The Wood Of The Gods
9 March 2023
Agarwood in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Agarwood is a dark resinous material found in the heartwood of Aquilaria trees. It is known by many names across many cultures such as Chen Xiang (沉香) in Chinese, Oud in the Middle East, Kritsana in Thai, Gaharu in Malaysia and Agar in India. Aquilaria malaccensis and Aquilaria crassna are the most well-known species and are commonly found in the Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
Today, let’s explore the significance of Agarwood in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM).
The word Chen (沉) means sink or heavy, while Xiang (香) means fragrance or scent. As the Chinese name implies, this wood has a strong fragrance and is burnt as incense. The aromatic oils present in agarwood mean that it is heavier than water; thus, unlike many oils, agarwood sinks rather than floats in water.
During the Song Dynasty of China, incense burning was common among scholars alongside other noble activities such as tea drinking, painting and flower arrangement. One of the key ingredients of the incense of the period was Agarwood.
Aside from its aromatherapeutic effects, the nobility of the time used these incenses to deter disease-carrying insects.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory, agarwood is referred to as having a spicy flavor, a warm property, and balances the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians.
Agarwood was described in the Ming Yi Bie Lu (名医别录) as used for the management of cholera and heart disease. The Hai Yao Ben Cao (海药本草) described the use of agarwood for the treatment of mental health issues. This book also described the usage of agarwood for relieving inflammation of wounds. The Ben Cao Jing Shu (本草经疏) also mentioned the qi balancing properties of Agarwood.
Wellwoud strives to further enhance the knowledge discovered by traditional Chinese doctors in our products while combining it with modern scientific understandings. Our products are all 100% of Natural Origin and are formulated by our founder, Dr Carolyn Goh. Through her research and rigorous testing, Wellwoud products are proven to impart health benefits.
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