Agarwood facts and health benefits

Agarwood scientifically known as Agallochum malaccense referred to as fragrance wood that’s utilized for producing perfumes, oil, incense or costly herbal medicine. It is also known as Agar Wood, Eaglewood, Ales Wood, Oodh or Agar, Gaharu, Aloeswood, Oud, Chen Xiang, Kalamabak and Jinkoh. The Agarwood Plant is extensively available in Malaysia, Thailand as well as other country in South East Asia. Lately, more Agar wood is cultivated to meet international demands. From the historical viewpoint, more than 10 countries and regions are still growing or ever grew some certain species of Aquilaria tree. These countries are India, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia, and China. In China, it is mainly found in areas such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. It is most expensive wood and used for a several things. Its resin and oud oil is used in Ayurvedic medicines and cosmetic products.

The heart of the tree wood produces this dark aromatic resin as part of its natural defense mechanism when infected with fungus (Phialophora Parasitica). This resin can be produced either through natural causes of the wild or through the artificial means of inoculating it with resin-inducing substances. It is also broadly put into use as incense ingredients for cultural offerings or spiritual prayers. The heartwood of Agar tree has economic and medicinal significance.

Plant

Agarwood is a common name of evergreen tree Agallochum malaccense. It is found at altitude of 1500 m above the sea level. In India, Agarwood is mainly found in East Himalayas, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Assam. The heartwood of Agar tree has economic and medicinal significance. The plant is 40 m high and spreads up to 12 m wide and prefers heavy soils developed from gneiss and other metamorphic rocks, but it also grows well on sandy loams developed from sandstone. Plant has pale, thin and smooth trunk with smooth, whitish bark. Branchlets are slender, pale brown, pubescent, glabrescent.

Leaves

Leaves of the Agarwood are simple, alternate; petiole 4-6 mm long; blade elliptical-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 7.5-12 cm × 2.5-5.5 cm, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, glabrous, sometimes pubescent and glabrescent beneath, shiny on both surfaces, base acute, attenuate or obtuse, apex acuminate, acumen up to 2 cm long; veins in 12-16 pairs, rather irregular, often branched, elevated and distinct beneath, curving upward to the margin, plane or obscure above.

Fruit

Fruit of the Agarwood is loculicidal capsule, obovoid or obovoid-cylindrical, 3-4 cm × 2.5 cm, usually compressed, pubescent, glabrescent, base cuneate, apex rounded; pericarp woody. Seeds are ovoid, 10 mm × 6 mm including a beak 4 mm long, densely red-haired, bearing from the base a twisted, tail-like, pubescent appendage as long as the seed.

Health Benefits of Agarwood

Agarwood helps to increases appetite by acting on gastric juices and liver functions. It helps in abdominal distension and helps releasing wind from the intestines. Thus, it also decreases abdominal pain and cramps that occur due to excess gas in the alimentary canal.  Traditional Hindu Families also use it for increasing learning abilities and improving memory. Listed below are few of the health benefits of using agar wood leaves in different forms

1. Works as antidepressants

Agarwood leaves work as anti-depressants. Leaves consist of agarospirol which serves as anti-depressants. It helps to depress the central nervous system that causes tension and restore physical fitness.

2. Can be as anti-aging skin

Agarwood leaves can also be as anti-aging skin. Agar wood leaf tea is used to remove mercury in the body, thus decreasing the risk of mercury neurological disorders and can prevent skin aging. When toxic mercury in the body can be removed with agar wood leaf tea, it makes skin healthy and free of blemishes or skin aging.

3. Helps to lose weight

Agarwood leaves helps to lose unwanted body weight. If you are overweight, you can consume the tea of Agarwood leaf. This has been proven to help you lose weight. You can consume six cups of Agarwood leaf tea every day to get the beneficial outcomes.

4. Soothe sleep disorders

Agarwood leaf can also soothe sleep disorders. Tea of Agarwood leaf, have effects that help to soothe and reduce the symptoms of stress, so that you can sleep calmly and longer.

5. Add energy

Agarwood leaves can also add energy. You can consume the tea of Agarwood leaf regularly. When you consume tea of Agarwood leaf regularly it helps to increase the quantity to urinate which shows that the Agarwood leaf tea works in the body. Flushing when detoxification occurs as a result of Agarwood leaf tea which also lubricates the stomach.

