Mastic Gum
Many people now choose mastic gum over common heartburn and indigestion treatments because it addresses the cause of the symptoms and not just the symptoms themselves. Here’s everything you need to know about Mastic Gum!
Mastic gum, or the “tears of Chios” as it is known in Greece, is harvested from the Pistacia Lentiscus tree that is found only on the Greek island of Chios.
No one can say with any certainty as to why the “mastic” tree grows only on Chios, however, the waters surrounding Chios are home to under-water volcanoes that create unique soil conditions on the island.
It takes on average 50 years for the tree to fully mature, with some trees living for up to 200 years.
Old fallen leaves of the Pistacia Lentiscus have been found dating back almost 6 million years, and over time mastic gum has been used by a wide range of civilisations and people including the Egyptians and the Ottoman Empire.
During the Byzantine period mastic gum had the same weight value of gold, and throughout history its uses have varied from culinary to medicinal.
Uses of Mastic Gum
Digestive health and indigestion
H pylori infections and stomach ulcers
Lowering cholesterol
Dental Hygiene, preventing tooth decay and gingivitis
Ingredient in ice cream, Mastika liquor, and Turkish delight
Digestive Health and Indigestion
By far the most important use of Mastic Gum has to be digestive health. It was first used by the grandfathers of medicine, Dioskourides and Hippocrates, and since then it has been used to treat a variety of stomach disorders. Mastic gum contains several properties that make it extremely good at treating digestive related conditions, and promoting general digestive health.
Long hailed as a natural antibiotic mastic gum has been used to relieve the following abdominal disorders and symptoms:
- Indigestion (dyspepsia)
- Heartburn, acid-reflux, and GORD
- Helicobacter Pylori Infections
- Peptic ulcers
- Gastritis
- Fungal infections
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The combination of its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties enable it to not only provide relief from uncomfortable symptoms, but also correct the cause of your symptoms.
Mastic gum can also be used as a proactive digestive supplement. By taking it daily you can help protect your stomach and gut from the long list of common gastrointestinal problems above.
Helicobacter Pylori Infections
Nearly half of the U.K population is infected with H pylori, but despite its commonality and the severe problems the infection can cause, many people are unaware.
Although h pylori infections do not always cause problems in those who are infected, you do run the risk of developing gastritis or stomach ulcers. To successfully treat the infection, the bacteria needs to be eradicated from the stomach. A number of studies have been conducted recently, each showing that mastic gum can successfully target and kill h pylori bacteria.
As well as well killing h pylori bacteria, its anti-inflammatory property enables mastic gum to soothe the common symptoms of the infection; indigestion and heartburn.