Frankincense

Primarily produced in Somalia, Ethiopia, the Arabian Peninsula and India.

Often teeth-like, tear-like or irregular small lumps, 0.5~3cm long, sometimes stuck together in a cluster. Pale yellow, often slightly green, blue or brownish-red. Translucent. Externally has a layer of white powder, after removing the powder the outer surface is not lustrous. Firm and brittle texture, fractured surface is waxy, not lustrous, with slightly glass-like luster. faintly aromatic odor, slightly bitter taste. When chewed, it is crushed into small clusters at first, then suddenly turns into gummy clusters; it is sticky to teeth and makes the saliva milk-like, with a slightly spicy feeling. Softens when heated, produces aroma when burnt (but without rosin smells), with black smoke and remnants of black residue. When ground with a little water, it forms white milky fluid.

Superior medicinal material is pale yellow, granular, translucent, without sand and barks, sticky powder with hands, aromatic odor.

Acrid, bitter, warm

Adjusts qi, invigorates blood, calms pain, disperses toxin. Apply to stagnation of qi and blood, heart and abdominal pain, swelling pain of abscess and sore, traumatic injury, dysmenorrheal, postpartum blood stasis and pain.