The Mysterious Medicinal Effects of Agarwood Recorded in Donguibogam
Agarwood in Donguibogam: The Mysterious Herb Recorded by Heo Jun
Agarwood Ancient Text Series Part 1
"Agarwood directs the Qi upwards to the top of the head (Niwan) and downwards to the Yongquan (the sole of the foot)"
— 『Donguibogam(東醫寶鑑)』 Tangyeok Section (湯液篇)
On July 31, 2009, Korea's 『Donguibogam』 was registered as the first medical book in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Compiled by Heo Jun (許浚, 1539~1615) 400 years ago, this medical encyclopedia contains the essence of East Asian medicine, among which Agarwood (沈香) is recorded as one of the most precious medicinal materials.
📑 Table of Contents
- What is Donguibogam?
- Records of Agarwood in Donguibogam
- Classification and Quality of Agarwood
- Representative Prescription of Agarwood: Agarwood Giangqi San
- Utilization of Agarwood in the Joseon Royal Court
- Agarwood in Donguibogam from a Modern Medical Perspective
- Conclusion: The Legacy of Agarwood Left by Heo Jun
1. What is Donguibogam?
1.1 Background and History of Compilation
『Donguibogam』 is a medical book compiled by Heo Jun under the order of King Seonjo of Joseon, starting in 1596 and completed in 1610 (2nd year of Gwanghaegun). It consists of a total of 25 volumes and 25 books, and is the best medical encyclopedia in East Asia that compiles Chinese and Korean traditional medicine texts.
| Title | Volume | Main Content |
|---|---|---|
| Neigyeong Section (內景篇) | 4 volumes | Five Internal Organs and Six Bowels, Qi, Essence, Spirit, Blood |
| Waixing Section (外形篇) | 4 volumes | Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, Skin |
| Miscellaneous Diseases Section (雜病篇) | 11 volumes | Various Diseases and Treatments |
| Tangyeok Section (湯液篇) | 3 volumes | Properties and Efficacy of Medicinal Materials (Including Agarwood) |
| Acupuncture and Moxibustion Section (鍼灸篇) | 1 volume | Acupuncture and Moxibustion Treatments |
[Figure 1] Heo Jun (許浚, 1539~1615), the author of Donguibogam / Virtual Image
1.2 Heo Jun's Medical Perspective
In the preface of Donguibogam, Heo Jun emphasized "medicine suitable for our country's climate." He did not blindly follow Chinese medical texts but reinterpreted them according to the climate and constitution of Joseon. Agarwood was recorded from this perspective, particularly emphasizing its value as a "medicinal material that governs Qi."
2. Records of Agarwood in Donguibogam
2.1 Basic Properties of Agarwood
📜 Original Text from Donguibogam
沈香 性熱 味辛 無毒
"Its nature is hot [熱], its taste is very spicy [辛], and it is non-toxic [無毒]."
| Item | Original Text | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Nature (性) | 熱 (Hot) | A warming medicinal material that warms the body |
| Taste (味) | 辛 (Spicy) | Spicy taste that circulates Qi |
| Toxicity (毒) | 無毒 (Non-toxic) | Safe for long-term use |
2.2 Key Efficacy of Agarwood
🌊 Circulation of Qi
"Agarwood directs Qi upwards to the Niwan (the top of the head) and downwards to the Yongquan (the sole of the foot)"
This means that Agarwood is responsible for the circulation of Qi throughout the body.
🔥 Regulation of Upper Heat and Lower Cold
"It lowers the fire Qi down and raises the water Qi up, cooling the upper part and warming the lower part."
This record indicates that Agarwood can improve the common modern symptom of upper heat and lower cold—a hot face with cold hands and feet.
💨 Regulation of Digestive Function
"It alleviates pain in the epigastrium. This is because it lowers the hot Qi in the upper part and warms the stomach."
Agarwood has the efficacy to regulate digestive function, alleviating symptoms such as indigestion, nausea, and epigastric pain.
3. Classification and Quality of Agarwood
3.1 Classification of Agarwood in Donguibogam
[Figure 2] High-quality Agarwood used as traditional medicinal material
| Grade | Name | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Top Grade (上品) | 沈水香 (Shen Shui Xiang) | The highest grade that completely sinks in water |
| Middle Grade (中品) | 煎香 (Jian Xiang) | Middle grade that partially sinks in water |
| Lower Grade (下品) | 黃熟香 (Huang Shu Xiang) | Lower grade that floats in water |
💡 Etymology of Agarwood
The name "Agarwood" itself means "sinking fragrance (沈香)", and it must have a high resin content to be recognized as true Agarwood.
