green in color and the stem has reddish tones.

Both the leaf and the stem are covered a very sticky and aromatic resinous substance that protects the plant from UV rays and dehydration. The precious labdanum used in perfumery is extracted from this gum-resin.

The fruit is capsule-shaped (cistus comes from the greek kistus meaning “capsule” or “box”). The seeds are released only under the influence of intense heat or fire (rockrose is a pyrrophytic plant).

the rockrose blooms at the beginning of spring. Its pretty white flowers are sporting flame-like purple spots. There is also a subspecies, Cistus ladanifer ssp albinuswith totally white flowers.

The plant grows from sea level to about 1,500 meters of altitude. abounds in Extremadura, Andalusia, the region of Ávila and Cáceresas well as in Portugal. It also grows in Morocco, Algeria, in the south of France and in the Canary Islands.

Rockrose essential oil: properties

Rockrose essential oil it is obtained from the youngest stems of the plant during the summer months. The fresh or dried plant is distilled, and the distillation process takes about 3 hours.

The aroma may vary depending on the place of origin. It is generally described as somewhat medicinal at first, later giving way to more resinous, warm, deep, spicy and balsamic aspects. The notes of amber and leather with a herbaceous touch.

Rockrose essential oil is particularly appreciated for its Extraordinary regenerative and anti-aging properties:

reaffirms the skin tissue.attenuates visibly wrinkles. It is a healing exceptional. It is considered a antihemorrhagic very effective.

It is mainly used for topical route.

How to use rockrose essential oil

Due to its regenerative, healing and anti-hemorrhagic properties, rockrose essential oil will be very useful topically in the following situations:

1. Rockrose essential oil for the face: firming and anti-wrinkle

Rockrose essential oil is a highly effective anti-aging or anti-wrinkle, which according to a study published in molecules prevents skin aging by acting on mitochondria.

Use it blended with a combination of vegetable oils very antioxidant or nutritious, such as:

Fill a jar with the chosen oils and add a 2% of the total volume of rockrose essential oil (for 15 ml we will put, for example, 7 drops of essential oil in total).

apply 3 or 4 drops of the mixture on the face in the morning and at night.

2. Rockrose essential oil to heal wounds

Rockrose essential oil is one of the best essential oils to promote wound healing, even the most difficult ones. For this, we will use the essential oil diluted with rosehip vegetable oil and/or with oleate of centella asiatica and hypericum.

In a 15 ml bottle with a dropper, mix:

Are applied some drops in the affected area, 3 times a day.

3. Rockrose essential oil to stop bleeding

Rockrose essential oil is capable of stopping bleeding in a matter of seconds.

For cuts or wounds that bleed a lot: 1 to 2 drops of pure essential oil are used that we will apply directly to the wound.In case of nosebleed: Dilute 1 drops with 4 drops of vegetable oil (the one we have on hand) and apply with the help of a cotton ball or ear bud. Usually only a single application is needed.

4. Rockrose essential oil for heavy periods

Rockrose essential oil is very helpful for regulate the flow during menstruation. To take advantage of this benefit:

Dilute 2 drops of essential oil with 10 drops of vegetable oil (whatever we have on hand). Apply to the lower abdomen, 3 or 4 times a day.

Contraindications of rockrose essential oil

Rockrose essential oil has no contraindications, as long as the dosages and indications for use are respected.

History and traditional use of rockrose essential oil

The word “jara” comes from the Arabic sa’ râ and means “thicket”. Various uses of the plant are known, be they for medicinal purposes or in perfumery. The use of labdanum as perfume has been known since ancient times. In Persia, Crete and Egypt it was used to make incense.

Rockrose gum-resin was part of the ointments used in Egypt for embalming, and labdanum is mentioned on several occasions in the Bible.

The plant was also used for its sedative, antigastric and revulsive properties. It was also recommended for whooping cough, for coughs, to treat wounds, hernias, and fractures.

in crete They use labdanum to treat infectious diseases, bronchitis, arthritis, diarrhea, and childhood illnesses. It was also used for somewhat more “magical” purposes by midwives, who secretly collected the oleoresin preventing men from touching it and used it to treat newborns, recommending it to mothers to hide it in their baby’s clothes, or to use it in case of cold by rubbing it on the temples and chest.