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Alternate Chinese names: 安息香脂 ān xí xiāng zhī

Kingdom: Plant

Origin in PRC Pharmacopoeia: Styrax tonkinensis (Pier.) Craib. (PRC Pharmacopoeia)

Origin in unofficial sources: Styrax benzoin Dryand.; Styrax tonkinensis (Pier.) Craib.*; Styrax hypoglauca Perk.; Styrax macrothyrsus Per.

Use: Medicinal

Category: Orifice-opening agents

Properties: Acrid and bitter; balanced; nontoxic*.

Channel entry: Heart, liver, and spleen channels.

Actions and indications: Opens the orifices and arouses the spirit; repels foulness and sweeps phlegm; moves qì and the blood. block pattern clouded spirit (as in wind stroke); pain in the heart [region] and abdomen; postpartum dizziness; impediment (bì) pain.

Dosage and method: Oral: Grind to a powder (0.3–1.5g) and use in pills and powders.

Warnings: Contraindicated in yīn vacuity with effulgent fire.

Product description: Two main types are traditionally distinguished. Yuè nán ān xī xiāng (越南安息香 Benzoinum Siamense, Siam benzoin), which comes from Styrax tonkinensis (Siam benzoin). takes the form of small lumps or flat tearlike globules, that are a few centimeters in diameter, about 1 cm thick, brown on the outside and white on the inside. Sū mén dá là ān xī xiāng (苏门答腊安息香 Benzoinum Sumatrense, Sumatra benzoin), the dried resin of Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin), is composed of globular granules compressed into a lumps of varying size. These are reddish or grayish brown with white or grayish-white patches. Both types become hard when low heat is applied for a long time and melt at high temperature. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia only recognizes the former.

Quality: The best quality is oily, has yellowish-white speckles, and a strong aroma.

Production area: Styrax tonkinensis (Siam benzoin): Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Yúnnán, Guǎngxī. Styrax benzoin (Sumatra benzoin), not recognized by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia: Indonesia (Sumatra and Java).

Etymology: The name ān xī xiāng 安息香, peaceful rest aroma, is said to reflect the fact that this agent provides respite from tormenting evils. ān xī 安息 is also an old name for Persia.

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