3.2 Records of Agarwood Origins
"True Agarwood (眞香) is best sourced from Jiaozhi (交趾, Vietnam) and Jinlap (眞臘, Cambodia)"
Donguibogam also recognizes Vietnamese Agarwood as the highest quality. This aligns with the modern evaluation that Aquilaria agallocha from Vietnam is regarded as the finest Agarwood.
4. Representative Prescription of Agarwood: Agarwood Giangqi San (沈香降氣散)
4.1 Composition of the Prescription
| Medicinal Material | Dosage | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Agarwood (沈香) | 5 fen | Reduces and circulates Qi (君藥) |
| Xiangfuzi (香附子) | 1 liang | Relieves Qi |
| Zhusharen (縮砂仁) | 5 fen | Warms the spleen |
| Zhi Gan Cao (炙甘草) | 3 fen | Harmonizes the efficacy |
4.2 Indications
🏥 Main Indications of Agarwood Giangqi San
- Acute Gastroenteritis - When the stomach is cold and hiccups do not stop
- Respiratory Diseases - When there is difficulty breathing due to chronic bronchial asthma
- Kidney Function Weakness - Asthma due to congenital kidney function decline
- Urinary Disorders - When there is facial swelling and difficulty urinating due to vasomotor disorders
- Senile Constipation - When there is constipation due to weakness
5. Utilization of Agarwood in the Joseon Royal Court
5.1 The Mysterious Agarwood Pill of King Gyeongjong
King Gyeongjong (景宗, 1688~1724) suffered from epilepsy (癲癇) symptoms since childhood. The royal physicians prescribed the Mysterious Agarwood Pill (神祕沈香丸) to calm his chronic illness.
5.2 The Agarwood Prescription of King Sukjong
King Sukjong (肅宗, 1661~1720) suffered from constipation and urinary disorders. The royal physicians added 5 fen of Agarwood to the Palmi Jihwang Decoction (八味地黃湯) for him to take.
"After adding 5 fen of Agarwood to the Palmi Jihwang Decoction, the symptoms of constipation and difficulty urinating improved."
— 『Seungjeongwon Ilgi』
6. Agarwood in Donguibogam from a Modern Medical Perspective
6.1 Scientific Verification
| Records from Donguibogam | Modern Research Results |
|---|---|
| "Circulates Qi" | Confirmed effects on improving blood circulation |
| "Warms the stomach" | Promotes gastrointestinal motility |
| "Stabilizes the mind" | Sedative effects of delta-Guaiene component |
| "Treats cold symptoms" | Effects of peripheral vasodilation and temperature increase |
6.2 Key Research Achievements
- French Research: Announced that the delta-Guaiene component of Agarwood essential oil stabilizes the central nervous system and prevents vomiting
- Chinese Research: Agarwood's benzene extract inhibits central nervous system activity, stabilizing mental unrest such as anxiety, agitation, and worry
- Korean Research: Reported improvement in symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and edema in chronic kidney failure patients after administering Agarwood
7. Conclusion: The Legacy of Agarwood Left by Heo Jun
『Donguibogam』 is not just a medical book, but a compilation of East Asian medical knowledge.
✅ The True Agarwood According to Donguibogam
- It must sink in water (沈水香)
- Vietnamese Agarwood is the highest quality
- The higher the resin content, the better the efficacy
- It must have a unique fragrance
Heo Jun evaluated Agarwood as the "the best medicinal material that governs Qi." The symptoms of modern individuals, such as stress, indigestion, cold symptoms, and insomnia, can be interpreted in traditional medicine as a "state of blocked Qi circulation." From this perspective, Agarwood is an essential medicinal material for modern people, just as it was 400 years ago.
"Agarwood is the best medicinal material created by nature and the medicine of Qi recognized by Heo Jun."
📚 References
- Heo Jun (許浚). (1610). 『Donguibogam(東醫寶鑑)』. Naeuiwon.
- Korean National Culture Encyclopedia. "Agarwood (沈香)". https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0058589
- Korean National Culture Encyclopedia. "Donguibogam (東醫寶鑑)". https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0016731
- Foramedica.net. "Agarwood (沈香) Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum". https://foramedica.net/archives/1147
- Korean Medicine Classics DB. Original Text of 『Donguibogam』. https://mediclassics.kr
📖 Agarwood Ancient Text Series | Next Part: Agarwood Recorded in Boncho Gangmok: The King of Fragrance Studied by Lee Si-jin for 27 Years