Tung Oil is extracted from the seeds of the tung tree through a complex process mainly done manually. Therefore, the value of tung oil can be imagined. Tung oil has a wide range of uses, both in chemical industry and in traditional Chinese medicine. Let's learn about the efficacy, functions, and uses of tung oil below.
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【Origin of Tung Oil】
Tung oil is obtained by pressing the fruits of the tung tree. The process is complex and it is considered a renewable resource.
First, the fruits of the tung tree are collected. They cannot be picked when they are still green. They will naturally fall to the ground when they are ripe, so flat areas are usually chosen for planting tung trees.
Some fruits that have not fallen can also be easily collected. After harvesting, the fruits are placed in a damp place for about ten days to two weeks, and the shells of the fruits will naturally decompose.
Then, the shells are removed with a small iron hook to extract the tung seeds. The seeds are then dried and crushed. In rural areas, they are usually sent to designated oil mills for pressing.
This process may seem simple, but it is actually very cumbersome. Removing the shells is not an easy task, and their hands will turn black and are difficult to wash off. In rural areas, without machinery, everything is done by manual labor.
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【Efficacy and Functions of Tung Oil】
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that tung oil has the effects of promoting expectoration, clearing heat and detoxifying, eliminating dampness and killing insects, and moisturizing the skin. It is mainly used to treat throat problems, abscesses, scabies, ulcers, burns, frostbite, and chapped skin.
Tung oil can be used to treat coughing up phlegm, external treatment of scabies, ulcers, burns, frostbite, and chapped skin, as well as the treatment of suppurative inflammation, appendicitis, gallbladder inflammation, tonsillitis, and other conditions. However, it is only for external use and should not be taken internally. Consumption can lead to poisoning.
Research conducted abroad has confirmed that tung oil is toxic when taken internally, but the toxicity dissipates after drying. Here, "toxic" means that it should not be taken internally. It is only used to induce vomiting when accidentally ingesting other toxins, such as "arsenic".
Tung oil does not have any toxic side effects on the skin and can be used to treat skin conditions such as ringworm and scabies. It has certain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects.
Tung oil can be used clinically to treat surgical diseases, burns, common warts, etc. Due to its high toxicity, it is only used externally and should not be taken internally.
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【Uses of Tung Oil】
Tung oil is an excellent semi-drying vegetable oil with a wide range of uses. There are different uses for raw tung oil and boiled tung oil. Raw tung oil is used in medicine and chemical industry and can be used to treat frostbite and burns.
It is the main raw material for manufacturing paints and inks, and is widely used in waterproofing, antifouling, and rustproof coatings for construction, machinery, weapons, vehicles, fishing gear, and electrical appliances. It can also be used to make oilcloth, oil paper, soap, pesticides, and emetics and insecticides for medical use.
Boiled tung oil can be used as a coating. In the past, when rural areas couldn't afford paint and similar products, tung oil was used as a substitute for paint. Most of the wooden chairs in rural areas are coated with tung oil.
The "Belt and Road" initiative, which is currently capturing worldwide attention, has historical ties to tung oil. Tung oil is essential for maintaining the hulls and planks of various sizes of ships on the Maritime Silk Road. The latest pharmacological experiments have also shown that tung oil has anti-cancer properties.
However, after tung oil is pressed, it cannot be directly applied to wood. It needs to be boiled (handmade at high temperature). After boiling, the tung oil needs to be applied in accordance with the natural climate conditions to achieve satisfactory results.
In these processes, to achieve gloss enhancement and faster drying, "minium" (lead oxide) needs to be added. However, modern experiments have proven that this chemical substance is toxic to the human body.
