Mastic gum is a resin from one Greek island, and PubMed holds 537 records on it across every claimed use. Its reputation was made by a 1998 letter about stomach bacteria.
The human trials tell a quieter story, and 3 numbers carry most of it.
Quick Answer: What Is Mastic Gum?
Mastic gum is the dried resin of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, grown on the Greek island of Chios. PubMed holds 537 records and 30 tagged trials. Against H. pylori, mastic alone cleared 4 or 5 of 13 patients, against 10 of 13 on triple therapy. Its strongest result is functional dyspepsia: 77% improved against 40% on placebo.
Key Takeaways
- Mastic is the resin of 1 shrub, Pistacia lentiscus var. chia.
- PubMed holds 537 records on it, and 30 are tagged as trials.
- Mastic alone cleared H. pylori in 4 or 5 of 13 patients.
- Standard triple therapy cleared it in 10 of 13 in that trial.
- Its best result is dyspepsia: 77% improved against 40% on placebo.
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What Mastic Gum Actually Is
Mastic is not a gum in the chewing-gum sense. It is a hardened tree resin that softens when you chew it, which is how it got the name.
- Source: Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, a shrub in the cashew and pistachio family.
- Where: Grown for resin in the south of Chios, a Greek island.
- Form: Pale yellow translucent drops called tears.
- Traditional use: Stomach complaints and breath, for about 2,500 years.
- Our capsule: 1000 mg of the powdered resin.
A 2012 review describes the resin as uniquely cultivated in southern Chios and used for gastralgia and peptic ulcers since antiquity.[3]Chios gum mastic: A review of its biological activities — Current Medicinal Chemistry (2012) View source Its modern fame rests on stomach bacteria, so the H. pylori trials, arm by arm are the first thing worth reading.
The Size of the Evidence
This is not a herb with 3 studies. It is a herb with a lot of laboratory work and a thin layer of human trials on top.
| What PubMed holds on mastic gum | Count |
|---|---|
| All records on mastic gum or Pistacia lentiscus | 537 |
| Records tagged as human | 169 |
| Randomized or clinical trials, every topic | 30 |
| Systematic reviews or meta-analyses | 3 |
| Records mentioning H. pylori | 22 |
| Records mentioning SIBO | 0 |
The 30 tagged trials cover everything from cholesterol to Crohn's disease, and a few are about unrelated products that share the name. Only 3 human studies tested mastic against H. pylori itself.
The H. pylori Story, in Numbers
The claim began in the laboratory, where it holds up well. It weakens in people.
- 1998: A New England Journal of Medicine letter titled Mastic gum kills Helicobacter pylori.
- 2001: In a dish, 90% of strains died at 500 micrograms per ml.
- 2003: 4 g a day for 14 days cleared 0 of 8 patients.
- 2010: Mastic alone cleared 4 or 5 of 13, antibiotics 10 of 13.
The 2010 randomized pilot is the one to remember, because it put mastic and standard therapy in the same trial.[1]The effect of mastic gum on Helicobacter pylori: a randomized pilot study — Phytomedicine (2010) View source Mastic is not a replacement for antibiotics, and nothing in that trial suggests otherwise.
Where It Did Best
The strongest human result is in a condition mastic is rarely marketed for first.
- Condition: Functional dyspepsia, meaning indigestion with no ulcer found.
- Trial size: 148 patients, randomized against placebo.
- Dose: 350 mg 3 times a day for 3 weeks.
- Result: Marked improvement in 77% on mastic and 40% on placebo.
Heartburn and upper abdominal pain were among the symptoms that improved.[2]Is Chios mastic gum effective in the treatment of functional dyspepsia? A prospective randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial — Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2010) View source A 2025 crossover trial reported the same direction, and both are set out in the functional dyspepsia trials.
