Chén Xiāng (沉香), known in English as Agarwood (Aquilaria sinensis), is a warm, acrid and bitter Chinese herb from the Regulate qi category. It enters the Kidney, Spleen and Stomach channels. Its main action: promotes qi movement, relieves pain.
| Pinyin | Chén Xiāng (Chen Xiang) |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 沉香 |
| English | Agarwood |
| Botanical name | Aquilaria sinensis |
| Category | Regulate qi |
| Nature | Warm |
| Flavour | Acrid, Bitter |
| Channels | Kidney, Spleen, Stomach |
| Dosage | 1–1.5g (add as powder or late) |
| Cautions | Heat patterns; Yin deficiency |
Actions
- Promotes qi movement, relieves pain
- Descends rebellious Stomach/Kidney qi
- Warms Kidney Yang, relieves wheezing
Indications
- Cold qi stagnation pain
- Rebellious qi vomiting
- Kidney deficiency wheezing
How to remember Chén Xiāng
Regulate qi herbs are mostly warm or hot, acrid and bitter, and most enter the Spleen and Stomach channels.
- You can work these out
- Warm, Acrid, Bitter, Spleen channel: like most Regulate qi herbs
- Kidney and Stomach channels: from its action “Descends rebellious Stomach/Kidney qi”
Formulas containing Chén Xiāng
Other Regulate qi herbs
- Chén Pí
- Zhǐ Shí
- Mù Xiāng
- Xiāng Fù
- Qīng Pí
- Fó Shǒu
- Chuān Liàn Zǐ
- Lì Zhī Hé
- Dà Fù Pí
- Wū Yào
- Zhǐ Ké
- Jú Hóng
- Xiè Bái
- Tán Xiāng
- Méi Guī Huā
Test yourself
What is the nature and flavour of Chén Xiāng?
Chén Xiāng is warm and acrid and bitter.
Which channels does Chén Xiāng enter?
Chén Xiāng enters the Kidney, Spleen and Stomach channels.
What are the actions of Chén Xiāng?
Promotes qi movement, relieves pain; Descends rebellious Stomach/Kidney qi; Warms Kidney Yang, relieves wheezing.
What is Chén Xiāng used for?
Cold qi stagnation pain; rebellious qi vomiting; Kidney deficiency wheezing.
Which formulas contain Chén Xiāng?
Gǔn Tán Wán and Nuǎn Gān Jiān.
Practise Chén Xiāng and the other 290 herbs
Recognise each herb from its picture, recall its nature, flavour, channels and actions, and review it again just before you would forget it.
Try the 5-question herb quizShen Study is a study tool. Doses and cautions are as taught in standard Chinese materia medica texts; they are not prescribing advice.