Agar Wood, Eaglewood, Indian Aloewood, Aloeswood

Aquilaria malaccensis

Physical Characteristics

Aquilaria malaccensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - northeast India through Myanmar, Malaysia to Indonesia and the Philippines.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Inner bark Seed Edible Uses: Condiment Edible portion: Seeds, Bark, Spice. The resin is used to flavour curries in Malaysia[ 238 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antiasthmatic Antidiarrhoeal Antirheumatic Aphrodisiac Astringent Cancer Carminative Febrifuge Sedative Stimulant Tonic Agar wood is an astringent, stimulant, tonic herb that relieves spasms, especially of the digestive and respiratory systems, and lowers fevers[ 238 ]. In Western, Chinese and Indian medicines the incense is used against cancer, especially of the thyroid gland. In China it is applied as a sedative against abdominal complaints, asthma, colic and diarrhoea, and as an aphrodisiac and carminative[ 310 ]. The grated wood enters into various preparations used especially during and after childbirth, and to treat rheumatism, smallpox and abdominal pains. Decoctions of the wood are said to have anti-microbial properties, e.g. Against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Shigella flexneri[ 310 ].

Known Hazards

Aquilaria malaccensis is the major source[5] of agarwood, a resinous heartwood, used for perfume and incense.[1] The resin is produced by the tree in response to infection by a parasitic ascomycetous mould, Phaeoacremonium parasitica,[6] a dematiaceous (dark-walled) fungus.