沉香 / 土沉香 / 白木香 — Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng. (and Aquilaria malaccensis Lam.)

Pinyin: Chénxiāng / Tǔchénxiāng · Malay: Gaharu / Karas / Kalambak · Family: Thymelaeaceae (瑞香科)

Energetics

Warm (温)

Flavor

Pungent, Bitter (辛、苦)

Meridians

Spleen (脾), Stomach (胃), Kidney (肾)

Traditional Edict

Directs Qi downward to calm wheezing (降气平喘), warms middle burner to arrest vomiting (温中止呕), anchors Qi back to Kidney source (纳气平喘 / 温肾助阳). Indicated for cold Qi rebelling, chest/epigastric cold colic, intractable hiccups, and asthma from Kidney deficiency.

Cautions & Contraindications

Contraindicated in Qi exhaustion with organ prolapse, or hyperactive Yang from Yin deficiency without cold Qi stagnation.

Clinical Applications

Functional gastrointestinal colic, intractable hiccups, refractory bronchial asthma, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and neuro-inflammatory depression.

Quality Markers

Alcohol-Soluble Extract >= 10.0%, 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones (Chinese Pharmacopoeia)

Mechanism & Phytochemistry

1. 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones (agarotetrol, AH6, AH8) exert anxiolytic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects via GABA receptor activation and microglial NF-kB suppression. 2. Sesquiterpenes (agarospirol, jinkoh-eremol) cross blood-brain barrier for central sedation. 3. Blocks voltage-dependent calcium channels in visceral smooth muscle.

Preparation & Dosage

NEVER boiled in prolonged decoction. Finely grated powder is swallowed directly (Chong Fu / 冲服) with warm decoction. Dosage: 1-2 g powder swallowed directly; 1.5-3 g in low-heat infusion.

Appended Prescriptions

1. Chen Xiang Jiang Qi San (沉香降气散) with Cyperus (Xiang Fu), Lindera (Wu Yao), and Amomum villosum. 2. Kidney-Anchoring Asthmatic Formulation with Schisandra and Psoralea.

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Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only