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250579 – Natural Europe
CIP-ICT PSP-2009-3
Aromatic and
pharmaceutical wild herbs
of Crete
Helen Chatzinikolaki
Natural History Museum of Crete
Aromatic wild herbs
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A group of plants that contains essential oils into
their tissue. These oils are responsible for the nice
smell of these herbs.
Essential oils: complex mixtures of organic
compounds, whose composition varies by species or
variety of plants. The aroma of each essential oil is
the resultant of all its components.
The composition of essential oils has not been fully
clarified. We do not know yet the procedure and the
part of the plant where the composition of essential
oils, is taken place.
Essential oils are found in specific secretion glands
Role of essential oils:
1. Protection against herbivorous insects
2. Protection from extreme temperatures
3. wound Healing
4. Resistance to drought
5. Attract insect pollinators
Pharmaceutical wild herbs
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Containing one or more active
ingredients that can prevent,
alleviate or cure certain
diseases.
Most aromatic herbs are
pharmaceutical, but many
pharmaceutical plants are not
aromatic.
Importance for Crete:
- Economic (exports significant
quantities, such as oregano,
dittany or sage)
- Culture (life of Cretans is
connected to herbs and their
use since ancient times)
Dominant aromatic and
pharmaceutical wild herbs
of Crete
Thyme (Coridothymus capitatus)
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Perennial shrub that blooms from
May to September.
Thyme’s essential oil has
antiparasitic and antitussive
properties.
Particularly beneficial is the fruit of thyme that
remains after the fall of its flowers.
Thyme is a protected plant species. Collection of
thyme is prohibited during its flowering period.
Thyme is a beekeeper plant and gives honey of
high quality.
Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)
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Perennial shrub that spreads
almost all over mediterranean
area.
Its essential oil is used as a
natural insecticide preventing
mainly moths. This is possibly
due to the high percentage of
camphor.
The genus Origanum
Represented in Greece by 11 species, 5 of
which occur in Crete:
Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum
O. onites
O. calcaratum
O. microphyllum
O. dictamnus, the famous Cretan Dittany
It is used
mainly as a
flavoring
substance in
cooking
Cretan Dittany
(Origanum dictamnus)
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Particularly important for
Crete. It is a protected
plant due to its great
economic interest.
It grows in rough and steep
places of the island.
It was known from
antiquity. Mentioned by
Hippocrates and Dioscorides
as a healing wound or as a
poultice on swellings.
Today is cultivated in
village Embaros in Crete
which has its global
monopoly.
Endemic
to Crete
Sage
(Salvia fruticosa)
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Perennial shrub occurring throughout the Mediterranean.
In Crete it has a high economic importance.
It is used as a seasoning sausages and as a food
preservative. It is also consumed as a beverage.
Its essential oil is used against toothache. The decoction of its
leaves is tonic and has an haemostatic use. It is also used for
treatment of skin diseases.
Mountain Tea (Sideritis syriaca ssp. syriaca)
Endemic
to Crete
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Perennial plant.
Its concoction is good for
stomach pain and
heating.
Due to the uncontrolled
collection it has already
disappeared from some
areas.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis )
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It is a herbaceous plant of
Mediterranean origin.
The name officinalis indicates its
pharmaceutical properties.
Its essential oil has soothing and
antiseptic properties (for healing
wounds and injuries).
Its leaves have a strong lemon
scent. It is not so well known in
Crete.
Winter Savory (Satureja thymbra)
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Perennial shrub found throughout
the Mediterranean.
Its smell resembles the one of
oregano and thyme. This is due
to an alcohol, carvacrol.
In Crete, it is used as a tea for
stomach aches, intestinal
diseases of children, dizziness
e.t.c.
Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)
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Plant spread all over Mediterranean.
Tree dedicated to the gods and
especially to Apollo with therapeutic
properties known since antiquity.
Its essential oil contains, as a main
component , the alcohol cineol which is
antiseptic and disinfectant. Its fruits
contain also a fatty oil, laurel.
Laurel’s leaves are used as flavoring in
cooking and as a protection against
insects in packing of dried fruits (figs,
raisins). Products made of laurel are
widely used in perfumery and soap.
Soft-Hairy Rockrose
(Cistus creticus)
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Perennial shrub known since ancient
times. Native in many parts of Greece.
Plant aromatic, pharmaceutical and
beekeepers.
The leaves are used as a tea substitute.
The oleo-resin (ladano) obtained from
the leaves and stems is used as a
commercial food flavoring baked goods,
ice cream, chewing gum e.t.c.
Dioscorides describes a method of
collecting this oleo-resin product. This
method is applicable even today in the
village of Sisses in Crete.
Small quantities of ladano are exported
to Arabia where it is used as incense.
Previously it was used also against the
plague.
Mint (Menta sp.)
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Mint is both a native and
a cultivated plant and is
used for flavoring and for
its pharmaceutical
properties.
The purpose of its
cultivation is the
extraction of its essential
oil (peppermint oil) from
the flowering tops and
leaves of the plant.
Peppermint oil is used in
confectionery to
beverages, perfumery and
pharmacy.
Spearmint is also a mint
species (Mentha viridis).
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Spirmint is found native in damp,
mountainous places, but is often cultivated
in gardens or pots used in cooking as a
seasoning.
All parts of it but especially the leaves, are
used to treat skin diseases. They are also
used as antispasmodic, digestive and
sedative.
Chamomile
(Matricaria chamomilla)
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Annual plant, aromatic, medicinal and
beekeepers. It was known from ancient
times. The Egyptians, Greeks and
Romans used it as medicine.
It has anti-inflammatory properties,
spasmolytic and soothing. We use the
decoction in bowel disease, bile,
stomach and as a digestive. Externally
for skin inflammations.
The essential oil is used in the
manufacture of pharmaceutical shaving
and antirheumatic ointments.
Rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
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Perennial common plant of Greek flora,
also known as “arismari”. As a medicinal
herb has tonic and antistiptikes
properties. It is ideal for combating
anemia, insomnia and dizziness. It is also
extremely useful for increasing attention,
because it improves blood flow to the
brain.
As a cosmetic it can be used in the form
of steam for deep cleansing and
strengthening of the skin. For the body it
used as a refreshing and deodorant.
The essential oil which is extracted from
the leaves and flowers is useful in
pharmaceutical perfume and soap.
St John Wort
(Ηypericum sp.)
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In Crete, 11 species of this
genus are found, some of which
are endemic.
It contains the active
substances Hypericine &
Hyperforine that increase
serotonin and adrenaline levels
in the brain.
Ancient Greeks used it as a
diuretic, healing & haemostatic.
In the U.S. and many other
countries it is used in pills for
mild and moderate depression.
Used in tincture form (extracted
by fresh plant into glass jars
filled with olive oil, and kept in
the sun for 40 days) as healing
wounds, skin irritation and
burns
Mandrake
(Mandragora officinalis)
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The root is fleshy, long and resembles a
human body with 2 feet.
The mandrake is a toxic plant containing
atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine
which are valuable drugs used as
anticonvulsants and sedatives. In ancient
times the root was used as an hypnotic.
In some areas it is cultivated for its
medicinal properties.
The fruit is fleshy apple-shaped with a
sweetish taste and is considered
dangerous if eaten.
Roman Nettle (Urtica pilulifera)
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This plant is mainly known for its
strong irritancy to the skin. Extremely
useful is for disorders of bile, stomach
ulcers, bronchial conditions, in diabetes
and arthritis.
Nettle’s juice is useful for anemia.