Chios Mastiha: A Natural Medicine Webinar

Chios Mastiha: A Natural Medicine - Ilias Smyrnioudis, PhD & John Benovias, M.Sc.

It is without a doubt, that since the ancient era Chios Mastiha has strongly shaped the identity of the fragrant island of Chios, which lies in the Aegean Sea, on the Eastern sea border of Greece.

The plant belongs to the Pistacia lentiscus L. species of the Anacardiaceae family. It is an evergreen shrub, extensively spread n the Mediterranean region. The unique cultivar of P. lentiscus cv chia is exclusively cultivated in Southern Chios (Mastihohoria). Interestingly, Chios Mastiha has reportedly been used in traditional Greek medicine for the relief of diverse gastrointestinal disorders, such as abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastritis and peptic ulcer for more than 2,500 years. Published scientific research (more than 300 studies) indicates that Chios Mastiha exhibits strong anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidation action. The positive effect of the above attributes on human health, plus recent scientific results are presented.

The webinar recording lasts 54 minutes, including a Q & A session.