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.
Adaptogens for Stress Support
The stress-balancing action of adaptogens We’ve all been there at least once. Whether it be a list of deadlines, a high-stakes presentation the next day, early morning travel, or a crying infant keeping you awake all night, we’ve all had to pour that morning coffee, push through those frazzled nerves, and hope for the…
The Broccoli Remedy: DIM for Hormone Health
Supporting female AND male hormonal health with 3,3′-diindolylmethane The healing power of Brassica vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale comes in large part from the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which naturally breaks down in the gut to a constituent known as 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) (pronounced “dim”).[1] Consumption of cruciferous vegetables is associated with…
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…
