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This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. The balsamic resin from the leaves, bark and roots of the plant Styrax benzoin has been used for centuries as an antiseptic, bacteriacide, incense and perfume – more correctly, one should say as an antiseptic incense. Benzoin is primarily used for incense. The aroma of benzoin is a sweet-balsamic odor with a distinct vanilla note. Its use as a cleansing religious incense is ancient. In India, the fragrance is sacred to the Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu triad, and Malays use it to deter devils during rice-harvesting ceremonies. Benzoin is widely applied in Orthodox and Catholic Christian religious service. The benzoin tree is cultivated in Borneo,Java, Malaysia, Sumatra and Thailand. Like the rubber tree, its gum is taken from the bark by making a deep incision in the trunk. The gum is dark, with reddish-brown colored streaks. These pigments contain the fatty oils which exude a delicious aroma similar to vanilla. The Arabs, who traded it as a frankincense substitute, called this Southeast Asia tree 'incense of Java,' or loban jawi. The Europeans interpreted this as benjawi and pronounced it 'benjamin,' then 'benzoin.' They made solid 'vanilla' pomades from it. The Arab medical and religious tradition is very interesting. It is summarized by Dr. M. Laiq Ali Khan on http://www.islamicvoice.com/march.2001/prophet.htm: 'Hazrat Abdullah Bin Jafar narrates that Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) said: 'fumigate your houses with Loban and sheesh.' (Baihaqui).' 'Another narration reveals: 'fumigate your houses with Loban and Saatar.' (Baihaqui).' 'According to the Hadith scholars, it relieves constipation and stomach pain. It is useful in diarrhoea and is a good digestive. It heals the wounds and ulcers of the eyes, tones up the stomach. It is a good expectorant and decreases the production of phlegm. The gargles of Loban with Saatar relieves the inflammation of the throat and heals up the wounds of the tongue. It enhances the memory if taken internally.' 'It tones up the heart, stomach and increases libido. It is a good appetiser and is carminative. It relieves the cold and cough.' 'The long standing, bad and putrified wounds are healed with Loban speedily. The fumigation of Loban is a good insect repellent. It has qualities of an insecticide, is antiseptic and fights epidemics.' The Europeans, of course, picked up on this Arab medical tradition. The benzoic acid present in it gives it value in medicine as an antiseptic, as a stimulant, and, in certain respiratory diseases, as an inhalant. Benzoin is an ingredient of Friar's Balsam which is still widely used. It may be applied topically to wounds and ulcers to protect and disinfect the skin. It can also be used in the form of Compound Tincture of Benzoin as an inhalation for coughs, colds and bronchitis. It acts as a carminative when taken internally and is rapidly absorbed. It is also mildly expectorant, diuretic and antiseptic to th
Manufacturer: Starwest Botanicals SKU: 17142 Category: Bulk Herbs-All Bulk Herbs
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