Mastic
Mastic, or Mastich, both măsăt$ik, a fragrant, resinous substance; also, the tree that produces the substance. Mastic is obtained by puncturing the bark of a mastic tree, allowing resin to ooze out. Mastic is used chiefly as an artist's varnish and as a chewing gum. In folk medicine, it is used as a filling for decayed teeth. Chios mastic, used since ancient times as a varnish, is tapped from the common mastic tree of the Mediterranean region. The name mastic is also applied to pasty substances used for insulation and waterproofing, and as cement for setting glass or tile.
Mastic trees belong to the cashew, or sumac, family, Anacardiaceae. Trees that produce mastic are the common mastic tree, Pistacia lentiscus; the Bombay mastic tree, P. mutica; and the American mastic tree (or pepper tree), Schinus molle.