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(From *Tang Bencao*)

[Names] Pian Nao (from *Bencao Gangmu*), Jialuoxiang (from *Yanyi*), its resinous form is called Polvxiang.
Li Shizhen said: Longnao (Borneol) receives this precious name due to its appearance.
Those that are white, crystal clear like ice, and in the shape of plum blossom flakes are considered superior, hence commonly called Bingpian Nao (Ice Borneol) or Meihua Nao (Plum Blossom Borneol). In foreign lands, there are also names such as Mi Nao, Su Nao, Jinjiao Nao, and Canglong Nao, all named according to color and shape, none surpassing Bingpian and Meihua. The purest form is called Naoyou (Borneol Oil), referred to as Jiegong in the *Jin Guangming Jing*.
Su Gong said: Longnao is the dried resin from the tree roots. Polvxiang is the clear resin from below the roots. It was originally produced in Boluo Country, hence the name.

[Collection and Explanation] Su Gong said: Longnao Xiang (Borneol Fragrance) and its resinous form come from Boluo Country. The tree resembles a fir. The "brain" (resin) resembles white pine resin, has the scent of fir, and the clear and pure ones are good. Those exposed to wind and sun for a long time or resembling bird droppings are inferior. Some say: the seeds resemble cardamom, the bark has cracked scales, which is fir resin. Currently, firs grow in Jiangnan, but this has not been tested. Or perhaps some regions lack this resin, just as bananas lack fruit.
Su Song said: Now it is only traded by foreign merchants arriving by ship in the South Sea. It also grows in the mountains of the South Sea. It is said: the tree is seven or eight zhang high, six or seven wei thick, looking like an aged fir, with branches growing sideways, leaves round and white on the back, fruits like cardamom, bark with scale-like cracks; the fragrance is the resin within the wood. The resinous liquid at the root base is called Polvgao (Polv Resin). According to Duan Chengshi's *Youyang Zazu*: The tree of Longnao Xiang is named Gu Buluo, has no flowers or fruit. Its resin flows from the top of the tree; trees are cut and hollowed out to collect it. The two accounts are largely similar. During the Tianbao era of Tang, Jiaozhi paid tribute in the form of Longnao resembling cicadas or silkworms. Locals said it only appears at the joints of old tree roots, yet is extremely rare. It was called Ruilongnao (Auspicious Dragon Borneol) in the palace; carrying it on one's lapel allowed the scent to be detected ten paces away, but later such specimens ceased to appear. Current Hainan Longnao is often processed into flakes by fire, allowing for adulteration. For medicinal use, the raw form resembling plum blossom flakes is prized.
Kou Zongshi said: This is the resin from the Boluo tree in Boluo Country west of the sea, resembling Baijiaoxiang (White Gum Resin). The Longnao oil originally came from Foshi Country, extracted from trees.
Xuanzang said: According to *Records of the Western Regions*, in Moluojutuo Country in western India (southern India), there is a Jiebuluo Xiang tree. Its trunk resembles a pine but its leaves and fruits differ. When wet, it has no scent; after drying, splitting along the grain reveals the fragrance inside, resembling mica in shape and ice/snow in color; this is Longnao Xiang.
Lu Tan said: Longnao Xiang is found in various southern foreign countries. If the tree is damaged or shaken, fragrance is produced. If damaged excessively, the qi leaks and no "brain" remains. Locals split the wood into boards; resin exudes from the board seams, which is then harvested. Large pieces resemble flower petals; the purest is called Naoyou. *Jiangnan Yiwen Lu* states: During the BaoDa era of Southern Tang, in a glass bottle, it dripped into water shortly, with a strong, rich aroma, greatly tonifying Yuanqi (Primal Qi). Note: This sap differs slightly from Naoyou but is likely of the same category. *Song Shi* records that in the 9th year of Xining, lightning struck Yingzhou, withering all catalpa trees on a mountain, which turned into Longnao internally. This is a natural phenomenon.

[Processing] Su Gong said: Storing Longnao Xiang with glutinous rice charcoal and Abrus precatorius seeds prevents loss.
Li Shizhen said: Some suggest storing it in a small porcelain jar with chicken feathers and Abrus precatorius seeds for best results. *Xianggan Zhi* suggests storing it with fir charcoal is even better, preventing loss. Nowadays, many confuse it with sublimated Camphor (Zhangnao), so distinction is necessary. See Abrus precatorius under its own entry.

[Properties and Flavor] Acrid, bitter, slightly cold, non-toxic.
Su Gong said: Bitter, acrid, warm, non-toxic.
Zhang Yuansu said: Hot. Yang within Yang.

[Indications] For difficult childbirth: grind into powder, take a small amount with fresh well-water; delivery follows immediately (*Bielu*).
For evil qi in the heart and abdomen, rheumatic accumulation, deafness, brightening the eyes, removing redness and corneal opacity (*Tang Bencao*). For internal and external eye obstructions, calming the Heart, securing essence, treating three types of parasites and five types of hemorrhoids (Li Dang). Dispelling excess heat in the Heart (Kou Zongshi). Entering the bones to treat bone pain (Li Gao). Treating rectal prolapse (Zhang Yuansu). Treating throat obstruction, brain pain, nasal discharge... Canglong Nao...

[Indications] For wind sores: excellent when decocted in ointments. Do not apply to eyes, as it harms them (Li Dang).
Polvxiang Resin
[Indications] Deafness, massaging to dispel all wind pathogens (Su Gong).

