Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica (Vol. 31)

The Doulu Tree Also known as the Qi

According to the Famine Relief Herbal original: "救荒本草" (Jiùhuāng Běncǎo); a 15th-century guide to edible wild plants for use during famines, the Doulu tree grows in the valleys of Liangjiachong in Mi County. The tree is quite tall and large. When its wood becomes old and decayed, it turns extremely porous and can be burned as incense. Its common name is "Qi Fragrance." The leaves resemble those of the "Hui-Hui Vinegar Tree" original: "回回醋樹" (huíhuí cùshù); likely referring to a variety of Sumac, though they are thinner and narrower; they also look like the leaves of the Rowan tree original: "花楸" (huāqiū) but with fewer serrations. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and have a bitter taste. To prepare them, harvest the young, fragrant leaves, scald them in boiling water, and soak them to remove the bitterness. Once washed clean, they can be seasoned with oil and salt and eaten.

According to the Compendium of Materia Medica original: "本草綱目" (Běncǎo Gāngmù); the definitive 16th-century pharmaceutical text by Li Shizhen, the Qi Fragrance tree is found in the mountains of the Yangtze, Huai, and southern ridge regions. Large specimens reach nearly ten feet in height, while smaller ones are frequently gathered by woodcutters. The leaves are green, long, and serrated, shaped like small perilla leaves but fragrant, growing opposite one another at the nodes. Its roots resemble those of the goji berry but are larger; when roasted, they are intensely aromatic.

The Shurangama Sutra original: "楞嚴經" (Léngyán Jīng); an influential Mahayana Buddhist scripture states: "Place a small burner before the altar and use water boiled with Douloupó incense to perform ritual bathing." This tree is the source of that very fragrance.

The roots have a taste that is bitter and astringent, a neutral "energy," and are non-toxic. They are primarily used to treat scalp sores original: "頭癩" (tóulài); refers to fungal infections or scaly skin diseases of the head and swollen toxins. Grind the root into a fine powder, mix it with sesame oil, and apply it to the affected area. Within seven days, the diseased skin will rot and fall away.