Mastic tree

What is Mastic tree?

Mastic is the dried sap of the mastic tree, a small evergreen shrub of the Mediterranean. It is best known as mastic gum, or mastiha, chewed for stomach complaints. In Spanish and Italian folk speech the tree is called lentisco.

The resin seeps out when the bark is cut. It dries into pale, brittle lumps called tears, which are chewed or ground to powder. Leaves and oil are used too, but the resin is the common form.

The honest verdict: a few small human trials hint at help for indigestion and for a stomach bug called Helicobacter pylori. The results are mixed and the studies are small. Long traditional use is not proof that it works, and it is not proof that it is safe.

How does Mastic tree work?

No one has pinned down how mastic works in the body. The main idea is that it soothes the stomach lining and slows some gut bacteria.

In test tubes, mastic resin slows the growth of Helicobacter pylori, the bug linked to many ulcers. Whether it does the same inside a living stomach is not settled.

In cell and animal studies, parts of the resin appear to damp down swelling in the gut. One small human study in Crohn's disease saw markers of swelling fall. It had no placebo group, so it proves little.

Mastic is also sticky and coating, which may be why chewers report less burning. That part is a guess, not a finding.

What forms does Mastic tree come in?

Chios mastiha, the resin from trees on the Greek island of Chios, is the form most products use.

Common forms: - Whole resin tears for chewing. - Powder in capsules or tablets.

- Sweetened chewing gum for daily use. - Essential oil, steam-distilled from the resin. - Mastic water or mastiha liqueur.

Food uses are old and widespread. The resin flavours breads, puddings, ice cream and sweets across Greece, Turkey and the Levant. These amounts are tiny.

The essential oil is a flavour and scent product, used by the drop. It is far more concentrated than the resin. It is not meant to be swallowed neat.

Where it comes from:

Greek and Roman writers described mastic for the stomach, the gums and the breath. Dioscorides and Pliny both listed it. Chios has farmed the resin for well over two thousand years.

In Mediterranean folk use the plant was called lentisco. Chewed resin served as a tooth cleaner and breath freshener. Trimmed twigs were used as rough toothpicks.

Folk healers in Spain, Italy and Greece gave it for indigestion, coughs and slow-healing wounds. The Ottoman court prized it as a luxury chew. Chios mastiha later gained protected status in European food law.

What does Mastic tree help with?

• Indigestion with no clear cause (functional dyspepsia): This is the use with the best human evidence, and it is still modest. Folk use held that chewing the resin eased a heavy, burning stomach. One placebo-controlled trial of about 150 people found better symptom scores after three weeks. One trial is a start, not a settled answer. It does not tell you mastic will work for you.
• Helicobacter pylori infection, as an add-on only: Mastic slows this stomach bug in test tubes, but it does not reliably clear it in people. A small pilot study found some people cleared the bug on mastic alone. Clearance rates were far below standard antibiotic treatment. Standard treatment cures most infections. Mastic should never replace it, because an untreated infection can lead to ulcers.
• Mild gut inflammation, such as Crohn's disease: Evidence here is very thin and should not guide treatment. A small open study reported lower inflammation markers over four weeks. There was no placebo group and very few patients. Crohn's disease needs medical care. Stopping prescribed drugs to try mastic can bring on a flare.
• Breath freshening and mouth care: Chewing mastic freshens breath, much as any chewing gum does. Tradition used it as a tooth and gum cleaner across the Mediterranean. Small studies suggest chewing it may lower mouth bacteria counts. It is not a substitute for brushing, flossing or dental care.
• Minor skin inflammation, traditional use: European folk practice applied the resin to small wounds, boils and sore skin. European regulators list this traditional use for the resin. That listing rests on long use, not on trial results. Deep, dirty or spreading wounds need a doctor, not a plant resin.

Which foods are rich in Mastic tree?

1. Greek mastiha breads and sweets
2. Turkish ice cream (dondurma)
3. Mastiha liqueur and soft drinks
4. Middle Eastern milk puddings
5. Mastic chewing gum

Practical Tips:

Mastic is a traditional food flavour across the eastern Mediterranean. The amounts in food are very small. They are not the same as supplement doses and are not expected to act as medicine.

What are the side effects of Mastic tree?

• Headache
• Mild stomach upset or nausea
• Loose stools
• Mouth or gum irritation from long chewing
• Jaw ache from chewing the resin
• Itchy rash or hives in people allergic to the plant family
• Wheeze or breathing trouble after breathing mastic dust

Good to know:

Most people tolerate mastic well, and food amounts rarely cause trouble. Side effects are usually mild and settle when you stop.

Allergy is the main real risk. Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing, is a medical emergency.

How much Mastic tree should you take?

• Recommended daily: Labels on mastic capsules usually list 350 mg to 1 gram of resin a day. Some trials used up to about 2.8 grams a day for short periods. That is what products carry, not a plan for you. Food amounts in bread, sweets or gum are far smaller. Ask a doctor or pharmacist what suits your own case, especially if you take other medicines.
• Best time of day: Timing does not appear to matter much. People using it for indigestion tend to take it around meals. No study has compared morning with evening.
• With or without food: With food, or just after a meal, is the usual pattern for stomach complaints. The resin is well tolerated either way. Food may cut the chance of mild nausea.
• Time to effect: In the indigestion trial, people were scored after three weeks. Some users report easier digestion within a few days. It may also do nothing for you. Mastic has never been shown to work for everyone who tries it.
• How long to take it: Most human trials ran two to four weeks. Traditional use was short and taken as needed. There is no good data on daily use for months or years. If stomach symptoms last beyond two weeks, that is a reason to get checked rather than to carry on.