1. What is benzoin?
Benzoin, known as benzoin in Chinese medicine, is a white-flowered tree of the benzoin family, Styrax tonkinensis (pierre), Craib ex Hartof dry resin. It is a spice and medicinal herb that I rely on imports to obtain.
It is an irregular small lump, slightly flattened, often cemented into clumps. The surface is orange-yellow, with a waxy luster; or irregularly cylindrical, flattened, and block-like. The surface is grayish-white to yellowish-white. Brittle, brittle, flat in section, white, gradually turning pale yellow-brown to reddish-brown after placement. Heating softens and melts. The gas is fragrant, the taste is slightly pungent, and the chewing has a grit feeling.
After repeated rejection, the purer benzoin completely disappears and becomes a sticky gum-like gelatin. However, if there are impurities such as sediment or inferior benzoin, no matter how you chew it, the feeling of sand grains will never be eliminated.
The harvesting and processing method of benzoin is different from the general grass root bark, it needs to cut a cut in the bark of the Anbaihua tree in the previous year (generally not less than 7 years), and the irritated tree then secretes sap from the wound to repair the wound, and after this juice is dried, it is our medicinal benzoin.
Second, the origin of benzoin
Pharmacopoeia orthodox benzoin is mainly found in Laos and VietnamThe food and drug administration's "List of Non-first-time Imported Medicinal Materials" stipulates that the places of origin are Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. The benzoin countries approved by the General Administration of Customs for import are Germany and the United Kingdom. These two seriously contradictory catalogs make pharmaceutical companies not, why are they not compliant with imports!
This embarrassing situation is mainly due to the fact that Laos and Vietnam have always been the places of origin, and Germany and the United Kingdom are the largest consumers and the most powerful countries of this incense. Historically, this kind of incense has been sold to the United Kingdom and Germany in Europe through "middlemen" such as Thailand, and we have imported it from the United Kingdom and Germany. In the end, a paragraph was written on the catalogue of the drug administration and the customs, which caused the embarrassing situation now.
In the 80s of the 20th century, the preliminary conclusion of the research of the Institute of Medicinal Plants of the Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences was that the benzoin plant resources in China are relatively rich, mainly distributed in the south of the Yangtze River, especially in the southern tropics, the first zone area, in Guangxi, Yunnan, Guangdong and other places in China have wild and cultivated. However, according to the plant identification, it is proved that the domestic benzoin and the imported benzoin styrax tonkinensis are related plants of the same genus and different species, such as: Styrax macrothyrsus perk, Styrax Subni-Veus Merret ghun, Styrax hypoglaucus perk, in addition, Vietnamese benzoin Styrax tonkinensis graib. At that time, it was reported that the domestically produced benzoin met the standards issued by the ministry at that time.
The Flora of China is also distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi and other places in China. However, domestic benzoin has not been done, and related research has been discontinued!
3. The name and application of benzoin
Benzoin is called benzoin because of its unique aroma and medicinal properties. Benzoin is a resin extracted from a tree called benzoin, which has a rich fragrance and unique medicinal effects.
In ancient times, benzoin was widely used to make spices and medicines. Due to its strong and long-lasting aroma, it is believed to ward off evil spirits, purify the air, and bring tranquility and peace. Therefore, benzoin is known as the incense of "rest", which means to soothe and calm.
In addition, benzoin also played an important role in ancient medical practices. It is used for various ailments such as headaches, colds, coughs, indigestion, etc. It is believed that the aroma and medicinal properties of benzoin can ward off diseases, strengthen the body's immunity, and restore health.
In modern times, benzoin is still widely used in the field of spices and medicine. Benzoin is widely used as a fragrance and preservative in perfumes, cosmetics, oral care products, and more. At the same time, in the field of medicine, benzoin is also used to make medicines and health products, which has certain medicinal value. It is used in many traditional Chinese medicine classics, such as Zhi Bao Dan, Su Hexiang Pill, Da Huo Luo Dan, Da Shen Xiao Huo Luo Dan, Hui Shen Rebirth Pill and so on. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, it has health effects such as opening the mind and calming the mind, and smoothing qi and blood.
IV. Afterword
At present, benzoin still relies on imports, and it is believed that in the near future, the embarrassing problem of China's benzoin import place will be solved, so that benzoin can be imported in the name of medicine and serve public health.