The efficacy and function of agarwood incense sticks

Many people will buy agarwood incense sticks. Some people may buy them because they believe in Buddhism. Of course, there are also some people who simply like the smell of agarwood. No matter what the reason is, since people have bought agarwood incense sticks, it is necessary to understand the efficacy and functions of agarwood incense sticks. It is very important to understand the specific efficacy and functions. It can bring certain help to people and help them use agarwood incense sticks better. Let's analyze its efficacy and functions below.

The efficacy and function of agarwood incense

1. Medicinal value

"Compendium of Materia Medica" records: "Agarwood has a pungent smell, is slightly warm, and is non-toxic. It is mainly used to treat wind and water toxic swellings, and remove bad air; it can treat heart and stomach pain, cholera, evil spirits and malarial air, and clear the mind; it can regulate the middle, nourish the five internal organs, replenish essence and strengthen yang, warm the waist and knees, stop cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, cold air, break syndromes, cold wind paralysis, joint stiffness, rheumatic skin itching, and dysentery; it can nourish the spleen and stomach, replenish qi and harmonize the mind. It can treat qi reversal and rapid wheezing, large intestine deficiency and closure, urinary incontinence, and cold male semen." Efficacy: Promotes qi circulation and relieves pain, warms the middle and stops vomiting, promotes qi circulation and relieves asthma. Used for chest and abdominal distension and pain,

It is said that boiling agarwood water to make tea can be used to treat stomach cold, vomiting, hiccups, kidney deficiency, qi reversal and shortness of breath, etc. The famous heart medicine "Jiusin" developed by the Japanese medical community is extracted from agarwood. Agarwood is of great significance for the emergency treatment of myocardial infarction and has become a must-have medicine for patients with myocardial infarction.

2. Agarwood and the Art of Incense

Human beings live among infinite smells. Through emotional and rational choices, they know how to use the spices around them, which gradually evolved into a part of moral education - the art of fragrance. This is an aesthetic of life that arises from the human desire to cultivate one's spirit from the enjoyment of the sense of smell. The art of incense, to put it simply, is the "art of fragrance". It is the combination of the aroma and smoke produced by spices with artistic incense utensils and the arrangement of the incense living environment, as well as the elegant and beautiful techniques of lighting and smelling incense. Through all of the above, memories or associations are evoked, and related literary, philosophical and artistic works are created, thus making people's lives richer and more interesting.

Agarwood plays an important role in the art of incense. There are four main types of incense: agarwood, sandalwood, ambergris and musk. The ancients often said "agarwood, sandalwood, dragon and musk", and agarwood was the first among the four fragrances. Even for those who are unfamiliar with the term "incense art", I believe many have heard of these four types of incense. Agarwood is elegant and very rare, and has been listed as the top of all fragrances since ancient times. Unlike sandalwood, agarwood is not a kind of wood, but a kind of special kind of incense tree, mixed with oil (resin)

Solid agglomerates of wood and wood components. Agarwood has a strong calming effect, helping the brain to rest well and regulating the breath. A good ring of incense not only affects our offerings, but also affects people's physical health. Good incense has strong air penetration ability. Lighting one stick can penetrate an area of ​​about 40 to 50 square meters and can improve bad environment and odor. If you calm your mind and smell the scent of good agarwood, you will feel a cool air sinking from your throat, which is very comfortable. If there are moldy areas indoors, they will no longer be moldy once they are fumigated.

3. Agarwood and Buddhism

Incense is a common solemnity in the Pure Land, it is the yearning of human life, and it is a world that makes people feel comfortable physically and mentally. In the Saddharmapuṇṭhāna Sūtra and the Vaiśravaṇa Sūtra, incense is described in detail as one of the common and special adornments in the Pure Land. There are also records of pure lands of fragrance, such as the Land of Fragrant Accumulation in the Vimalakirti Sutra. The Avatamsaka Sutra also says that the Huazang World is surrounded by countless seas of fragrant water.

The agarwood forest provides an environment that helps people to grow in their spiritual practice. The forest has beautiful scenery and is very suitable for recreation and spiritual practice. It does not exclude other tree species. The peaceful and clean environment makes people happy and enlightened.

Buddhism says: The height of the agarwood tree is as high as its roots. No pesticides need to be sprayed when planting. It has the characteristic of repelling but not killing, making it the most compassionate tree species and the best environment for spiritual practice. It reflects the wisdom of Buddhism and the perfect enlightenment of all sentient beings.

In Buddhism, agarwood powder and slices are generally used for fumigating, purifying, and burning during meditation or sutra chanting ceremonies. The higher-grade ones are used for drinking incense. Or it can be made into Buddhist beads and worn on the body or wrist. When chanting, the beads are moved. The agarwood is heated by the body temperature and emits fragrance to calm the mind and soul. Good incense is not only the best product for purifying the environment and the body and mind, but it is also beneficial to the cultivation of the body and mind, and can truly express the highest respect to the Buddha and Bodhisattva.

Generally speaking, traditional incense sticks are made by mixing sticky powder (natural plants, such as the elm bark mentioned in "Compendium of Materia Medica") and agarwood powder. The components are all natural, so no toxic or harmful substances are produced after burning. The fragrance also has the effect of purifying the mind and maintaining health. Currently, the incense sticks on the market are generally packaged in 5 to 20 grams, with prices ranging from ten to a thousand yuan, and the quality varies greatly. Among them, some inferior incense sticks are made of cheap sawdust powder with low oil content, chemical flavors, chemical adhesives, flame retardants and combustion aids. After ignition, they will produce pollutants, which are not only useless to the human body but also very toxic and harmful.