Mountain tea

On Crete, the common name for Mountain Tea is "malotira" . The most common English name other than Mountain Tea is "Shepherd's Tea," because Greek shepherds would use the plants to make a brewed tea while tending their flocks high in the hills.

Today we know that moumtain tea is called also sideritis because it contains iron (FE) and  also that its therapeutic use in ancient Greece was based on the principle of homeopathy (treating “like with like”). Due to its iron contents Hippocrates recommended mountain tea as a tonic.

Mountain Tea is enormously popular in Greece, and used most often in winter when levels of physical activity decrease and colds, aches, and pains increase. It is said to have a positive effect on almost anything that ails but, most notably, it is used for colds, respiratory problems, digestion, the immune system, mild anxiety, and as an anti-oxidant. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory and to reduce fever.