Introduction to Dry Lacquer
Dry lacquer is the dried resin of the lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum). It is obtained by collecting and drying the lacquer residue left in lacquerware. It is used medicinally to treat women's blood stagnation, menstrual disorders, abdominal masses, and intestinal parasites.
Foreign name: Toxicodendron vernicifluum
Other names: lacquer residue, lacquer bottom, lacquer foot
Origin: The dried resin is obtained from the lacquer tree. It is usually collected from the bottom of lacquer containers and dried. It should be stored in airtight containers to prevent fire.
Original form: lacquer tree
The lacquer tree is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 meters tall. The bark is gray-white when young and becomes dark gray and rough with irregular vertical cracks as it ages. The leaves are pinnately compound, spirally arranged, and have 11-15 leaflets. The flowers are small and yellow-green, and the fruits are flattened and yellow. The lacquer tree is mainly found on sunny and wind-sheltered slopes. It is distributed in various provinces in China.
Appearance: Dry lacquer is irregularly shaped and has a rough and grainy surface. It is black or brown in color and has a glossy finish. It is hard and not easily breakable, with a characteristic lacquer smell. When ignited, it burns with black smoke and a strong lacquer smell. The best quality dry lacquer is whole, black, hard, and has a strong lacquer smell.
Effects and Functions of Dry Lacquer
Effects: It has a spicy, warm, and slightly toxic nature.
Functions: Dry lacquer can disperse blood stasis, dissolve accumulations, and kill parasites. It is mainly used to treat women's blood stagnation, menstrual disorders, abdominal masses, and intestinal parasites.
Images of Dry Lacquer
Various Opinions on Dry Lacquer
1. "Compendium of Materia Medica": There is a type of lacquer tree in Guangdong and Zhejiang that produces a yellow resin similar to lacquer. It is used as medicine and should be black lacquer. Lacquer from Guangnan produces a weak syrupy smell. To avoid the toxicity of lacquer, chew Sichuan pepper and apply it to the mouth and nose. For lacquer sores, it is beneficial to use cedarwood soup, perilla soup, lacquer herb soup, or crab soup for bathing. Lacquer flower is used to treat infantile convulsions, abdominal distension, and difficulty in walking. The effects of lacquer are mainly related to its ability to disperse blood stasis and kill parasites.
2. "Commentary on the Compendium of Materia Medica": Dry lacquer can kill parasites and dissolve accumulations, thereby regulating the intestines and stomach. By clearing the intestines and stomach, the five viscera can be at ease and conditions such as weakness, numbness, and obstruction can be relieved. Dry lacquer can also affect the blood and address conditions related to blood stasis. By dispersing blood stasis, it can promote the healing of tendons, bones, and the brain. It is used to treat abdominal pain, backache, and female hernias, which are all related to the coldness affecting the blood in the lower abdomen. When used to treat constipation, dry lacquer is mainly used for its ability to promote the circulation of meridians. Although it is not a standard treatment for cough, it can be effective in cases where blood stasis leads to bone steaming, chronic cough, and consumptive fever.
3. "Annotations on the Compendium of Materia Medica": Dry lacquer has the ability to disperse and descend, and break up blood stasis. It is used to treat swelling, kill parasites, and regulate menstruation. It is especially effective in removing stagnant blood. However, it should be avoided in cases without blood stasis, as it can damage the blood and weaken the stomach. People with weak stomachs may experience nausea when taking it. The use of old lacquerware to fumigate and wake up women who have fainted after childbirth also involves the removal of blood stasis in the meridians.
