The story behind Chios tears…
Chios mastic gum, often simply referred to as “mastiha” or “mastika”, is the resin that comes from the mastica tree, a small evergreen tree native to the Greek island of Chios. The production of Chios mastic gum to this day remains true to the original traditional cultivation practices, and is protected by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece. Dr. Carrie Decker discusses the many stages of mastiha production and its use in Greece, part of which she was able to experience in her travel to the island of Chios. The traditional medicinal uses and its current use as a dietary supplement will also be visited, as well as some interesting factoids about mastiha ice cream.
Maritime Pine Bark Extract: An Anti-Aging Solution?
The anti-aging and metabolic benefits of this highly-researched pine bark compound Maritime pine bark extract, sourced from the maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton), has a long history of use both in industry and in medicine. The tree has been widely used since the 16th century in Europe as source of timber as well as…
Why is There Alcohol in My Dietary Supplement?
For supplement users trying to optimize health, the alcohol question commonly arises You just started to do a dietary cleanse, bought oodles of recommended supplements, and on the first day a recognizable liquid hits your tongue. “Alcohol? Could this possibly be alcohol?” you wonder and realize with amazement after looking at the label that…
Banaba’s Powerful Effects in Diabetes
“The Pride of India” owns its name A botanical traditionally used in Southeast Asia for diabetes and its related complications is Lagerstroemia speciosa, also known as Banaba. This tree is common to the region and has been a part of Philippine local herbal medicine and other medical traditions such as Ayurveda for many years….
