Lac (also called Laksha) is a slick serum and secretion from a scale insect species Laccifer lacca. These insects suck the sap of several plants and bushes and secrete Lac as a protective covering. Laccifer lacca looks like tiny spots on plants having no limbs and covering with slick serum. Sometimes, these insects are difficult to recognize and we can only see resin excreted by them. Lac scales are main cash crops and are cultured in Burma, India and Thailand. Lac is collected from the plants. Before using it for several purposes, it has to undergo heating and filtering processes for purification.
Laccifer Lacca is applied over the skin in skin diseases. It stops bleeding in wounds and injuries, heals skin ulcers, speeds up recovery process of ulcer, wounds and other skin diseases. Its internal uses
External Uses
- Injuries
- Fungal infections
- Eczema
- Scabies
- Herpes
Internal Uses
- Diarrhea
- Dysentery
- Intestinal parasites (worms)
- Internal bleeding disorders
- Hiccup
- Cough
- Low bone mineral density
- Osteoarthritis
- Obesity
HEALTH BENEFITS AND MEDICINAL USES
Purified Lac is used in Ayurvedic medicines and Unani Medicine. The methods of purifications are different in these sciences. Lac can also be processed with some medicinal herbs and herbal juices to make it effective in desired health conditions.
However, it comes from animal origin, but it has a great significance in management of joint disorders, osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteoarthritis etc. It is also helpful in obesity, renal and spleen disorders, jaundice, backache problems, leprosy, ulceration, epilepsy and chicken pox. It is an amazing liver tonic, when taken with other liver stimulant herbs.
LAKSHA means a natural supplement as per Ayurveda. It makes bone stronger and helps in re-gaining natural bone mineral density. Generally, it is used with guggul in several ayurvedic joint supplements. Lakshadi guggul is a common ayurvedic medicine, which contains Lac as a main ingredient. It is used for joint disorders and in diseases that occur due to loss of bone mineral density such as osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
Bleeding disorders
Chinese practitioners also use lac for relief to gum bleeding, menstrual bleeding, and fainting after birth.
Obesity
Lac is used as an anti-obesity drug and is used in most of the skin cosmetic products.
Other Uses in Medical and cosmetic industry
- Lac has been used in many pharmaceutical industries for long now and mainly is involved in tablet formulation, binding ability, matrix formulation, humidity tolerance but lac cannot be stored for long due to which this has be termed as a dislike to many preparations.
- Dentist has been using lac in many forms and in various ways since long time. Most of them use lac as a binding texture for dentures. In addition, lac is used in dental schools for preparation of moldings and artificial calculus.
- Lac and Shellac has been used in most of the cosmetic products and is mainly used as component in hair sprays, lipsticks, chewing gums and many candies and other cosmetic products.
- Purified Lac, which is also called as shellac, is used in coating properties and is considered as natural glue.
