Properties: Bitter, pungent, cold
Meridans Entered:
Primary: Stomach, Large Intestine
Traditional Actions/Indications:
- Clears Damp-Heat, resolves Toxicity, regulates Blood and Harmonises the Middle Jiao
Bleeding gums, mouth ulcers
Abdominal discomfort or pain, gastritis, stomach ulcers, H. Pylori infection, fungal infections
Duodenal inflammation or ulceration, blood or pus in the stools, inflammatory bowel disease
High cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Sores, boils and skin infections (bacterial or fungal)
Suggested Daily Dosage: 1-2g per day, divided into several doses and chewed as gum. Needs to be taken for several weeks to be effective. For skin conditions apply as plaster.
Notes:
Not a traditional Chinese medicine but with a history in western herbalism since the time of Disocorides (50BC). Chinese properties and actions have been inferred from both ancient descriptions, modern research and contemporary uses. Some sites consider it the same as frankincense (Ru Xiang) but frankincense does not share mastic's effects on the digestive system or actions on H. Pylori, possibly even causing stomach upset.
Does not appear in any formulae listed on this site
Research Links & References: (click to display)
Research Links:
Reference Notes:
Individual herb information has sourced mainly from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes. Zhou, Xie and Yan (2011): Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Vol. 5, and A+ Medical Encyclopaedia have been used for entries not available from those sources with additional material searched for and filled in where available. Western herbs not appearing in the Chinese literature have used Ross (2010): Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine: A Clinical Materia Medica, White Rabbit Institute of Healing and therapeutika.ch. Choices of which source to use or combine have been my own.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted. Actions and indications are taken from traditional uses and do not necessarily reflect the evidence base which should be researched independently. Dosages are for guidance only and will vary dependening on the potency of the batch and the tolerance of the individual so should be evaluated by a professional based on individual needs.
