Dictamo—An ancient beauty secret of Crete Dictamo (Δίκταμο in Greek) is also known as Dittany of Crete. Its scientific name is Origanum Dictamnus. It is an herb that only grows on the mountains of Crete, an island in southern Greece. Dittany of Crete with its rich herbal scent is perhaps one of the rarest herbs in the world. Yet it has been used by generations of Cretans as somewhat of a panacea for all ailments. The Cretans drink it as a Cretan tea, infusion or tisane as part of their famous and extremely healthy, long life giving Cretan Diet. Dictamo is also used as an antiseptic disinfectant for healing wounds, chewed to heal mouth and throat ailments and steeped in Tsikoudia (Raki) alcohol to form a tonic or tincture.
Its history: It is believed that the Minoans knew the benefits of Dittany and used it for curing ailments and for beautifying their skin and hair. Ancient Greek scholars Hippocrates, Aristotle and Theophrastus all extolled the virtues of the 'miracle cure' plant in various ancient writings. Later in the Roman Era poets, writers and philosophers such as Virgil, Cicero and Pliny the elder all commented on the benefits of Dittany. A branch of healing dittany she brought, Which in the Cretan fields with care she sought: Rough is the stem, which woolly leafs surround; The leafs with flow'rs, the flow'rs with purple crown'd, (From Virgil's Aeneid 12.411-431) In ancient Greece it is believed that Hippocrates prescribed plant cures to aid all manner of ailments and considered Dittany of Crete useful for stomach aches and complaints of the digestive system and as a poultice for healing wounds. Later still, during the Classical Renaissance period, European scholars, herbalists and botanists such as Gerald, Dapper and Culpepper renewed interest into the efficacy of Dittany.
Its name & tradition: Dictamo, also called “Erontas” (meaning love), earned its name due to how difficult it is to be collected from the wild. Those who were daring enough to climb in the treacherous mountains of Crete to collect the plant were called Erondades (love seekers).
In Hollywood: In the fantasy novel Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, dittany is the name of a substance which, when used magically, can prevent scarring if applied quickly enough after a cutting injury. Dictamo is classified as “rare” and is protected by European law so that it does not become extinct. BIOselect grows and cultivates its own Dictamo in the mountains of Crete, in order to protect this rare plant. BIOselect holds a patent on the infusion of Olive Oil and Dictamo (Dictamelia), and it is the only skin care product in the world that can claim Dictamelia’s healing and soothing properties.