For
thousands of years, agarwood, known as chen
xiang (沉香) and Oud Oil have been
used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM); a physical and mental curative
ingredient rated extremely highly for its holistic effects on the body and
mind. The sheer number of ailments that
are increasingly treated with the use of agarwood resin and oud oil is
impressive and the wood is highly revered within Chinese medicine.
So
deeply ingrained is agarwood as a potent, almost magical ingredient into the
psyche of traditional Chinese culture that it is believed that Samurais would
use the perfume on their armor to bring good luck before going to battle.
As well
as TCM, agarwood is valued by many alternative medicinal practitioners in ayurvedic,
Tibetan and Arabic medicine.
From
Damage Comes Healing
Interestingly,
the healing properties of agarwood derive from a fungus or mold infection of
the aquilaria tree. Without this attack, the trees are virtually worthless but once
invaded they produce a rich resin as a defense in the heartwood of the tree.
This dense resinous wood which is dark brown is transformed into an incredibly
valued and valuable commodity.
In
nature only a small percentage of trees are infected and only a percentage of
those produce the resin. However, demand can be met with the growth of
plantations such as Treedom’s trees in Thailand, with a ready market within
China and beyond.
The Qi
Connection
In
traditional Chinese culture, Qi (pronounced ‘Chi’) is the life flow of energy
through the body and in TCM is regarded as the vital energy that relates to the
function of the organs and the meridians. The meridian system denotes the path
through which Qi flows and it is believed that agarwood enhances Qi by
penetrating and stimulating the senses and has a spiritual quality. In Feng
Shui, the art of controlling and directing the flow of energy and the fragrance
of agarwood is believed to energize stagnant Qi within buildings and rooms too.
By
promoting the circulation of QI, TCM uses agarwood to treat a number of
different symptoms which particularly relate to the meridians that are
connected to the stomach, spleen and kidneys.
Medicinal
Properties
Oud oil
is used in traditional medicine in China as a tonic, stimulant and even an
aphrodisiac as well as a treatment for impotence. Many abdominal conditions are
treated using agarwood including indigestion problems and even stomach tumors.
Agarwood is used as an anti-asthma medicine and
pleurisy antidote as well as being valued as a pain and stress reliever along
with an aid in treating neuro-muscular conditions. As a tonic, agarwood is used
to address blood impurities and has been used to tackle hepatitis and anemia
too.
Skin
complaints, common colds and urine problems such as bed wedding and urine
infections can also be helped with the use of agarwood according to TCM.
Agarwood remedies are prescribed for issues as diverse as fatigue, hypertension
and cirrhosis of the liver and for various ailments the agarwood is combined
with herbs to target specific illnesses and diseases.
Much
research has looked into the antibacterial properties of agarwood and how it
could help target mycobacterium tuberculosis, for example. Whilst on a
psychological level, the oil extracted from agarwood is believed to be a rescue
remedy that can influence brainwaves with a soothing, harmonizing effect.
Chinese
Market
Within
China, Oud Oil as a fragrance is attracting huge attention and agarwood, which
is some 35 times more expensive than gold per gram, is fast-becoming an
investment for the luxury Chinese market.
Wood shavings and particularly wood powder as well as the oil are used
in TCM and this is extending into more modern Chinese pharmacopeia.
As a
luxury item, high-profile attention has promoted the fragrance and agarwood too.
Well-known Chinese TV host Wang Yinan who is the director of the national Chen
Xiang Research Association has pushed agarwood into the limelight and under the
noses of China’s elite and they are certainly following the heady scent.
Wealthy
Gen Y buyers who value experiences rather than merely accruing assets and
within Chinese culture there is an ingrained understanding and appreciation of
less traditional medicines and of natural ingredients. The scent from fragrances
and the resin burnt as incense along with the special properties of agarwood
have captivated the Chinese market. Add to this a progressive acceptance into
mainstream medicine of TCM and China is set to become an agarwood capital, not
only within Southeast Asia but globally.