The Other Claims
Several further uses have small human studies behind them. None is large enough to settle anything.
| Claim | Best human evidence | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Crohn's disease | Uncontrolled 4-week pilot | 10 patients |
| Cholesterol | Randomized pilot, 8 weeks | 156 analysed |
| Plaque and gums | Short chewing-gum studies | 20 to 32 people |
| SIBO | No study of any kind | 0 records |
In the cholesterol trial, 1 g a day of crude mastic lowered total cholesterol by 11.5 mg/dl, with no gastrointestinal, liver or kidney adverse events recorded.[4]Effects of Chios mastic gum on cholesterol and glucose levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study (CHIOS-MASTIHA) — European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (2016) View source
Safety in One Paragraph
Across the trials mastic was well tolerated, and the European Medicines Agency lists no known undesirable effects. The real caution is allergy, which is covered in who should avoid mastic.
- Family: Anacardiaceae, which also contains pistachio, cashew and mango.
- Skin allergy: Recorded with Mastisol, a surgical adhesive containing mastic.
- Pregnancy: Not recommended by the EMA, for lack of data.
- Under 18: Not recommended by the EMA either.
How It Is Taken
The European Medicines Agency accepts mastic as a traditional herbal medicine for mild dyspeptic disorders, at 0.5 to 1 g twice daily.[5]European Union herbal monograph on Pistacia lentiscus L., resina (mastic) — European Medicines Agency View source That is 1 to 2 g a day, for up to 2 weeks before seeing a doctor.
- Chewing gum or tears: Acts mainly in the mouth.
- Capsules: Swallowed, so the resin reaches the stomach.
- Trial doses: Mostly 1 to 1.4 g a day for the stomach.
- Our label: 1 capsule daily, the bottom of the EMA range.
On those terms a 1000 mg mastic capsule supplies the amount the dyspepsia trials used, with no eradication claim attached.
Speak to a Clinician Before Taking Mastic Gum If
- You have tested positive for H. pylori, which needs prescribed treatment and 1 retest
- You have black stools, vomiting, weight loss or difficulty swallowing
- You react to pistachio, cashew, Mastisol skin adhesive or other tree resins
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding, where the EMA does not recommend mastic
- Your indigestion lasts longer than 2 weeks, the EMA limit for self-care
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mastic gum made of? +
It is the dried resin of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia. The main active candidates are triterpenic acids, and the scent comes from terpenes such as alpha-pinene, 1 of the major components.
What is another name for mastic gum? +
Mastiha, mastic, gum mastic and Chios mastic all mean the same resin. The EU protects the name Masticha Chiou as a designation of origin since 1997.
What does mastic gum do for your body? +
In trials it eased functional dyspepsia, with 77% improved against 40% on placebo. Its effect on H. pylori in people was much weaker than in the laboratory.
Does mastic gum really help? +
For indigestion, 2 trials say probably yes. For clearing H. pylori, mastic alone cleared 4 or 5 of 13 patients, which is not enough to rely on.
Does mastic gum heal your gut? +
No trial measured gut healing in general. A 1984 trial of 38 patients reported duodenal ulcer healing, before routine H. pylori testing existed.
Is mastic gum effective against parasites? +
There are 0 human studies of mastic against intestinal parasites. That claim has no trial behind it at all.
How many human trials has mastic gum had? +
PubMed tags 30 records as trials, across every topic. Only 3 human studies tested it directly against H. pylori.
Does mastic gum lower cholesterol? +
One 8-week randomized pilot found total cholesterol fell by 11.5 mg/dl at 1 g a day. LDL, HDL and triglycerides did not change.
Is mastic gum approved as a medicine? +
The EMA accepts it as a traditional herbal medicine for mild dyspepsia since 2016. That status rests on long use, not on proof of efficacy.
Is mastic gum the same as ordinary chewing gum? +
No. It is a natural resin, while ordinary gum uses a synthetic base. Plain tears are chewed, while our 1000 mg capsule is swallowed.
Related Reading
- Mastic Gum and SIBO: What PubMed Holds
- Mastic for Teeth, Gums and Breath
- Chios Tears, Chewing Gum or Capsules
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