Individual Herbs Notebook

乳香 Ru Xiang

Pharmaceutical: Olibanum
Taxonomy: Boswellia serrata

Other names: Frankincense / Shallaki शल्लकी

Category: Herbs that Regulate the Blood


Properties: Pungent, bitter, warm

Meridans Entered:
Primary: Liver, Heart and Spleen

Traditional Actions/Indications:
  1. Invigorates the Blood and promotes the movement of Qi
    Pain due to Blood Stasis from traumatic injury
    Early stage toxic sores, carbuncles, swellings and pain
    Blood Stasis with chest, epigastric or abdominal pain
  2. Relaxes the sinews, activates the channels and alleviates pain
    Wind-Damp Bi with rigidity and spasms
  3. Reduces swelling and generates flesh
    Topically as an ointment or powder to reduce swelling, generate flesh, alleviate pain and promote healing of sores, carbuncles, and traumatic injury
    Pain, redness and swelling of the gums, mouth and throat

Suggested Daily Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.

Cautions: This herb is drasticly pungent with strong stimulation to stomach and easily causes nausea and vomiting. So it should not be taken by large dose or for a long time. Use with cautions for patients with weak stomach; prohibited for pregnant women.

Notes:

Frankincense has powerful associations in the western religious traditions, being associated with the birth of Jesus and much catholic ritual; Jewish ritual and magic (see the Sepher Ha-Razim for several examples of using frankincense in angelic magic); Islamic hadith and medicine; and in Egyptian embalming rituals. In most of these instances it has a sanctifying property, symbolising connection with the divine, strengthening the heart and improving the mind.

Appears in 35 formulae listed on this site: (click to display)
Research Links & References: (click to display)
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