Succinum  E.P.

Succinum is the Latin term for a substance that is ultimately derived from sap (succus is Latin for sap or juice). The collected material is more commonly referred to as amber, a term derived from an Arabic word anbar, that had been used for another and unrelated substance, which we call ambergris or grey amber (a secretion from whales found in small lumps washed up on the beach). Succinum originates from the resin of ancient and long-extinct trees, including conifers (e.g., pine trees) as well Fabaceae and other genera. To become amber, the resin has resided in the ground for millions of years. Amber is best known from the selection of transparent yellowish pieces (other colors are also available) used in making jewelry and sculptures. In this article, the subject is its medicinal use, focusing on Chinese medical applications.

Before moving on to the subject of Chinese amber, it should be mentioned that throughout the past 5,000 years, most of the amber in the world has come from the Baltic region. There is a famous collection spot along the Baltic Sea called the Amber Coast. In recent years, the majority of the world's amber has come from a more limited portion of the Baltic, the Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian sea port area between Poland and Lithuania.

Most of the relatively limited information about amber's constituents and properties comes from analysis of the Baltic ambers, commonly referred to as succinite (1-3). This material is from resins produced more than 40 million years ago. Whether from China, the Baltic, or elsewhere, the process of amber formation is essentially the same, but the species of tree yielding the resin may be different.

Amber had long been used as a medicinal agent in Europe and the Middle East. However, this practice virtually ceased several centuries ago. Amber was primarily used to alleviate stomach aches and rheumatic pains.