How many of you have ever heard of a resin produced by the Pistacia lentiscus tree called mastic gum? Well, it has been used for a myriad of ailments in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries for at least 3,000 years. Now, the advantages of this naturally-occurring resin are being revived for its antimicrobial effects. Numerous studies have already been published on this wonderful resin with respect to the gastrointestinal environment, therefore acquiring the respect of the scientific and medical community. Several studies on the effect of mastic gum on gastric ulcers have been performed, and the studies have shown positive results. It provided symptomatic relief of ulcers, reduced the intensity of gastric mucosal damage caused by anti-ulcer drugs and aspirin, and possessed antacid and cytoprotective qualities.

In 1998, researchers at University Hospital in Nottingham, England, conducted a very interesting study in which they demonstrated that mastic gum kills H. pylori, the bacterium that causes ulcers. They wrote,