Tincture of benzoin is a pungent solution of

benzoin resin Benzoin or benjamin (corrupted pronunciation) is a balsamic resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus '' Styrax''. It is used in perfumes and some kinds of incense and as a flavoring and medicine (see tincture of b ...

ethanol Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl group linked to a ...

. A similar preparation called Friar's Balsam or Compound Benzoin Tincture contains, in addition,

Cape aloe ''Aloe ferox'', commonly known as bitter aloe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. This woody aloe is indigenous to southern Africa. It is one of several ''Aloe'' species used to make bitter aloes, a purgative medication ...

s or Barbados aloes and

storax Storax ( la, storax; el, στύραξ, ''stúrax''), often commercially sold as styrax, is a natural resin isolated from the wounded bark of ''Liquidambar orientalis'' Mill. (Asia Minor) and '' Liquidambar styraciflua'' L. (Central America) (Ha ...

resin. Friar's balsam was invented by

Joshua Ward Joshua Ward (1685–1761) was an English doctor, most remembered for the invention of Friar's Balsam. He sat briefly in the House of Commons from 1715 to 1717. Life Ward was born in Yorkshire. He was the brother of John Ward who was MP for sev ...

around 1760.

Use

Compound Benzoin Tincture is often applied to skin under an

adhesive bandage An adhesive bandage, also called a sticking plaster, medical plaster, or simply plaster in British English, is a small medical dressing used for injuries not serious enough to require a full-size bandage. They are also known by the genericized t ...

. It protects the skin from allergy to the adhesive and makes the bandage adhere longer. It is also used by athletes for its reputation of toughening skin. Orthopedists often apply it under a

cast Cast may refer to: Music * Cast (band), an English alternative rock band * Cast (Mexican band), a progressive Mexican rock band * The Cast, a Scottish musical duo: Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis * ''Cast'', a 2012 album by Trespassers William ...

, because it protects the skin and diminishes itching. It is also an old remedy for congested sinuses and lungs. A few drops on the surface of a bowl of hot water, over which one holds one's face and breathes the steam; preferably, with a towel over one's head, to keep the steam in. It can be applied to skin fissures, canker sores and

fever blister Herpes labialis, commonly known as cold sores or fever blisters, is a type of infection by the herpes simplex virus that affects primarily the lip. Symptoms typically include a burning pain followed by small blisters or sores. The first attack ...

s as a

styptic An antihemorrhagic (antihæmorrhagic) agent is a substance that promotes hemostasis (stops bleeding). It may also be known as a hemostatic (also spelled haemostatic) agent. Antihemorrhagic agents used in medicine have various mechanisms of action ...

and

antiseptic An antiseptic (from Greek ἀντί ''anti'', "against" and σηπτικός ''sēptikos'', "putrefactive") is an antimicrobial substance or compound that is applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, sepsis, or putre ...

. It is thought that light turns the Benzoin in these modern containers to a darker color. The newly produced tincture is often quite clear until mixed and heated in a pot of water or left uncapped or exposed for an unspecified time, at which it turns to a maple syrup brown color. It is unknown if oxidation occurs to produce the dark color or the effects of UV light on the substance. The compounding of Benzoin with other substances, such as

Aloe ''Aloe'' (; also written ''Aloë'') is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering succulent plants.WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Accessed on: 06 Nov 2022 The most wi ...

and Tolu balsam, is also thought to cause the variation of color. The Tincture of Benzoin is available in 60 mL dark amber glass bottles. This is the traditional way of packaging as opposed to the individual applicators currently made popular by 3M in hospitals with Steri-Strips: small clear glass ampules containing 0.6mL and plugged with a fluffed cotton bung. It is issued and used in the U.S. military to treat

blister A blister is a small pocket of body fluid ( lymph, serum, plasma, blood, or pus) within the upper layers of the skin, usually caused by forceful rubbing ( friction), burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection. Most blisters are filled ...

s. A common treatment utilized by medics in the U.S. Army is to drain the fluid from a blister and then inject enough compound tincture of benzoin into the void to glue the blister to the underlying skin, to serve as a local antiseptic, and to prevent further abrasion or loss of skin. This is commonly known as a "hot shot" amongst military personnel due to the extreme burning sensation that will be experienced for several moments when the tincture is applied. Those who have undergone this treatment do not find the blisters to cause any irritation subsequently, causes for this could either be somatic or psychological as the medicinal properties have not been studied. Both compounds are also used in

cosmetics Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protec ...

References

{{reflist Perfume ingredients Resins Tinctures