Greek Mastic Essential Oil

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Greek Mastic Essential Oil

Batch: E1001392

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Common name: Mastic or Lentisk or Mastagi

Latin name: Pistacia lentiscus

Botanical family: Anacardiaceae

Method of extraction: distilled at our organically certified distillery

Plant part used to extract the oil: leaves, brunches and seeds

Cultivation method: wild

Area of origin: Mountains of Chalkidiki

Historical notes:

Mastic 'tears' have been harvested for at least 2,500 years since Greek Antiquity. The gum was first mentioned by Hippocrates who used mastic ‘tears’ for the prevention of digestive problems, colds and as a breath freshener. In fact the word mastic is derived from Greek “μαστιχειν” meaning "to gnash the teeth", which in turn became the source of the English word ‘masticate’.

The gum was widely used and its flavour appreciated. Roman emperors included it in a spiced wine and under the Byzantine Empire, the emperor had a monopoly on the trade of mastic. Later, the Ottoman sultan would send the finest mastic crop to his harem. In those days mastic was worth its weight in gold and the thieves of the precious gum were executed!

Mastic gum is still used as a traditional ‘chewing gum’ and used I production of a mastic liqueur.

Not many people realise that a wonderful essential oil can be distilled from the leaves and brunches of the mastic tree!

Biochemical group: monoterpenes

Main chemical constituents: alpha-pinene, limonene, myrcene

Colour: clear

Consistency: thin

Aroma strength: medium strong

Perfumery note: middle / base

Aroma: balsamic, earthy, herbaceous, resinous, slightly bitter, slightly musky, slightly spicy, strong, woody with a characteristic initial hint of galbanum

Traditional Aromatherapy Uses:

• Traditionally in aromatherapy treatments mastic leaf is associated with the following therapeutic properties:

analgesic, antibacterial,  anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, , antispasmodic, astringent, antiviral, balsamic, expectorant, circulatory decongestant, deodorant, diuretic, warming, insect repellent, lymph decongestant, lymphatic support, vasoconstrictor, vein tonic

• Qualified aromatherapists may use mastic leaf essential oil for common complaints such as:
• skin conditions: boils, cuts, abrasions, wounds, to help stop bleeding (e.g. in an aftershave products), oily skin, spider veins, ringworm
• respiratory issues – bronchitis, aerial antiseptic, colds and flu
• musculoskeletal system: aches and pains, arthritis
• circulatory problems – varicose veins, oedema/water retention
• others – insect repellent and air freshener (antiseptic and deodorant) and as an effective fixative in perfumery blends
• How we use it:
• Inhalation / Vapourisation:

- For respiratory issues such as bronchitis, colds and flu - we really enjoy our mastic leaf essential oil as a decongestant and aerial antiseptic. Try to vapourise a couple of drops on their own or blend with some lemon essential oil.  It also blends well with our lavandin!

- Vapourise, perhaps with some lavender to repel insects, too!

• Skin applications:

                - For an aftershave cream – combine with our lavender and add to an unscented cream               suitable to your skin type

- For spider veins and varicose veins - add together with our helichrysum and add to an unscented base cream

- For water retention – for a lovely massage oil combine with some lemon essential oil in a suitable fixed (vegetable) oil

- For muscular and arthritic aches and pains – combine with

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information

Safety considerations:

No specific safety concerns are associated with this essential oil. However, if Mastic Leaf oil  becomes oxidized it may cause skin sensitization or irritation.

Mastic tree/ leaf oil has not been included in the Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, 'Essential Oil Safety' (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014)

Please, also see our How to Use Essential Oils Safely page for more information.

Research and studies:

• Oxidative stress and apoptosis induction in human thyroid carcinoma cells exposed to the essential oil from Pistacia lentiscus aerial parts.

                https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28196126/

Margaret Pawlaczyk-Karlinski MSc. (Hons.), Cert. Ed., M.I.F.A., NHS reg.