Agaru (Aquillaria Agallocha) - Benefits, Usage and Dosage

Agaru is an evergreen plant which is also known as ‘Oud’ and commonly as Aloe wood or Agarwood. It is a precious fragrant wood which is used to make incense as well as in the perfume industry. It has a pungent odor and is bitter in taste. Agaru benefits in asthma, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Its external application improves skin glow, reduces joint inflammation and burning pain, and kills lice and other parasites. It stimulates hair growth, prevents skin diseases, and improves appetite. It is also used for the treatment of intestinal worms, bad breath (halitosis), loss of appetite, and intestinal gas.

According to Ayurveda, massaging joints with Agaru oil regularly can help you to get rid of joint pain due to its Vata balancing property. Taking Agaru powder along with honey might help to remove excess mucus from the respiratory tract and manage bronchitis due to its Ushna (hot) potency and Kapha balancing properties. Agaru might also protect the liver against damage caused by free radicals due to its antioxidant property and can reduce inflammation in the liver due to its anti- inflammatory property.

General Information

•   This plant is a large evergreen tree about 20 meters tall and 1.5–2.4 meters in girth with somewhat straight and fluted bole.
•   Leaves are alternate 0.5-10 cm by 2-5 cm, oblong, lanceolate or elliptic, caudate, acuminate and glabrous with slender nerves.
•   Venation is parallel and petiole is 0.3-0.5 cm long.
•   It is commercially used as fragrant and in prepation of drugs.
•   The tree contains plenty of oleoresin and has irregular dark patches.
•   The wood burns with a bright flame giving off pleasant smell.

Active Ingredients of Agaru

Agarwood from Agaru contains derivatives of 2-(2-Phenylethyl) chromones and sesquiterpenoids, which are mainly responsible for its therapeutic effects.

Other Names Of Agaru

•   Botanical Name : Aquilaria agallocha Roxb
•   English Name : Eagle Wood
•   Bengali Name : Agaru, Agarkashtha, Agar Chandan
•   Hindi Name : Agar
•   Tamil Name : Akil kattai
•   Telugu Name : Agaru
•   Assamese Name : Agaru
•   Urdu Name : Ood Hindi, Agar
•   Marathi Name : Agar

Classification of Agaru

•   Kingdom : Plantae - Plants
•   Subkingdom : Streptophyta
•   Superdivision : Spermatophyta - Seed plants
•   Division : Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
•   Class : Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
•   Family : Thymelaeaceae
•   Genus : Aquilaria genus
•   Species : A.malaccensis

Habitat of Agaru

They occur particularly in the rainforests of Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Northeastern India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Borneo and New Guinea.

Practical Uses Of Agaru

Agaru is indicated in following health conditions:

•   Bronchitis
•   Intestinal worms
•   Loss of appetite
•   Asthma
•   Gout
•   Rheumatism
•   Bad breath (halitosis)
•   Enuresis
•   Cardiac weakness
•   Bradycardia (abnormally slow heartbeat)
•   Chyluria (chylous urine)
•   Leucorrhoea
•   High blood pressure
•   Anxiety
•   Depression
•   Diarrhea
•   Dysentery

Parts Used

•   Agarwood – resinous and aromatic wood
•   Agarwood Oil (also called Oud Oil)

Effect on Doshas

Pacifies vata and kapha.

Ayurvedic Properties of Agaru

Side effects of Agaru

Agarwood oil is usually well tolerated when used as essential oil for taking smell or when applied externally.
If inhaled excessively it may cause nausea and temporary dizziness for a few minutes. In such a case, drink good amount of water, take fresh air and lie down for a few moments.If applied excessively, then it may cause local redness, irritation or increased warmth. In such cases, wash off with cold water with a thin stream of water for 3 – 5 minutes.

Upon oral intake in excess, it may cause nausea, vomiting or heart burn (burning sensation in stomach). Having a few pieces of cucumber or taking 10 raisins soaked in water, can help.