19C Chinese Herb Medicine Chenxiang Aloeswood Plaque Pin 紫金锭藥牌

It is 1.69 inches (4.3 cm) long by 2.1 inches (5.4 cm) wide and 5.6 mm thick. It is 17.2 gram.

It has small chips at the plaque, tarnished metal, and surface wears and scratches (as seen in the photos).

This is a plaque made from Chinese medicine and herbs. The herbs contain many ingredients including Chenxiang (aloeswood). The herbs were powderized, pressed, and then carved. Historically, the Chinese worn them as a piece of jewelry but used them when they traveled in case of emergency where doctors were not readily available. Different versions were made for different symptoms like heat stroke, aspirin, and stomach flu.

There are many tales associated with this medicine. Here is one: When Emperor Kangxi (1661-1722) visited a small village in disguise, he suffered from severe heat stoke that his imperial doctors couldn't cured. A local doctor gave him a version of this type medicine and cured him. So, he decided to issue this type of medicine made in plaques to all the candidates for the imperial examination. The candidates brought them home as a type of imperial souvenir. Few were made in the imperial workshops but most were made from local herbal shops. The most famous herbal shop was Ton Ran Tang. Its owner was the local doctor who cured the emperor Kangxi. Do not recommend this for human or even animal consumption. Some of these herbal medicines might have ingredient that is poisonous like lead. If you are interested, there are modern versions that you can buy in Chinese herbal shops.

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