Also known as “Oud” is an essential oil known as Agar. This oil is basically derived from a dark resinous wood known as Agarwood or Aloeswood. This essential oil is mainly found in the north-east of India, Bhutan, and Southeast Asia in countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, and Indonesia. Furthermore, this oil is renowned for a number of beneficial medicinal properties. In addition, since agarwood as a natural resource is extremely rare the oil is extremely expensive.
A. Chemical components of the Agar Oil:
Agarwood basically belongs to a species known as “Aquilaria malaccensis” within the kingdom plantae. In addition, agar oil comprises of about 150 chemical compounds of which 70 belong to an organic chemical known as “Terepenoids”. Furthermore, this oil also consists of compounds such as agarofurans, cadinanes, eudesmanes, valencanes, eremophilanes, guaianes, prezizanes, vetispiranes, and other simple aromatic compounds.
B. The uses/benefits of the Agar Oil:
Agar oil comprises of medicinal properties that proves to be beneficial for those who use it. So there are a few benefits that can be derived by using this oil and they are as follows:
- Anti-Rheumatic: This oil comprises of medicinal properties that can be useful in curing a joint and muscle condition known as “rheumatism” and hence can serve as an ideal “Anti-rheumatic”.
- Anti-Stress: “Stress” has become part and parcel of human life and this oil possesses property to relieve stress and act as an ideal “Anti-stress” agent.
- Antimicrobial: This oil possesses properties that helps destroy microorganism and thereby serves as an ideal “antimicrobial”.
- Carminative: This oil possesses properties that inhibit the formation of gas (i.e. flatulence) and serves as an ideal “Carminative”.
- Analgesic: This oil possesses properties that helps relieve pain and thereby serves as an ideal Analgesic.
- Anticonvulsant: This oil possesses properties that helps preventing epileptic seizures and serves as an ideal anticonvulsant agent.
- Aphrodisiac: This oil also possesses properties that stimulate sexual desires within an individual and thereby serves as an ideal Aphrodisiac.
C. Adverse effects of the Agar Oil:
The use of agar oil may lead to a couple of adverse effects on the body. The side effects are as follows:
- The use of this oil could lead to skin issues.
- The overuse of this oil leads to nausea, stomach rumble, and diarrhea.