Storax balsam facts for kids
Storax is a special natural sap, also called a resin, that comes from certain trees. It's often sold as styrax. This resin is collected from the bark of two main types of trees: the Liquidambar orientalis tree found in Asia Minor (like Turkey), and the Liquidambar styraciflua tree from Central America. These trees belong to the Hamamelidaceae plant family.
It's important to know that storax is different from another similar resin called benzoin. Benzoin comes from a different group of plants, the Styracaceae family.
Contents
What Storax Is Made Of
Storax is a mix of natural substances. About 33% to 50% of it is a special kind of resin called storesin. It also contains other natural compounds like cinnamic acid. These ingredients give storax its unique smell and properties.
How Storax Is Used
Storax has a lovely smell that reminds people of flowers, leather, or a sweet, warm scent. Because of its pleasant smell, storax and products made from it are used in many ways:
- Flavors: It can be used to add flavor to certain foods.
- Fragrances: It's a popular ingredient in perfumes and other scented products.
- Medicines: Storax is also used in some medicines, like a traditional remedy called Friar's Balsam.
In Central America, people sometimes chew the resin from the American storax tree (Liquidambar styraciflua). They use it like chewing gum to make their breath fresh and help clean their teeth.
A Look Back in Time: History of Storax
People have known about and used storax for a very long time.
- Ancient Times: Some of the earliest mentions of the storax tree and its resin come from ancient Greek thinkers like Aristotle and Theophrastus. The Greek historian Herodotus also wrote about it. In ancient Greece, "storax" could also mean the sharp point at the bottom of a spear.
- Roman Uses: Pliny the Elder, a Roman writer, noted that storax was used as a perfume. Another Roman, Scribonius Largus, even drank wine flavored with storax! The ancient writer Ciris mentioned storax as a fragrant hair dye.
- Medicinal and Incense Use: Dioscorides, a Greek doctor, wrote about storax being used as incense, much like frankincense. He also said it could help with breathing problems and had soothing effects.
- Trade and Spices: In the 10th century, an Arab historian named al-Masudi listed storax gum as a spice. Later, in the 13th century, a Chinese trade official named Chao Ju-Kuan described liquid storax gum coming from the Arabian Empire.
For a long time, people thought storax came from a tree called Styrax officinalis. However, modern tests suggest that the ancient storax probably came from a different tree, most likely Liquidambar orientalis. This tree grows in places like northern Syria and produces a fragrant resin with healing qualities. Some people think this might even be the "biblical balm" mentioned in ancient texts.
In the 1800s, a chemical called styrene was first separated from storax resin.
Is Storax Safe?
Storax resin is generally considered safe to use in small amounts. For example, it's used in very tiny quantities in candies and baked goods.
Images for kids
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See also
In Spanish: Estoraque (bálsamo) para niños
