Dried Lacquer
Dried Lacquer (Solidified lumps, rough blackish-brown, hard texture with a glossy fracture surface, burns with black smoke)
【Naming】
【Source】
Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic, Superior Class
【Frequency of Use】
E
【Botanical Origin】
The dried latex of the lacquer tree Rhus vernicifera De Candolle (family Anacardiaceae).
【Characteristics】
The dried resin is in irregular lumps. The surface is blackish-brown or brownish-black, rough, granular or honeycomb-like, and shiny. It is hard in texture and not easily broken, with an uneven fracture surface. It has a slight lacquer odor. It can be burned when ignited, producing black smoke and a stronger lacquer odor.
Pollen Typhae, Pine Pollen, and Lygodii Spora’s Main Differences
Name
Item Pollen Typhae Pine Pollen <a href='https://whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/海金砂/’>Lygodii Spora
Appearance Fine powder, bright yellow, with visible yellow-brown filaments Fine powder, light yellow Fine powder, brownish-yellow or light brownish-yellow
Texture Light, feels smooth when rubbed by hand, easily adheres to fingers Light, easily dispersed, feels smooth when rubbed by hand Light, feels smooth, easily slips through fingers when held in the hand
Fire Test (Burning) No special phenomenon No special phenomenon Crackling sound, with sparks, and black smoke
【Preparation】
Calcined Dried Lacquer
【Identification】
《Annotations to the Herbal Classic》: “The ones with holes and partitions are the best.” 《Newly Revised Materia Medica》: “Looks like Nidus Vespae, the ones with holes and partitions are the best.” 《Illustrated Materia Medica》: “Now mostly use the ones dried inside the tube, the ones that are black like obsidian and hard like iron and stone are the best.” 《Classified Materia Medica》: “The ones like iron and stone are good.” 《Prescriptions for Universal Relief》: “Dried Lacquer that emits green smoke when stir-fried is the best.” 《Penetrating the Mysteries of Materia Medica》: “The ones from Hanzhong, Jinzhou, and Liangzhou are the best.” 《Complete Book of Processing》: “Dried Lacquer that dries naturally in the bucket, resembling Nidus Vespae, the ones with holes and partitions are the best.” 《Compilation of Experienced Prescriptions》: “Dried Lacquer, the wet ones are picked up with an object, thin and unbroken, quickly recoating bamboo and wood and drying quickly are the best.” 《Easy-to-Read Materia Medica》: “Its body is like a persimmon, its leaves are like Chinese Mahogany, the ones from Jinzhou are the best.”
The best is one that is whole in shape, black in color, hard in texture, and has a strong lacquer odor. It will burn when exposed to fire, emit black smoke, and have a peculiar odor.
【Category】
Other Category