Witnessed by: Western · Unani
Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), of the Anacardiaceae family. Evergreen shrub or small tree with leathery leaves, exuding resin from the bark; native range: the Mediterranean, the finest resin from the island of Chios. Globally recognized as mastagi rumi (مصطكى رومي) in Arabic, and mastic, gum mastic, lentisk in English. The part used is the resin (mastic gum). Pale translucent tears turning brittle, aromatic and faintly bitter, softening to a chewy gum warmed in the mouth.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
MASTIC
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Mastic
- Scientific name
- Pistacia lentiscus L.
- Family
- Anacardiaceae
Form
- Part used
- the resin (mastic gum)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- aromatic · bitter
- Unani
- aromatic · bitter
Temperature
- Western
- warm
- Unani
- hot & dry (2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- stomach · digestion · mucous membranes
- Unani
- stomach · liver · intestines
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- aromatic, astringent, carminative and stomachic, mildly antiseptic; a masticatory for the breath and gums
- Unani
- muqawwi-e-meda (stomach tonic), qabiz (astringent), habis (checks fluxes), mundamil (wound healer), muattir-e-dahan (sweetener of the breath)
Cautions
- Contraindications
- known allergy to resins or the Anacardiaceae
- Toxicity
- generally very safe; large doses only mildly upsetting
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