Mastic gum is a resinous extract from the Pistacia lentiscus tree, indigenous to the Mediterranean islands. The mastic tree thrives especially well in the southern part of the island of Chios, due to the mild climate and characteristics of the soil.
Mastic trees found elsewhere, even in other parts of Chios, do not produce mastic gum. The plant itself is known for its lemony balsam-like smell, which can permeate the air of the ‘Mastichochoria’, the villages on Chios that produce mastic gum. Interestingly, the ancient Egyptians used mastic gum, imported from Chios, in the incense they burned as a tonic for exhaustion and to restore mental clarity.
Mastic gum is used in ointment, toothpaste, mouthwash, and as a component in dental fillings. Pharmaceutical companies use it in the production of pills and capsules, in self-absorbing surgical threads, and doctors use it for sticking a septic bandage on a surgical wound. This wide range of application points to mastic gum’s toxicological safety. Modern researchers have confirmed some of the traditional uses of mastic gum, including its roles in oral health and healthy digestive functioning. Researchers at the University of Nottingham used mastic gum in clinical trials to show mastic gum’s contribution to gastrointestinal health, and particularly for unfriendly bacteria that reside in the stomach.
Mastica may contribute to gastrointestinal health, particularly for unfriendly bacteria that reside in the stomach and may support gum and mouth health*