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(Song Dynasty "Kaibao Bencao")

[Names] Li Shizhen stated: Zhihan (Resin of Cinnamomum micranthum) is pronounced like "Han" and is a term from foreign languages.

[Collection and Explanation] Chen Cangqi stated: Zhihan originates from the Western Regions. It is prepared by decocting Tectona grandis latex, pine resin, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Licorice), Rehmanniae Radix (Rehmannia Root), and hot blood together. Foreigners test its efficacy by severing one foot of a child, placing the medicine in the child's mouth, and stepping on it with the severed foot; if the child can walk immediately, it is considered good medicine.

[Flavor and Properties] Sweet, warm, non-toxic.

[Indications] Treats traumatic injuries and fractures, internal damage due to blood stasis, tonifies muscles and tendons, eliminates malignant blood, directs rebellious Qi downward, and treats various blood clumping syndromes postpartum in women, abdominal pain with internal cold, and anorexia. It should be dissolved in wine for oral administration or applied externally to the affected area (Chen Cangqi).

[Prescriptions] New Prescription 1.
For amenorrhea in young unmarried women, blood clumping into masses, and attacking pain in the heart and abdomen: Take equal parts of Zhihan, Curcumae Longae Radix (Turmeric), and Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (Rhubarb, stir-fried), each half liang, grind into powder. Take one qian per dose, washed down with warm water. (From "Shengji Zonglu")

(Tang Dynasty Materia Medica)

[Names] Li Shizhen stated: This incense repels evil and allows all evils to rest, hence the name. Some say: Anxi is the name of a country. In Sanskrit, it is called Zhuobeiluo Xiang.

[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong stated: Anxi Xiang (Styrax Resin) originates from the Western Barbarians. It resembles pine resin, is yellowish-black in color, and forms in lumps.
Chen Cangqi stated: It grows in the Persian Kingdom of the South Sea.
Tao Hongjing stated: According to Duan Chengshi's "Youyang Zazu": The Anxi Xiang tree originates from Persia and is called the "Biexie Tree." It is two to three zhang tall, with yellowish-black bark. The leaves have four corners and do not wither even in cold weather. It blooms yellow flowers in February, with slightly green centers. It does not bear fruit. When the bark is scored, the gum flows out like maltose syrup, named Anxi Xiang. It solidifies in June and July and is then harvested. Burning it connects with the divine spirit and repels various evils.
Li Shizhen stated: Currently, it is produced in Annan, Srivijaya, and other places. "Yitong Zhi" records: The tree resembles Melia azedarach (Chinaberry), large and straight. The leaves resemble those of Actinidia chinensis but are longer. The pith contains resin that forms incense. Ye Tinggui's "Xiang Lu" states: This is a resin, resembling walnut kernels in shape and color. It is not suitable for burning alone but can enhance other fragrances, so people use it to blend incenses. Now, when people blend incenses, there is a substance resembling maltose syrup, called Anxi Oil. Ji stated: Some say that the true product is the one that gathers mice when burned.

[Flavor and Properties] Pungent, bitter, neutral, non-toxic.

[Indications] Malignant Qi in the heart and abdomen, Gui Zhu (Ghost Attachment) ("Tang Bencao"). Evil spirits and demons, ghost fetus and blood pathogenic factors, repels gu poison, cholera with wind-pain, seminal emission in men, warms Kidney Qi, blood stagnation leading to fainting in women, and postpartum blood vertigo (Meng Shen). For women having nocturnal dreams of sexual intercourse with ghosts, combine with Chouhuang (Ochre) to make pills, burn and fumigate in the Danyue area to permanently eliminate (Li Xun). Burning it removes ghostly influences...

[Prescriptions] New Prescriptions 4.
Sudden heart pain or frequent attacks over years: Grind Anxi Xiang into powder, take half a qian with boiling water. (Wei Shi's "Defang")
Infant abdominal pain, crying while curling up: Anxi Xiang Wan: Use Anxi Xiang (steamed with wine into a paste), Chenxiang (Aquilaria Wood), Muxiang (Vladimiria Root), Huixiang (Fennel Fruit) each 3 qian, Xiangfuzi (Cyperi Rhizoma), Suasharen (Amomum Fruit), Zhi Gancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) each 5 qian, grind into powder. Mix with the paste, refine honey, and make pills the size of Euryale Seed. Take one pill per dose, dissolved in Perilla Decoction.
Take 4 liang of lean pork sliced, wrap 2 liang of Anxi Xiang inside. Place ashes in a jar, put a copper plate over the fire to separate, place the incense on top to burn, and fumigate the painful area with the mouth of the jar.