Mastic gum is a wood gum obtained from the tree Pistacia lentiscus, which is grown on the island of Chios in Greece. Of all the natural products used to treat Hpylori, mastic resin is probably the best known.
Several studies support the claim that mastic gum has an antibacterial effect against Hpylori. However, these studies are often performed in vitro, which means in a test tube or petri dish, and not inside the human stomach. We must always recognize that these studies do not necessarily reflect what is happening in the stomach and intestines!
When I had H pylori, the natural treatment protocol, which I originally learned in my training in functional medicine, included the use of mastic gum for 60 days at a relatively high dose (4-6 capsules per day).
This method of treatment is very well suited for many people if the dosage rules and program duration are followed. Too often, people do not take large enough doses, and they often assume that only a few days of taking mastic gum is enough. This is not the case.
However, this method of treating H pylori did not work for me. Instead, I used the Formula Formula Matula for 30 days, and this program very quickly eliminated all my symptoms.
But do not let it get rid of the use of gum, because the treatment is H pylori, because it works for many people. Despite my poor response to the mastic gum program, there is a fairly large amount of research demonstrating its effectiveness against Hpylori and mastic gum, it has been shown to kill H pylori in vitro.
In addition to the fact that mastic resin with a sufficiently high dose is effective and for quite a long time, it is also important to choose products that contain only mastic rubber of the highest quality.
One of the biggest problems with the natural supplement market is that there are many different versions of the same products, each claiming that their product is best. So which one do you choose?
I recommend that you DO NOT GET the cheapest products, no matter how attractive they are. As a rule, you get what you pay for.
Cheaper supplements usually have significantly lower quality, and this can lead to you spending MORE money in the long run. It may also take a long time to deal with your symptoms. Do not waste energy, time and money on cheap supplements. This will not help you in the long run.
In our practice, we use Gastromend-HP rubber from Designs For Health and Mastika from Allergy Research Group. They are available from distributors in North America and the UK.
In our experience, you can make mastic - and all other natural procedures - more effective by changing your diet. Avoiding key foods such as milk, gluten and soy can reduce inflammation of the stomach and intestines. This allows natural products to work more efficiently against Hpylori.
Like all that you put in your mouth, gum mastic can cause a reaction.
Just as foods such as gluten, milk, lactose and a variety of other foods can cause problems in humans. I'm sure you've heard of people who have seriously reacted to seemingly innocuous foods like peanuts, crab, and strawberries?
We also know that medications, including antibiotics and antacids, can also cause side effects for some people. Just because mastic resin is a “natural” product, it does not mean that it will not cause problems for some people.
Unfortunately, we do not have a crystal ball to predict what will happen, so the only way to find out if mastic or any other product is right for you is to try it.
If you feel any adverse effects, stop taking the product and seek professional guidance on alternatives.
