Ironwort (Sideritis scardica): the mountain herb we are only now discovering in skincare

In Polish herbal shops, ironwort has a well-established place. You buy it in 50-gram bags, brew it like tea and recommend it to friends when autumn starts to drag. Yet almost nobody speaks about it in the context in which it first appeared: skincare.

Which is surprising, because that is exactly where its Polish name came from.

What ironwort actually is

Ironwort (Sideritis scardica) is a perennial of the mint family, the same one that mint, sage and lemon balm belong to. It grows high up. Its natural habitats are usually found above a thousand metres above sea level, on stony, sun-exposed slopes in the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa.

It looks unassuming. A stiff, grey-green stem covered in fine hairs, topped with yellow-green flower heads resembling spikes. It draws no attention until you rub it between your fingers. Then it releases a surprisingly intense resinous, spicy scent. The herbal raw material is the whole plant: stems, leaves and flowers harvested in full bloom.

Where the name comes from

The Polish name is neither accidental nor a marketing invention. It comes straight from the verb “goić”, to heal.

The Greek genus name Sideritis derives from the word sideros, meaning iron. In antiquity the plant was associated with wounds inflicted by iron weapons. Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek physician and pharmacologist living in the first century AD, recommended an infusion of the herb to soldiers returning from campaigns, as a means of supporting their return to strength. His De Materia Medica remained the basic handbook of herbal medicine in Europe for the following fifteen centuries.

In other words: the first documented use of ironwort concerned the recovery of the body after exertion and injury. The tea came later.

Lebanese sage, mountain tea, gojnik: why so many names

Ironwort appears under a surprising number of names, which can be confusing when buying it.

Mountain tea. The most popular name in the Balkans and in Greece, where an infusion of the herb is an everyday drink, the equivalent of chamomile or lime blossom in Poland.

Lebanese sage. A trade name used in Poland, misleading in that ironwort is not a sage, although it belongs to the same botanical family.

Greek mountain tea. A term used for the varieties growing in the Olympus massif, regarded as the most valuable.

Gojnik. The Polish name, a direct echo of the verb goić, to heal.

Çaj mali, mursalski chay, planinski čaj. Local names in Albania, Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

All of them refer to plants of the genus Sideritis, which numbers around a hundred species. In cosmetics and herbal medicine the most important is Sideritis scardica, the variety with the best-documented composition.

It is worth knowing that in Bulgaria the plant has been entered in the register of protected species. Wild-growing populations are few, and the raw material is today obtained mainly from controlled cultivation.

What ironwort contains

The composition of the herb is rich and well researched, mainly by Greek, Bulgarian and German centres.

Flavonoids. A group of polyphenolic compounds that includes apigenin and hypolaetin, among others. They are largely responsible for the antioxidant properties of the plant.

Phenolic acids. Another antioxidant fraction, neutralising free radicals.

Essential oils. They give the herb its characteristic balsamic scent.

Phytosterols and tannins. Tannins have an astringent action, used in preparations for the skin.

Minerals. Iron, zinc, magnesium and copper, among others.

A strong antioxidant fraction, tannins and essential oils in a single herb make ironwort an interesting raw material not only for an infusion, but also for formulations applied externally.

Why ironwort found its way into our formula

When we were working on a new ointment for the skin around the joints and muscles, we were looking for an ingredient that would complement the action of comfrey with soothing properties, and that would not be another obvious choice off the shelf. Ironwort met both conditions.

The herb extract brings a soothing fraction to the formula, works well with plant oils and does not disturb the consistency, which matters in a product intended for massage.

That is how Comfrey Ointment with Ironwort and CBD Oil came about, a preparation for external use that moisturises, regenerates and soothes irritation. It is recommended for caring for the skin around the joints and muscles, particularly after physical exertion.

Let us say it plainly: this is a cosmetic. All the traditional uses of ironwort described above concern the infusion and the history of herbal medicine, not the action of the ointment. The ointment cares for the skin – and it does that well.

