Mythology

Some scholars identify the bakha (בכא) mentioned in the Bible with the mastic plant. Bakha appears to be derived from the Hebrew word for weeping, and is thought to refer to the “tears” of resin secreted by the mastic plant.

Ancient Jewish halachic sources indicate mastic as a treatment for bad breath

Mastic is an essential ingredient of chrism, the holy oil used for anointing by the Orthodox Churches.

(Source: www.wikipedia.org)