Mastiha is the sap of the mastic tree that trickles down like tears when the bark is scraped. These tears harden when they fall to the ground and are then collected and cleaned by the native farmers. What’s unique about the mastic tree is that although it grows all around the Mediterranean, it only produces mastiha in the southern part of Chios where the soil and weather conditions favor its cultivation.
Having grown up in a Greek household with immigrant parents from the island of Chios, mastiha was interwoven into every aspect of my culture. My immediate family in the town of Mesta, Chios cultivated it, my aunts baked sweets with it, and my grandparents made liquor out of it.
Although it was a natural part of my heritage, I had never really evaluated it till I started making my own skincare products. My curiosity was ignited during a conversation I had with a friend of mine named Niko from Mesta one summer as we sat in his ceramics studio and shared home-made wine and watermelon. He was originally from the island of Crete and had moved to Mesta to start fresh and purse his dream of opening up his own ceramics/pottery making studio. I had asked him why he had chosen the island of Chios and he had explained that he had randomly picked Mesta by just opening up a map of Greece and blindly landing his finger on it. He further explained that after researching it, he learned that the south part of the island was the only place in the world that produced mastiha and decided that it must be "special". He packed his bags, moved to Chios, opened up his studio and had been living there ever since. His words resonated in my thoughts that day and inspired me to investigate mastiha and find out what was so special about it.
As I started to dig deeper beyond its cultural and historical uses, I learned it also had many healing properties.
Mastiha Benefits:
Historically, mastiha has been used as a panacea for
ailments ranging from burns, wounds, acne, eczema, sore muscles, wrinkles,
high cholesterol,
diabetes and oral hygiene. Modern research studies have supported some of these
healing properties.
Mastiha has been found to
have natural anti-microbial properties. These properties have warranted its use
in oral hygiene products as well as in wound-dressings that accelerate healing
and promote skin regeneration. Furthermore, it has been shown to be effective
against H. plyori,
the bacteria that can cause stomach ulcers. Other studies have shown that the
natural antioxidant properties of mastiha are beneficial in preventing the risk
of atherosclerosis and heart diseases.How Mastiha is Used:
There are numerous ways to use mastiha but the main ways of benefiting from the healing properties of mastiha is by using either the resin or the oil.
The resin is the mastiha sap in it's hardened form. You can chew on it directly for oral hygiene or peptic ulcer ailments. Many people from Chios infuse the resin in a jug of water and drink the mastiha-infused water to address high cholesterol and/or diabetes related issues.
Mastiha oil and crushed mastiha powder can be used in baked sweets and foods for added flavor and an exotic aroma.
For skincare, mastiha oil can be added to a carrier oil of choice, i.e. olive oil, and used as a massage or body oil. The mastiha infused olive oil can also be used on cuticles, light scratches, dry skin patches and burns. You can also use the masitha infused oil on your skin as a natural, anti-aging moisturizer.
Finally, mastiha oil is also a great fixative for making DIY natural perfumes.
Anthesis Products with Mastiha:
Aside from my personal connection to its nostalgic, sweet aroma, I use mastiha in all my skincare products as a natural anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and skin-regenerative agent. I have also created my own, original recipe which incorporates the benefits of mastiha in an herbal salve. Mastiha is included in all my hand, body and facial lotions as well as my Mastic Dead Sea Bath Salts.
For more information on any of my products, you can visit my Etsy page: https://www.etsy.com/shop/anthesis
If you are interested in buying imported mastiha resin, oil or powder: http://www.mastihashopny.com
Please note, Anthesis Organic Skincare products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is the consumer's responsibility to be educated on the use of any ingredients used in Anthesis Organic Skincare products. If pregnant or nursing, or are suffering from any medical condition, consult a health care practitioner
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