What it is combined with in the formula

Ironwort does not work alone in the formula. Three other ingredients accompany it, and the whole was conceived as a composition.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale). The base of the ointment and a natural source of allantoin, one of the best-understood regenerating and moisturising ingredients in cosmetics. It has a regenerating, moisturising and firming effect, bringing relief to the skin around the joints and muscles.

Boswellia, or frankincense (Boswellia serrata). The resin of a tree growing in India and on the Arabian Peninsula, known from the Ayurvedic tradition. In the formula it supports sensitive skin that is prone to irritation.

Hemp seed oil with cannabidiol, at a concentration of 5% in our formula. It supports the regeneration of the epidermis and spreads well during massage. You will find more products from this group in the CBD category.

This is rounded off by coconut oil, allantoin and panthenol, that is provitamin B5. We describe the full composition of all our products in the ingredient glossary.

Two mountain raw materials, one formula

There is a symmetry in this formula that pleases us. Ironwort comes from Balkan slopes above a thousand metres, and our mineral water from a deep borehole in the Rabka-Zdrój area, at the foot of the Gorce mountains. It contains over 23,000 mg/dm³ of dissolved solids, almost forty times more than ordinary water, and among them calcium, magnesium, iron, iodine, bromine, selenium and zinc.

Two raw materials shaped by mountains, only by different ones. One brought from the Balkans, the other extracted a dozen or so kilometres from our manufacturing plant in Szczawa, where we have been producing without interruption since 1989.

It is no accident that we reach for ingredients from places like these. Plants growing high up, in difficult conditions, in strong sunlight and with large differences in temperature, produce more protective compounds: the very polyphenols and flavonoids we look for in a cosmetic raw material. Altitude does work that cannot be faked in lowland cultivation.

How to use the ointment with ironwort

Apply the preparation externally, several times a day or as needed, gently massaging it into the skin until absorbed.

A few practical notes from us:

The consistency of the ointment was chosen with massage in mind. It gives enough slip and does not absorb too quickly, so you can work calmly on a tense spot for a few minutes.

Regularity works better than intensity. A short, daily application does more than occasional, generous use.

We do not apply the preparation to damaged skin, or in case of hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.

Frequently asked questions about ironwort

Are ironwort and Lebanese sage the same thing?

Yes. “Lebanese sage” is a trade name used in Poland for Sideritis scardica. The plant is not botanically a sage, although it belongs to the same mint family.

Where does the name gojnik come from?

From the Polish verb “goić”, to heal. The Greek genus name Sideritis comes from the word meaning iron and is connected with wounds inflicted by iron weapons.

Where does ironwort grow?

In mountain areas, usually above 1,000 metres above sea level: in the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa. The most prized variety, Sideritis scardica, comes from the region of the Olympus massif.

Is ironwort used only as a drink?

The infusion is the most popular form, but historically ironwort was known above all for external uses. Today the herb extract is sometimes an ingredient in cosmetic preparations, including our comfrey ointment.

Is the ointment with ironwort suitable for massage?

Yes, massage is exactly what we chose the consistency for. At the same time the active ingredients care for the skin around the joints and muscles.

How much CBD does the ointment contain?

The formula contains hemp seed oil with cannabidiol at a concentration of 5%.

Is the product vegan?

Yes. All our preparations for external use have a vegan composition. The only exception in our range is the propolis ointment.

Can people with sensitive skin use the ointment?

The formula was developed with sensitive skin in mind as well, and the product has undergone dermatological testing. Before first use we recommend a patch test on a small area of skin.

Ironwort is a good example of how we have worked since 1989: we reach for raw materials with a long tradition, we check what they genuinely bring to a formula, and we combine them with what we have in the Gorce mountains.

See the Comfrey Ointment with Ironwort and CBD Oil →

For external use. Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to any ingredient of the preparation. A patch test is recommended before first use. If irritation occurs, discontinue use and consult a doctor or pharmacist.