Sappan Wood (Su Mu)

Sappan wood (also known as sappanwood, Caesalpinia sappan, sapanwood, sapang, sepang) is commonly found in the southeast Asian countries.  

Sappan is known for producing a reddish color dye, a compound known as brazilin or brazilein, which has been used to dye fabric and even color liquor.  Sappan has long been used in Chinese medicines for treating a variety of immune-mediated pathology and inflammatory disease due to its interesting immunosuppressive qualities^[1].  The anti-inflammatory properties has been isolated to the compound brazilin.  Extract of sappan and brazilin have shown to protect against cellular oxidative damage^[2] and thus, encourage proper cellular function.  Sappan shows antimicrobial resistance to staphylococcus Aureus and its more difficult to treat strain, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)^[3].  Others studies have shown sappan to be an anti-arthritic, specifically protecting against collagen-related arthritis^[4].  Internally, sappan is typically given to treat diarrhea, dysentery, hematemesis.

Interestingly, the sappan wood is used for firewood, as well as for furniture and musical instruments.  

Battle Balm® uses High Quality Cultivated Su Mu as one of its 20 key ingredients.  Su mu is just one of the many proven herbal compounds with vast health benefits to promote blood circulation, prevent bacterial infection, reduce swelling, improve immune system healing function, and protect against arthritis so you can prevent chronic injury and heal quickly and get back to your training routine!

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References:

1. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567576905002596 (Brazilein, an important immunosuppressive component fromCaesalpinia sappan L.)
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18525109 (Brazilin and the extract from Caesalpinia sappan L. protect oxidative injury through the expression of heme oxygenase-1.)
3. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874103004409 (Inhibitory effects of Caesalpinia sappan on growth and invasion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21557995 (Extract of the dried heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. attenuates collagen-induced arthritis.)