Lentisk oil: all the benefits of a product of the Mediterranean tradition
L "mastic oil or mastic is a 100% Made in Italy product, to be more specific, Sardinia is the area in which it is possible to find more frequently the contivation of the plants from which an oily resin is obtained called Mastic of Chios. To discover all its uses and properties, continue reading the article; first, however, we also want to recommend watching the video below with the benefits of lavender oil.
Lentisk oil: what is it?
Lentisk oil is a vegetable oil that is obtained from an evergreen and bushy shrub that grows wild in Sardinia.
From the pressing of the berries of this plant an aromatic oil is obtained which in the past was widely used as a condiment in the kitchen.
Extra virgin olive oil has overturned this tradition: in fact now lentisk oil is scarcely used as a flavoring for dishes, and most people prefer olive oil.
Cosmetic use, on the other hand, is still widespread today, mainly exploiting the beneficial properties at a dermatological level.
It is important to emphasize that "mastic oil is not the same as essential oil of mastic, with an intense and herbaceous scent. It is used in aromatherapy and to treat gastritis, hemorrhoids and helps and swelling in the legs.
As for the plant, the mastic belongs to the family of Cashew: it is an easy growing evergreen bushy shrub that can reach a height of 3 meters. All its components can be used. Let's see how.
- Leaves: essential oil is obtained and decoctions and herbal teas are made.
- Fruits: they are small in size similar to berries and ripen in autumn; the color varies from white to red to dark purple almost black. From these fruits we get the oil that replaces the olive oil in the kitchen.
- Flowers and twigs: the essential oil is extracted from here.
- Trunk: an oily resin known as Mastic of Chios, often used in phytotherapy, or as a component of colors and chewingum.
- Hard wood: charcoal is obtained and used in crafts for small lathe and inlay work.
See also
How is mastic oil prepared?
The berries to prepare the lentisk oil must be harvested in November, when they are fully ripe. Harvesting is not easy: you go through thick bushes of wild vegetation and are harvested by hand with the traditional method of rubbing, thus leaving the branches unaltered, ready to generate new berries.
Once collected, cleaned and washed, they are pressed which can be done in two ways.
- Hot pressing
It is the most common and productive method and involves the use of heat. In this case, however, the final product will be less valuable, because the high temperatures tend to modify its organoleptic qualities. On the other hand, the flavor and pungent taste and intense, typical of the bush, they become more delicate.
- Cold pressed
Cold pressing is the best method to obtain an excellent quality oil. The cold-pressed product retains all the original properties and allows you to create an essential oil rich in valuable components.
Homemade mastic oil
Lentisk oil can also be prepared at home following an ancient Sardinian recipe.
The berries are harvested when they are at the right ripeness and generally dark red or brown in color. After cleaning and washing them, they are boiled in plenty of cold water. They are ready when they come to the surface, after about 2 hours of cooking.
They will then be placed in a canvas sack and crushed with a rolling pin. The oil that will come out will be put in a pan and boiled for a few minutes. The mixture will also be filtered to obtain a thick and oily fluid.
The lentisk oil thus obtained will be placed in a dark glass bottle and left to cool.
To make the oil more delicate, just repeat the steps a couple of times.
Lentisk oil: most common uses between present and past
The most common uses of mastic oil vary depending on the area where it is used.
- In Sardinia this oil was used in the past to flavor traditional dishes instead of the much more expensive "olive oil" for those times. The leaves were used, on the other hand, to prepare compresses to heal wounds and as a deodorant for the feet. In some cases it was enough to leave a few leaves inside the shoes to avoid excessive sweating.
- In the Middle East, mastic oil is particularly appreciated for its antiseptic properties, to disinfect wounds, treat gastric ulcers, or to burn as an alternative to incense. Chewing the resin, on the other hand, was used to treat gingivitis and purify the breath. .
- Greeks and Latins used mastic oil, exploiting its diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, healing qualities, for the treatment of gastric ulcers, for cleaning and purifying the skin, for treating coughs and colds. In some cases a few drops were also added to the hair dyes.
The properties of mastic oil
After having mentioned them several times, let's now make a recap on all the properties attributable to lentisk oil.
- promotes intestinal regularity
- effective against gastritis
- reduces cholesterol and lowers triglycerides
- relieves gastric reflux and hiatal hernia disorders
- it acts against inflammation of the airways and calms the cough
- useful for rinsing and gargling as it prevents the formation of plaque, gingivitis and canker sores.
- has an antitumor action
- it is indicated for the treatment of infections such as cystitis, urethritis and prostatitis
L "mastic oil in dermatology
Irritation, dermatitis and psoriasis will have the hours counted if treated with lentisk oil. All this thanks to the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of the product.
Here's how it works:
- helps the healing of wounds avoiding the formation of infections
- reduces itching caused by insect bites
- balances and regenerates skin affected by dermatitis, thanks to its soothing properties
- reduces free radicals thanks to its antioxidant action
L "mastic oil in cosmetics
Lentisk oil is highly appreciated in cosmetics for its moisturizing power, also useful in the treatment of sensitive or irritated skin, and also has an anti-aging action.
The thick oil is used in the production of soaps, bubble baths, bath and massage oils, and moisturizers for the face and body.
This product also has balsamic properties and can be used as an essential oil in the essence diffuser or in the humidifier of radiators to purify the air.
A few drops in the bathtub will serve to perfume and give well-being and relaxation.
Lentisk oil for food use
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, mastic oil has been used since ancient times to flavor dishes in the kitchen: a real seasoning oil to be used instead of olive oil.
It is used to season raw and cooked vegetables, to accompany cheese-based dishes, but also to make excellent fried foods or enrich soups and broths.
