Benefits of Agarwood Oil or Oud Oil

Agarwood oil, oud oil or agar oil is one of the most expensive essential oils. It is popular in Asia and has been used for religious and spiritual functions, to increase level of meditation, as incense and perfume because of its fragrance and as a traditional medicine or remedy to treat various conditions and diseases.

There are several species of agarwood namely aquilaria agallocha, aquilaria sinensis and aquilaria malaccensis. Agarwood is also known as aloeswood, eaglewood, gaharu, oud, oodh and jinko.

The interesting thing about agar oil is that the wood obtains its fragrance only after it has been infected with fungi for several years. The infected wood produce resin and stores it in its trunk. The oud oil is then obtained from the aloe tree trunk through steam distillation, spinning band distillation or hydro distillation.

Among the constituents of agar wood are agarotetrol, agarol, agarospirol and methoxycinnamic acid.

Uses and Health Benefits of Agarwood Oil

1. A study done in 1981 shows that the active compounds in agarwood oil has anti-depression activities. Agarwood essential oil when used in aromatherapy may help treat anxiety, stress, depression and other nervous system disorders. It is best when combined with marjoram oil and bergamot oil to produce a calming and relaxing effect.
   
   
   
2. Agar oil is used as a base for perfumes. The M7 perfume by Yves Saint Laurent uses agarwood essential oil for its middle note for its fresh and woody sensual scent.
   
   
   
3. Agarwood also used as an aphrodisiac when used alone or combined with ylang ylang oil. You can diffuse it, sprinkle it or use it as perfume or massage oil.
   
   
   
4. In Chinese traditional medicine agar oil is used to treat cirrhosis of the liver, kidney problems and lung and stomach tumors.
   
   
   
5. Agarwood may also help promote sweating as it has shown to have diaphoretic properties.

Besides the oil, Malaysians and Indonesians make use of the agarwood shoots or leaves to make tea. It is believed that agarwood tea may help treat insomnia, mental stress, incontinence, gastritis and also lower cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The agarwood bark sold as agarwood or gaharu chips is also used as a tonic and among its properties includes anti-inflammatory, carminative, astringent and diuretic activities. It may help as a remedy for gout, rheumatism and respiratory problems.

Back to Essential Oil Benefits

Return from Agarwood Oil Benefits to the iBenefits home