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Laccifer lacca/Coccus lacca
SHELLAC, LACCA
Shellac is used in orthodox
medicine to coat tablets, in Chinese medicine for bleeding, and by Unani
physicians for blood, liver, and kidney disorders.
Shellac is a reddish resin that the female lac-insect exudes over twigs
to build a trap for herself and somewhere to lay and hatch her eggs. East and West have their own species of the lac-insect;
many Westerners come into daily contact with shellac as an ingredient of varnishes, cake glazes, hair sprays,
wood fillers and polishes, as well as in medicines. Collected twigs, still carrying the crimson
bodies of the lac-insect, are known as sticklac and provide a crimson dye before the resin is separated off for other purposes.
PARTS USED
Flakes of resin.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Resinoltannols of aleuritic acid;
erythrolaccin; lacconic acid.
ACTIONS
Anti-inflammatory; anti-infective; stimulates the stomach.
MEDICINAL USE
Regarded by Chinese physicians as
an aid to healing, particularly for bleeding gums, excess menstrual bleeding, and fainting after childbirth.
Unani physicians give it for blood, kidney, and liver disorders. In orthodox medicine, it is commonly used to coat tablets.
PREPARATIONS
Separated resin, melted and filtered.
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