Resin occurs as rounded masses or tears that are nearly transparent and moist when fresh. It burns in fire and melts in the sun. Resin has a golden, pale yellow, or dull brown color with a fragrant and balsamic odor and bitter and aromatic taste. It is partly soluble in alcohol and hot ethyl acetate. Some medicinal uses of resin include treatments for heart disease, gout, spondilytis, various infections, infective hepatitis, and as an acute viral infection remedy and hypocholesteremic and hypolipidemic.