Agaru / Aquilaria agallocha

Latin Name- Aquilaria Malaccensis

Family- Malvaceae

Common Names are Agaru, Agar, Agarwood, Aloeswood, Oudh, Oud, Gaharu

Genus- Aquilaria

Distribution- It is found in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore.

Agaru is an evergreen plant that is commonly known as Aloe wood or Agarwood. It has a pungent odor and is bitter. This plant works effectively in rheumatoid arthritis by reducing the pain and inflammation due to its anti-inflammatory property. According to Ayurveda, its oil massage on the joints regularly can help you to get rid of joint pain because of its Vata balancing property. It also helps to remove excess mucus from the respiratory tract and manage bronchitis due to its Ushna (hot) potency and Kapha balancing properties. Due to its antioxidant property, it protects the liver against damage caused by free radicals and also reduces inflammation in the liver due to its anti-inflammatory property. Applying its oil on the skin also manages skin conditions like eczema due to its healing action.

Types of Agaru:

Agaru herb is of four types:

Daaha Agaru: This herb is mostly cultivated in the Gujarat State of India and is also known as Tail Agaru. Its fragrance is very pleasing and stays for a long period.

Kaashth agaru: It is yellowish and treats symptoms like bad breath, vomiting, and various neurological disorders.

Krishna agaru: This type of agaru is used in diseases related to eyes, ears, and skin.

Mangalya Agaru: This type of agaru is useful for various therapeutic purposes. It is mostly obtained from the Himalayan region around Kedarnath (Uttarakhand).

Names in different languages:

English Name: Agilawood, Agarwood

Hindi Name: Agar

Bengali Name: Agaru

Gujarati Name: Agar

Tamil Name: Agalichandanam, Aggalichandanam

Telugu Name: Agaru

Malayalam Name: Akil

Its synonyms in Sanskrit:

Pravara, Anaryaka, Vamshika, Vishvaroopakam, Rajarha, Shreshta Vruksha, Krumija, Jongakam, and Krumija

Loha- It is black and is heavy similar to iron.

What are the Ayurvedic properties of Agaru?

Rasa (Taste)- Tikta (Bitter) and katu (Pungent)

Guna (Quality)- Ruksha (Dry), Tikshna (Sharp) and Laghu (Light),

Virya (Potency)- Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka (Resultant)- Katu (undergoes pungent after digestion)

Dosha karma (Effect on doshas)- It mainly pacifies Kapha Dosha and Vata Dosha

Part used: Aromatic resinous wood oil is also called as Agarwood oil, Aloeswood oil

Dosage: Powder- 3 to 5 grams

Oil- 1 to 5 drops

What are the medicinal uses of Agaru?

Its application on the skin is best in removing coldness

Krumihara- It is useful in worm infection and infection wounds

Anilahara- Balances the Vata dosha in the body

Kushtahara- It is useful in skin-related issues

Kaphahara- Useful in cold, cough and asthma, and relieves sputum

Dushta Vranashodhana- Helpful in cleaning wounds

Its Therapeutic indications:

Agaru is indicated these health conditions like:

• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Wounds
• Loss of appetite
• Intestinal worms
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Intestinal gas
• Rheumatism
• Bradycardia (abnormally slow heartbeat)
• Cardiac weakness
• Persistent hiccups
• Chyluria (chylous urine)
• Fever with chills
• Loss of libido in men
• Leucorrhoea
• Gout
• Enuresis
• High blood pressure
• Spasms
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Body odor
• Diarrhea
• Dysentery

What are the therapeutic uses of Agaru?

Urticaria

2 grams of agaru powder is advised to take with 5 ml Cow’s Ghee for the treatment of Urticaria. It has an anti-allergic and anti-pruritic action on the skin that helps to treat urticaria. It also treats raised itchy bumps and itching associated with urticaria. Its powder used in a combination with coconut oil is also applied to the skin to reduce itching and burning sensation.

Numbness and tingling sensation

Tingling sensations can occur in any part of the body which indicates disturbances in Vata dosha balance in the body, as per the Ayurveda point of view. As the Vata dosha gets balanced, it reduces the tingling sensation and numbness.

Enuresis (Bedwetting)

Agaru acts as a nervine tonic that provides strength to the nerves and urinary bladder. It also provides strength to the urinary bladder to hold the urine produced during the night. It also treats the reactiveness of the bladder, which is a common cause of the enuresis. It is useful in treating bedwetting.

Intestinal Gas, Bloating & Abdominal Distension

Agaru helps in treating the intestinal gas and has been used in Ayurveda with Cumin Seeds (Jeera) and Carom Seeds (Ajwain) for many ages to treat bloating and abdominal distension. In the digestive system, its main function is to reduce abdominal spasm and pains that occur due to the presence of excessive gas in the gut.

Loss of Appetite

Agaru boosts up the appetite by acting upon the stomach and liver. It improves the functioning of the liver and stimulates its metabolism. It also improves gastric secretions that increase the digestive power.