Amber (multi-faceted lumps, blood-red, yellowish-brown, black, smooth fracture surface, vitreous luster, loose and brittle texture)

【Name】

Amber

n 【Source】n

Collected Records of Materia Medica, Superior Class

n 【Common Usage Level】n

C

n 【Botanical Origin】n

The fossilized substance formed from the resin of plants in the genus *Pinus* of the Pinaceae family, buried underground for a long time.

n 【Characteristics】n

That which is dug from the ground is called “Amber“; that which is selected from coal, with mud, sand, and coal dust removed, is called “Coal Amber.”
(1) Amber: Irregular lumps, granular, or polygonal, varying in size; lumps can be up to 6 cm long. Blood-red (commonly called Blood Amber) or yellowish-brown, rough and uneven surface, lustrous, iridescent, loose and brittle texture, easily crushed into powder. Smooth fracture surface with a glassy luster, sometimes containing mud and sand. No odor, bland taste, easily crushed when chewed, no gritty sensation. Burns with swelling, white smoke, and a fragrant aroma.
(2) Coal Amber: Also known as: Black Amber. Usually polygonal, irregular lumps, a few are teardrop-shaped, varying in size. Brown to black surface, slightly lustrous; if the black surface is removed, it is a transparent or translucent glassy substance. Hard and not easily broken. No odor, bland taste, hard and not gritty when chewed.

n 【Identification】n

《Illustrated Materia Medica》: “The red ones are the best,” “If it attracts mustard seeds when rubbed warm in the palm, it is genuine.” 《Essential Compendium of Materia Medica》: “That which is red, lustrous, and attracts mustard seeds is good.” 《Convenient Handbook of Benevolent Arts》: “Amber that attracts mustard seeds is genuine,” “Amber boiled with tofu whey water for a hundred boils, slightly roasted and then ground separately, that which attracts mustard seeds is genuine.” 《Eight Discourses on Following Life’s Seasons》: “Amber that is red like blood is the best.” 《Major Methods of Preparation》: “That which is light and transparent is the best.” 《Compilation of Empirical Formulas》: “Amber should be blood-red and fully matured, that which attracts mustard seeds when wiped under cloth is genuine.” 《Differentiation of Augmented Herbs》: “That which is shaped and colored like raw (amber) is especially good, and it should attract mustard seeds when warmed by rubbing in the palm.” 《Identification of Good and Bad》: “A deep red transparent substance, called Blood Transparent or Gold Amber, is a high-quality product.”nThat which is reddish-yellow, transparent, pure, bright, unbroken, brittle, with a glassy luster on the fracture surface, and easily crushed into powder by hand is the best. That which is reddish-black and hard is second best.nIt melts easily when burned, emits slight black smoke, emits white smoke when just extinguished, and has a slight rosin scent is amber. That which emits black smoke when burned, emits white smoke when just extinguished, and has a kerosene-like odor is coal amber.nAuthenticity Identification: (1) When rubbed with cloth, it can attract rush pith, ash, etc., and does not stick to the hand (because it contains a lot of oil). (2) No sound of sand particles when rubbed. (3) Powder is light yellow. (4) No flame when burned, but it melts into a black color, the fragrance is pure, and there is no rosin odor.

n 【Category】n

Minerals