By Liliana Usvat
Blog 185 -365
Styrax benzoin is a species of tree native to Indonesia which is a main source of benzoin resin.
It is a common member of the forests of Sumatra, where it grows to about 12 meters in Maximum height. It is also cultivated in West Africa as a shade tree.
Native to Java and other Southeast Asian countries, this large tree has grayish, fluffy bark. When wounded, it exudes a white, aromatic gum universally known as gum benzoin. It’s a productive expectorant when used in medicine. As the compound called tincture of benzoin, it relieves bronchitis when employed in a steam inhaler.
Names
Common names for the tree include gum benjamin tree, loban(in Arabic), kemenyan (in Indonesia and Malaysia), onycha, and Sumatra benzoin tree.
Medicinal Uses
It was important in Islamic medicine; Avicenna discusses S. officinalis it in his Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (ا, The Law of Medicine). He indicates that styrax resin mixed with other antibiotic substances and hardening material gives a good dental restorative material. Benzoin resin is a component of the "Theriaca Andromachi Senioris", a Venice treacle recipe in the 1686 d'Amsterdammer Apotheek.
Tincture of benzoin is benzoin resin dissolved in alcohol, had antibacterial properties.
Today tincture of benzoin is most often used in first aid for small injuries, as it acts as a disinfectant and local anesthetic and seems to promote healing.
Other Uses
Benzoin resin is a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery because of its vanilla ice-cream aroma and fixative properties. Gum benzoin is a major component of the type of church incense used in Russia and some other Orthodox Christian societies.
In perfumery, benzoin is used as a fixative, slowing the dispersion of essential oils and other fragrance materials into the air.
Around The World
Benzoin resin is also used in blended types of Japanese incense, Indian incense, Chinese incense, and Papier d'Arménie. When called sambrani or sambraani, it is a popular Indian incense used to scent and treat hair and prevent infections.
There are two types of benzoin resin used in incense and perfumery, benzoin Siam and benzoin Sumatra. Benzoin Siam is obtained from Styrax tonkinensis found across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Benzoin Sumatra is obtained from Styrax benzoin grown on the island of Sumatra. Both varieties are pathogenic resins, which are exuded from the tree when it is damaged.
Blog 185 -365
Styrax benzoin is a species of tree native to Indonesia which is a main source of benzoin resin.
It is a common member of the forests of Sumatra, where it grows to about 12 meters in Maximum height. It is also cultivated in West Africa as a shade tree.
Native to Java and other Southeast Asian countries, this large tree has grayish, fluffy bark. When wounded, it exudes a white, aromatic gum universally known as gum benzoin. It’s a productive expectorant when used in medicine. As the compound called tincture of benzoin, it relieves bronchitis when employed in a steam inhaler.
Names
Common names for the tree include gum benjamin tree, loban(in Arabic), kemenyan (in Indonesia and Malaysia), onycha, and Sumatra benzoin tree.
Medicinal Uses
It was important in Islamic medicine; Avicenna discusses S. officinalis it in his Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (ا, The Law of Medicine). He indicates that styrax resin mixed with other antibiotic substances and hardening material gives a good dental restorative material. Benzoin resin is a component of the "Theriaca Andromachi Senioris", a Venice treacle recipe in the 1686 d'Amsterdammer Apotheek.
Tincture of benzoin is benzoin resin dissolved in alcohol, had antibacterial properties.
Today tincture of benzoin is most often used in first aid for small injuries, as it acts as a disinfectant and local anesthetic and seems to promote healing.
Other Uses
Benzoin resin is a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery because of its vanilla ice-cream aroma and fixative properties. Gum benzoin is a major component of the type of church incense used in Russia and some other Orthodox Christian societies.
In perfumery, benzoin is used as a fixative, slowing the dispersion of essential oils and other fragrance materials into the air.
Around The World
Benzoin resin is also used in blended types of Japanese incense, Indian incense, Chinese incense, and Papier d'Arménie. When called sambrani or sambraani, it is a popular Indian incense used to scent and treat hair and prevent infections.
There are two types of benzoin resin used in incense and perfumery, benzoin Siam and benzoin Sumatra. Benzoin Siam is obtained from Styrax tonkinensis found across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Benzoin Sumatra is obtained from Styrax benzoin grown on the island of Sumatra. Both varieties are pathogenic resins, which are exuded from the tree when it is damaged.
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