Discomfort and cramping

Jarrow Formulas Mastic Gum 1,000 mg

Chios mastic resin in a capsule, taken before breakfast for a stomach that aches or burns, with one placebo-controlled trial behind the ingredient.

Format: Capsule, once a day
Type: Herbal
Cost: $1.07 a day
Customer rating: 4.3 out of 5 from 3,171 ratings from Amazon

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What customers consistently report

Heartburn and a burning stomach easing after a few weeks
Being the thing that helped when acid reducers had not
Capsules that avoid chewing the resin itself

Those are the themes that recur across the reviews. Moderate review confidence — 4.3 from 3,171 Amazon ratings, with 9% at one star.

Why it might work

Mastic is the dried resin of a Mediterranean tree, and its triterpene acids are thought to coat and calm the stomach lining, reduce inflammation and inhibit some bacteria, including H. pylori in the laboratory. The dyspepsia trial suggests that combination translates into less upper-stomach pain and burning over a few weeks. It is taken before breakfast so the resin meets the lining without food in the way.

What the research supports

Ingredient-level evidence from one trial. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial gave 148 people with functional dyspepsia 350 mg of Chios mastic gum three times a day for three weeks; the symptom score fell significantly more than on placebo, with stomach pain, a dull ache in the upper abdomen and heartburn among the symptoms that improved. Small studies have tested mastic against H. pylori with mixed results, and a 2026 pilot trial used it as an add-on to standard eradication therapy. No trial of this brand was found.

What the label discloses

Two capsules supply 1,000 mg of mastic gum from the stem and branch of Pistacia lentiscus, in a vegetarian capsule. Jarrow states the product is non-GMO and gluten-free, but the listing does not say whether the resin is the Chios (Greek) mastic used in the trial or state any marker compound. No third-party testing certificate is published.

Who this tends to suit

We match this product to people reporting general abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain and heartburn or reflux. It fits someone whose priority is day-to-day comfort, resetting after a course of antibiotics or an upset or pain and tenderness. Whether it is the best fit for you depends on the rest of your answers — what you have already tried, what format you will take, and anything that has to be ruled out.

Where it may not fit

The label supports gluten-free and no added sweeteners. We flag this product for anyone pregnant or breastfeeding or taking prescription medication, and the quiz removes it rather than recommending it in those cases. That is a caution about who should be deciding, not a claim about the product. A capsule only works if you will take it once a day, every day.

Side effects and what to be aware of

Some report constipation, and a meaningful minority say it did nothing. It costs about a dollar a day. Mastic comes from a tree in the same family as pistachio and cashew, so anyone with those allergies should avoid it. The label says consult a practitioner if pregnant, under 18, on medication or with a medical condition. The H. pylori claim often attached to mastic rests on small studies; it is not an alternative to antibiotic treatment for a confirmed infection.

Before you take this. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or taking prescription medication. Nothing on this page is medical advice, and no supplement diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents disease.

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