[Elucidation] Kou Zongshi said: This substance thoroughly unblocks orifices and clears heat/stagnation. It is very useful for adults and children suffering from blockage by wind-phlegm or sudden fright-heat. However, it is not for daily consumption; used alone its effect is weak, but as an assistant herb it is effective. It is compatible with tea, though too much masks the tea's aroma. Its flavor is very clear and fragrant, ranking first among herbs; no other fragrance in nature surpasses it.
Zhu Danxi said: Longnao belongs to Fire. People know it is cold and unblocking, but fail to realize it is hot, light, floating, and soaring. They value its fine fragrance and often use it with Moschus (She Xiang) to assist Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) and Aconite (Fuzi). However, human Yang Qi moves easily, while Yin Qi is easily depleted; this must be considered.
Li Gao said: Longnao enters the bones; it is suitable for wind diseases located in the marrow. If wind is in the blood vessels and muscles, using Borneol and Musk instead draws the wind deeper into the marrow, like oil entering dough, impossible to remove.
Wang Lun said: Longnao is highly acrid and mobile, thus able to dissipate heat and unblock stagnant Qi. It is widely used in formulas for eye pain, throat obstruction, and chancres because of its acrid dispersing nature. Swallowing it causes death because it scatters all Qi. People mistakenly think it is cold, not realizing its acrid dispersing nature merely seems cool. All fragrances belong to Yang; how can the most fragrant have a cold nature?
Li Shizhen said: Ancient formulas in ophthalmology and pediatrics state Longnao is acrid-cool and enters the Heart Meridian, hence widely used for eye diseases and convulsive disorders. For smallpox where Heart blood is hot and stasis causes collapse, pig's blood is used to guide toxins outward, activating blood and promoting eruption. These theories seem plausible but are actually incorrect.
Eye diseases, convulsions, and smallpox are all Fire diseases. When Fire is constrained, it must be dispersed; using acrid flavors for dispersion is a "following treatment" method. Its Qi first enters the Lung, transmits to the Heart and Spleen, moving and dispersing, unblocking congestion, thereby smoothing meridians, calming fright-heat, and allowing toxin eruption. Pig's blood guides Longnao into the Heart Meridian; it is not that Longnao itself enters the Heart. Shen Kuo's *Liangfang* states: For dense smallpox turning black, mix half a liang of raw pig's blood with half a fen of Longnao, taken with warm wine. Pan's case: A girl suffered fever, abdominal pain, cold limbs, progressing to coma, appearing critical, suspected smallpox. At that time... she died prematurely. Also, Wen Tianxiang and Jia Sidao of Song took Borneol to commit suicide but failed. Only Liao Yingzhong died after taking several handfuls with hot wine, bleeding from nine orifices. This is not because Borneol is toxic, but because hot wine guided its acrid fragrance to scatter through meridians, causing chaotic Qi and Blood.

[Attached Formulas] Two old, twelve new.
Corneal opacity forming film: One qianliang of Longnao powder, instill 3-5 times daily (*Shengji Zonglu*).
Red eyes and membranes: Eight fen of Longnao and male sparrow droppings. Grind to powder, mix with one he of human breast milk to make an ointment. Instill daily without exception (*Shenghui Fang*).
Wind-Heat attacking head and eyes: Half a qianliang of Longnao powder, one qianliang of Borax (Nan Pengsha)...
Headache: One qian of Pian Nao, rolled in paper as a candle wick...
Wind-Heat Throat Obstruction: One qian of Juncus effusus, five fen of Phellodendron (charred), seven fen of Alum (calcined), three fen of Ice Borneol. Grind to powder. Blow one or two fen onto the affected area. This is a superb family recipe of Lu Yifeng (*Binhu Jijian Fang*).
Nasal polyps hanging down: Apply Pian Nao directly; they will retract (*Jijian Fang*).
Typhoid tongue protruding beyond one cun: Half a fen of Plum Blossom Borneol. Grind to powder. Sprinkle; heals immediately (*Yijian Zhi*).
Stroke with locked jaw: If no medicine can be administered, rub with Kaiguan San. On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month at noon, equal parts Longnao and Pinellia ternata. Grind to powder. Rub a "yi zi" amount on teeth 20-30 times...
Toothache: Small amounts of Plum Blossom Borneol and Cinnabar powder. Rub; pain stops immediately (*Jijian Fang*).
Smallpox with mania, restlessness, panting, delirium, seeing ghosts, lesions red but not fully erupted: *Jingyan Houfang*: Grind one qian of Longnao finely. Immediately form pills the size of frog eggs using pig's blood. Take...
Half a cup of serum from the second batch of pig blood, half a cup of wine, mixed evenly with one fen of Longnao, taken warm. After a while, passage of one or two lines of dark blood occurs, and lesions become red and vibrant. This treats severe, untreatable black-pustule smallpox with 100% efficacy.
Internal and external hemorrhoids: One or two fen of Pian Nao, dissolved in green onion juice, applied externally (*Jianbian Fang*).
Rhinophyma (red nose): Borneol and true butter, applied frequently (*Puji Fang*).
Nocturnal emission and mouth ulcers: Fire pathogen in meridians, vague dreams, mouth ulcers, dry throat. Three qian of Longnao, three liang of Phellodendron. Grind to powder, honey-pill size of Sophora japonica seeds...

[Properties and Flavor] Acrid, warm. Aroma resembles Longnao.
[Indications] Descends evil qi, aids digestion, disperses fullness, pleasant to smell (Su Gong).
[Appendix] Chen Cangqi said: Produced in Persia. Resembles Longnao Xiang, being tree resin. Sweet taste, neutral, non-toxic. Treats Heart disease with bleeding, sets fractures, removes evil blood in abdomen, bloody dysentery, leukorrhea, brightens eyes, removes opacity, wind-tearing, and caruncle.