The source is from the resin from the dark of Bosuellia carterii Birdw and other species in the same genus, family Burseraceae. The medicinal material is mainly produced in Somalia, Ethiopia of Africa. In spring and autumn, the bark is cut with knife from the bottom to the upper along the tree so that the resin can made to ooze out of the cut and coagulate into solid after several days, the solid being collected. It is often stir-baked for medication. Medicinal Properties Pungent and bitter in flavor, warm in nature and attributive to the heart, liver and spleen meridians. Actions Circulate the blood and qi to alleviate pain, subside swelling and promote tissue regeneration. Application 1. It is indicated for various pains due to stasis of blood. For dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea, it is usually combined with Danggui ( Radix Angelicae Sinensis ), Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong), and Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi), etc.; for epigastric pain, combined with Chuanlianzi (Fructus Meliae Toosendan ), Yanhusuo (Rhizoma Corydalis), etc. ; for Bi-syndrome of windcold-dampness type, combined with Qianghuo (Rhizomaet Radix Notopterygii ) , Qinjiao (Radix Gentianae Macrophyllae ), and Danggui ( Radix Angelicae Sinensis ), etc., such as Juanbi Tang (Decoction); for trauma with pain due to blood stasis, combined with Moyao (Myrrha ) , Xuejie ( Resina Draconis ) , Honghua ( Flos Carthami), and Shexiang (Moschus artifactus), etc. , such as Qili San (Powder); for large carbuncle with hardness and pain, combined with Moyao (Myrrha), Xionghuang (Realgar), and Shexiang (Moschus artifactus ), that is, Xingxiao Wan (Pill); for periappendicular abscess, combined with Hongteng (Caulis Sargentodooxae ) , Zihuadiding ( Herba Violae ), Lianqiao ( Fructus Forsythiae ), and Jinyinhua ( Flos Lonicerae ), etc., such as Hongteng Jian (Decoction). 2. It is used for pyocutaneous disease after rupture, which is not yet healed for a long time. Its combination with Moyao (Myrrha) is ground into powder for application on a sore and the powder has the actions of subsiding swelling and alleviating pain, removing the necrotic tissue and promoting tissue regeneration. Usage and Dosage 3 - 10 g is used in decoction for oral use. It can be usually prepared into plaster to be used for application, or put in decoction for washing. Notes Its decoction looks turbid that it easily makes a case with weakness of stomach vomit, therefore the large dosage should be avoided. It is contraindicated in a case without blood satsis, and pregnant women.
