Benzoin

Benzoin

　　Benzoin is a specialty of Guangxi, (English: Benzoin), also known as benzoin resin, dibenzyl ketone, 2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone, or 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone. It appears as colorless or white crystals and can be used as a raw material for pharmaceuticals and wetting agents, as well as a catalyst in polyester production. Benzoin is produced by the condensation of two molecules—within a heated solution of—via the benzoin condensation reaction.

　　 Specialty Culture: Benzoin is mentioned in the "Tang Herbal" and "Compendium of Materia Medica": Ye Tingkui's "Fragrance Spectrum" states that this is a resin, resembling the flesh of a walnut in appearance and color, not suitable for burning but capable of enhancing other fragrances. Wang Ji said, some claim that the genuine kind can gather mice when burned. "The Original Meaning of Classic Herbal Texts": Benzoin, when purple, black, and yellow blend together like agate, and when ground turns white, is considered top quality; coarse black mixed with sand, stones, or tree bark is of lower grade, being merely residue; those in crumbly form without forming solid pieces are the lowest grade, likely mixed with other fragrances. The processing must avoid exposure to fire.

　　 Benzoin, the Chinese translation of the Persian word mukul and the Arabic word aflatoon, originally came from the ancient Central Asian kingdom of Parthia (Anxi), Kucha, Caohu, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Iranian Plateau. During the Tang and Song dynasties, it retained its old name. "Youyang Zazu" records that benzoin comes from Persia and was used medicinally. "Newly Revised Materia Medica" states: “Benzoin has an acrid flavor, fragrant, neutral, and non-toxic. It treats foul qi and ghosts in the heart and abdomen. The Western barbarians compare it to pine resin, appearing in yellow and black chunks, with the fresh ones also being flexible.”

　　 Specialty Efficacy: 1. Sudden heart pain. Or occurring intermittently. Grind benzoin into powder and take half a qian with boiled water.

　　　　2. Stomachache in children. Steam benzoin with wine to make a paste. Separately, use three qian each of agarwood, costus root, clove, patchouli, and star anise; five qian each of nutgrass galingale rhizome, cardamom, and honey-fried licorice root. Grind all into powder, mix with the paste and refined honey to form pills the size of a gorgon fruit. Take one pill each time, dissolved in perilla leaf decoction. This formula is called “Benzoin Pills.”

　　　　3. Joint wind pain. Slice four liang of lean pork and wrap two liang of benzoin inside. Place a layer of ash in a bottle. Put the medicine on the ash and burn it over a high flame (with a copper plate between the flame and the bottle) to produce smoke. Direct the bottle opening toward the painful area to fumigate, making sure the smoke does not disperse.