Aromatherapy in traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that aromatic qi can "open the orifices, resolve dampness, and release the exterior"—this is precisely the medical foundation for incense's ability to nourish the body, and the origin of "incense and medicine sharing the same source."
Traditional Chinese medicine regards incense medicines as a special class of medicinal materials: aromatic in odor, most possessing a "dispersing" nature. Their core functions can be summarized in three:
- Aromatic opening of the orifices: The odor is clear and uplifting, able to free the movement of qi and awaken the spirit and open the orifices, such as musk, borneol, and Acorus tatarinowii.
- Aromatic resolving of dampness: Aromatics can awaken the spleen, resolve turbidity, and ward off evil, such as Agastache rugosa, Atractylodes lancea, Eupatorium fortunei, and Amomum villosum.
- Releasing the exterior and dispersing cold: Some incense medicines also can disperse exterior pathogens, such as Perilla, Angelica dahurica, and cassia twig.
Incense and medicine sharing the same source
Agarwood (promotes qi movement and relieves pain, grasps qi and calms panting), sandalwood (regulates qi and warms the middle), borneol (opens the orifices and clears heat), musk (opens the orifices and awakens the spirit)… all are both key materials for blending incense and essential medicines in traditional Chinese medicine. The two originally come from the same source; seeIncense & Medicine PrescriptionsandAromatic Materials Illustrated。
Note: The above is a summary of traditional Chinese medicine concepts, intended for cultural understanding; for specific medication, please follow your doctor's advice. This page does not constitute medical advice.