6. Bad breath and mouth odor (halitosis)

Generally, Agarwood is used for reducing bad breath and mouth odor. Bad breath results from oral diseases and gum diseases in about 80% cases. In all these cases, agar resin works amazingly. It may not work if this problem is related with gastric issue such as chronic gastritis, acidity, heartburn etc. So in case of oral diseases you can consume Agarwood regularly for better outcomes.

Ayurvedic benefits of Agarwood

• Body Odor: Take a stick of Agarwood. Rub it on a smooth stone with Milk or Rose Water. Apply this paste on the body before bathing.
• Fever: Boil a small piece of Agarwood (Agar) in 3 cups water in an earthen pot till it is reduced to half. Let it cool. Take One tablespoon daily for 3 days.
• Head Lice: Apply Agarwood (Agar) powder all over the affected area.
• Heartburn: Inhaling the smoke by burning Agarwood sticks will be beneficial to reduce heartburn.
• Liver Disorders: Breath in the smoke of Agarwood sticks.
• Acid Reflux: Agar ood (Agar) sticks are burnt and the smoke is inhaled.
• Vomiting: Burn some sticks of Agarwood (Agar). Inhale the smoke. OR: Prepare a decoction of Agarwood (Agar). Take one cup once a day.
• Nausea: Inhale the smoke by burning Agarwood sticks.
• Wrinkles: Grind Agarwood with Milk. Apply this paste everyday all over the face and body.
• For Skin: Make a paste of Agarwood by mixing Rose water. Apply over the affected part twice a day for half an hour. It will give an effective result.
• Scabies: Powder Agarwood (Agar). Add little water to make a paste. Apply it on the affected part twice a day for half an hour and then wash.
• Itching: Grin dried Agarwood (Agar) with water. Apply over affected part for 20 minutes.
• Elephantiasis: Mix Agarwood (Agar) powder with water to make a paste. Apply on affected parts twice a day for 20 minutes.
• Swelling: Apply a paste of Agarwood (Agar) on the affected part for half an hour.
• Rheumatism: Apply the gum of Agarwood (Agar) on the affected part twice a day.
• Asthma: Take 5 cups of Agarwood pieces. Boil in 2 liter of water until it reduces to 1 liter. Add 1 liter each of Cow’s milk and Gingelly oil to it. Boil the mixture again to remove the moisture completely from it. Take Terminalia Bellirica and Liquorice root powder each of them half cup. Add to the mixture. Let it cool, then strain and store. This oil can be used to massage the scalp twice a week. Leave it for 20 Minutes and then Wash off.
• Migraine: Boil 4 cups of Agarwood pieces in 2 liter water till it is reduced to One liter. Now again boil it with one liter each of Cow’s milk and Gingelly oil and remove its moisture. Add half cup each of powdered Terminalia Bellirica and Liquorice root. Let it cool then strain. Massage the scalp with this oil twice a week; keep it for 20 Minutes and Wash off.
• Swelling: Take 4 cups of broken Agarwood chips. Soak in 2 liter water over night. Next day boil it till the water is reduced to half liter. Now grind the chips separately and again boil with the decoction for 10 Minutes. Filter. Heat with half liter each of Coconut Oil and Cow’s Milk. Add One cup each of Wild Turmeric, Rinds of Terminalia Bellirica and 2 cups each of Cassia Auriculata and Southernwood flower. Add a pinch of Saffron. Boil for 10 Minutes. Cool, strain and store. Massage the scalp with this oil twice a week.
• Baldness: Dip 5 cups of broken Agarwood chips in 2 liter water overnight. – Boil until the water reduces to one fourth. Add half liter of Coconut Oil and Cow’s Milk, one cup each of Wild Turmeric, Rinds of Terminalia Bellirica and 2 cups each of Cassia Auriculata (Tarwar) and Southernwood flower. Boil for 10 minutes and Strain. Apply on the scalp twice a week.
• Blocked Nose: Take about 2 liters of water. Add 5 cups of Agarwood pieces. Boil it. Wait till the volume reduces to 1 liter. Add 1 liter of Cow’s Milk and 1 liter of Sesame Oil. Remove the moisture from the mixture by boiling it. Add 1/2 cup of Terminalia Bellirica rinds and Liquorice roots. Let it cool. Filter it. Use it twice a week.
• Body Odor: Take 2 liters of water. Add 5 cups of Agarwood pieces. Boil it. Wait till the volume reduces to 1 liter. Add 1 liter of Cow’s Milk and 1 liter of Sesame Oil. Remove the moisture from the mixture by boiling it. Add 1/2 cup of Terminalia Bellirica rinds and Liquorice roots. Let it cool. Filter it. Use it twice a week.
• Asthma: Take a Betel (Pan) leaf and wash. Drip 2 drops of Agarwood (Agar) oil over it. Chew it properly once a day.
• Cough: Powder dried Agarwood (Agar). Take one pinch with one teaspoon Honey (Shehad) twice a day.
• Hiccups: Put one pinch Agarwood (Agar) powder in one teaspoon of Honey. Mix. Lick it twice a day.
• Impotence: Pour 2 drops of Agarwood (Agar) oil on fresh Betel (Pan) leaf and take once a day.
• Excessive Sweating: Boil the Plum juice. Add all powdered Agarwood in boiling juice. Heat till the mixture becomes thick. Apply lukewarm mixture over the affected part once a day.
• Cough: Take Agarwood (Agar) and Aristolochia Indica (Hooka Bel) root in equal quantity. Grind them together. Add little water to make a paste and apply on the chest for half an hour.
• Anorexia, low appetite: Take 1-3 grams of Agarwood powder with honey.
• Puerperal disorder: Prepare tea of Agarwood and give in dosage of 10-20 ml.
• Snakebite: Apply the paste of Agarwood at affected body part.

