“枫香脂”小考——以本草文献为中心

Liquidambaris Resina,the dried resin extracted from the Liquidambar formosana of the family Hamamelidaceae,has historical roots predominantly in the southern regions of China.By the Western Han Dynasty,the cultivation of sweetgum trees extended to Chang'an.Post-Song Dynasty,southern China and the Guanzhong region in Shaanxi became the primary production areas for Liquidambaris Resina.The harvesting methods of Liquidambaris Resina have remained largely unchanged from ancient to modern times,involving summer bark cutting from the sweetgum tree to stimulate resin secretion,with collection taking place in winter.Traditional processing methods from ancient times include air-drying,sun-drying,and a combination of water and fire.The active components of Liquidambaris Resina,known for their efficacy in promoting blood circulation and inhibiting cancer cell growth,led to the current Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China preserving the air-drying method to retain these components maximally.Throughout history,there has been a persistent issue of adulteration and forgery,often involving the substitution of pine resin.The Song Dynasty introduced a fire test method for identification,a practice still in use today.This study,drawing from ancient herbal books,medical classics,historical literature,and modern sources,meticulously examines the nomenclature,origin,production area,harvesting,processing,and identification methods of Liquidambaris Resina,providing valuable insights for its authenticity and future development.