BT-003 · Altingiaceae

Oriental sweetgum

Liquidambar orientalis

Evidence: LimitedCautionEndangered

In the wild it grows only in southwestern Türkiye and on Rhodes.

Other names: Levant storax, sığla (Turkish), günlük
Part used: Resin from the trunk, bark
Region: Anatolia and the Mediterranean
Use: Incense and protection, Healing

Photo: Zeynel Cebeci · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In short

What is Oriental sweetgum?

Oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) is a plant of the Altingiaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: resin from the trunk, bark.

What is Oriental sweetgum used for?

Traditional use: Around Köyceğiz in Muğla, resin is collected by scraping the bark. Scientific evidence: limited. The resin contains cinnamic acid and its derivatives.

Is Oriental sweetgum safe?

Safety label: caution. Can irritate sensitive skin and cause allergy. Internal use is not recommended.

Traditional use

Anatolia

Around Köyceğiz in Muğla, resin is collected by scraping the bark. Sığla oil is applied to wounds, eczema and scabies; the dried bark (günlük) is burned as incense.

Ancient Mediterranean

Storax resin appears among Egyptian embalming materials and was used in incense and perfume in ancient Greece.

In nature

Where it grows: Stream banks and plains with a high water table in Muğla (Köyceğiz, Marmaris, Fethiye), Aydın and Antalya. Outside Türkiye it grows naturally only on Rhodes.
Harvest season: Resin is collected in summer (June–October) by wounding the bark.
Local names: sığla, günlük ağacı, sığla yağı, buhur

Mix-up risk

Its leaves resemble plane-tree leaves and its fruit is a spiky ball. Sığla oil on sale is sometimes mixed with other resins.

Preparation

The resin is applied to the skin as an ointment or oil; the bark is burned as incense.

What science says

The resin contains cinnamic acid and its derivatives. Lab studies show antimicrobial and wound-healing effects; human studies are scarce.

Safety

Caution

Can irritate sensitive skin and cause allergy. Internal use is not recommended.

Drug interactions

Medicine or substance	Why it matters
No notable drug interaction reported	Internal use is not recommended; the main risk is skin irritation and allergy.

This list is not complete. If you take regular medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor before trying Oriental sweetgum.

Conservation

IUCN: Endangered (EN)
Note: Its natural forests are small and fragmented, and shrinking through farmland clearance and drainage.
Alternative: Buy sığla oil from cooperatives or licensed producers.