Frankincense (Ruxiang)
| Pharmaceutical Name: | Resina Oliani Olibanum |
| Botanical Name: | Boswellia carterii Birdw. |
| Common Name: | Frankincense Mastic |
| Source of Earliest Record: | Mingyi Bielu |
| art Used & Method for Pharmaceutical Preparations: | The gum-resin is gathered in spring or summer, after the bark of the tree is cut. Then the gum-resin is fried. |
| Properties and Taste: | Pungent, bitter and warm |
| Meridian: | Heart, liver and spleen |
| Functions: | To invigorate blood and stop pain To reduce swelling |
| Indications and Combinations: | 1. Pains caused by blood stagnation: a) Dysmenorrhea. *Use with Chinese angelica root (Danggui), Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong) and Cyperus tuber (Xiangfu). b) Stomach pain. *Use with Sichuan chinaberry (Chuanlianzi) and Corydalis tuber (Yanhusuo). c) General pain or joint pain due to invasion of wind-cold-damp. *Use with Notopterygium root (Qianghuo), Futokadsura stem (Haifengteng), Large-leaf gentian root (Qinjiao), Chinese angelica root (Danggui) and Chuanxiong rhizome (Chuanxiong) in the formula Juanbi Tang. d) Pains caused by external injuries. *Use with Myrrh (Moyao), Dragon’s blood (Xuejie) and Safflower (Honghua) in the formula Qili San. e) Pain from carbuncles and furuncles with swelling. *Use with Myrrh (Moyao), Red peony (Chishao) and Honeysuckle flower (Jinyinhua) in the formula Xianfang Huoming Yin. 2. Boils and ulcers. *The powders of Frankincense (Ruxiang) and Myrrh (Moyao) are used externally. The combination is called Haifu San. |
| Dosage: | 3-10 g |
| Cautions: | This herb is contraindicated during pregnancy. |