Mastic gum (mastic or gum) is the gummy extract from the stem and main leaves of the shrub-like tree, Pistachia Lentiscus, which grows mainly in Greece and Turkey. The tree originates from the Greek island of Chios. Mastic gum has been used for around 3,000 years, and today it is widely used as a food ingredient and medicine - especially in the Mediterranean region.
This herb (and supplement) is mostly composed of resinous gum and volatile oils. Its properties are not fully understood, but the mastic gum appears to protect gastric and duodenal cells, and tissues, by inhibiting the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori. Mastic is therefore antibacterial, but has also demonstrated cytoprotective (cell protective) and mild anti-secretary properties.
Historically mastic gum has been used to treat a number of conditions including:
Even low doses of mastic gum (1 gram per day for 2 weeks) can heal peptic ulcers. There is clinical endoscopic evidence, to prove that mastic promotes the healing of gastric mucosal tissues, and that ulcers can be completely replaced with healthy epithelial cells.
Mastic has shown to be effective against 99.9% of all Helicobacter strains, including those that have become resistant to antibiotics. For this reason, it is considered to have potential benefit for the prevention of stomach cancer - but this has not been clinically proven.
Mastic capsules can be opened and the contents used for brushing teeth - due to its antibacterial action. Traditionally, the gum itself would be chewed. In Greece, it is used to make toothpaste and chewing gum. Mastic gum can reduce the mucosal damage caused by anti-ulcer drugs, and aspirin.
At the time of writing this article no well known side effects, contra-indications or drug interactions occur from using mastic gum.
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