Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
沉香 / 马来沉香 / 沉香木 / 蜜香 / 沉水香 / 沉甲 — Aquilaria malaccensis Lam. (syn. Aquilaria agallocha, Aloexylum agallochum)
Pinyin: Chénxiāng / Mǎlái Chénxiāng / Chénshuǐxiāng · Malay: Gaharu / Karas / Tengkaras / Kayu Gaharu / Gaharu Melaka / Agarwood / Oud · Family: Thymelaeaceae (瑞香科 / 沉香属)
Energetics
Warm (微温 / 辛苦微温纯阳)
Flavor
Pungent, bitter, richly aromatic, sweet-balsamic resinous (辛、苦、微温、气味芳香浓郁、蜜香幽邃、甘凉回甜)
Meridians
Kidney (肾), Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃), Heart (心), Lung (肺)
Traditional Edict
Malayan Agarwood / Oud (Gaharu / Chen Xiang / Karas). Resin-saturated obsidian-black heartwood sinking in water. Supreme Emperor of Aromatic Sinking Qi: anchors floating Kidney-Yang to terminate cold asthma, unblocks suffocating angina pectoris chest pain (Xiong Bi), stops violent hiccups.
Cautions & Contraindications
- MANDATORY WATER SINKING RESIN TEST (authentic top grade sinks in water). CONTRAINDICATED in severe Qi-deficiency with prolapse, and in active pregnancy for high-dose downward-dredging formulas.
Clinical Applications
- Coronary artery disease and angina pectoris (coronary vasodilation and myocardial ischemic protection via 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones), intractable bronchial asthma (Kidney-grasping), projectile hiccups, and insomnia.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Chromone dimers and agarospirol stimulate endothelial eNOS, expanding coronary arterial flow and resolving ischemic ST-depression in angina. 2. Agarospirol enhances GABAA transmission for neurosedation.
Preparation & Dosage
CRITICAL PAOZHI MANDATE: SHORT-BOIL (Hou Xia 3-5 Min) OR SWALLOWED MICRO-POWDER (Chong Fu): 1.0 to 1.5 g ultra-fine micro-powder taken directly with warm water for angina (NEVER boil >5 min; preserves volatile chromones). Decoction: 1.5-4.5 g added last.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Coronary Angina Sinking-Qi Duo (Chen Xiang Jiang Qi San) with Santalum album (Tan Xiang). 2. Kidney-Deficiency Cold Asthma Draught with Schisandra chinensis (Wu Wei Zi).
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