Other Traditional Medicinal benefits of Agar wood

• Agarwood is used to relieve spasms and to lower fever.
• Agarwood is used as a sedative against abdominal complaints, asthma, colic and diarrhea in china.
• AGarwood also is an aphrodisiac and carminative.
• In Western, Chinese and Indian medicines the Agarwood incense is used against cancer, especially of the thyroid gland.
• Agarwood is applied as a sedative against abdominal complaints, asthma, colic and diarrhea, and as an aphrodisiac and carminative in China.
• Grated Agarwood enters into various preparations used especially during and after childbirth, and to treat rheumatism, smallpox and abdominal pains.
• Decoctions of the Agarwood are said to have anti-microbial properties, e.g. Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Shigella flexneri.
• Agarwood is a good herbal treatment for countering Throat related disorders like inflamed Throat, due to its, Analgesic characteristics.
• Agarwood is effectual in strengthening the essential organ Heart, and prolonging its functionality.
• Agarwood is quite beneficial for enhancing Sexuality.
• Agarwood is effective in countering affliction before and post childbirth.
• Agarwood is advantageous in preventing the condition of loose Stool like Dysentery and Diarrhea.
• Agarwood is also used in preparation of Creams, Lotions and Incense Sticks.
• Agarwood is effective in tending Muscular ailments like Spasm, often seen in Toes, Hands, etc. It helps in curbing the abrupt expansion and contraction of Muscles, group of Muscles or Organs.
• Agarwood also neutralizes Colic, which involves sudden generation and halt of pain, in the stomach.

Agarwood Facts

Agarwood, also known as oud, oudh, agar, aloeswood, gaharu, jinko or lign-aloes, is a dark resinous heartwood that forms in Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees (large evergreens native to southeast Asia) when they become infected with a type of mould. Prior to infection, the heartwood is odorless, relatively light and pale colored; however, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin embedded heartwood. The resin embedded wood is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfumes. Agarwood is most expensive wood and used for a several things. Its resin and oud oil is used in Ayurvedic medicines and cosmetic products.

References:

http://www.gbif.org/species/5524201/synonyms

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/tro-32000450

http://eol.org/pages/5469041/overview

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Aquilaria+malaccensis

https://cites.org/eng/node/27114

http://www.asianplant.net/Thymelaeaceae/Aquilaria_malaccensis.htm

https://herbpathy.com/Uses-and-Benefits-of-Agarwood-Cid3459

https://www.sultanuloud.com/pages/world-of-oud-and-its-uses

https://www.ayurtimes.com/aquilaria-agarwood-oud/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agarwood

http://www.eaincense.com/aquilaria-malaccensis.html

http://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Aquilaria_malaccensis_(PROSEA)

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Aquilaria+malaccensis

http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/6650

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