Incense for Thought

Various Type of Incense Commonly Used

I have always had a love for incense. This  interest might well be cultivated by the fact that I have been raised in a traditional Chinese family who values the practical application of incense. The usage of incense, more often than not, is directed towards worship in modern Chinese society. 


Offerings of such is not unique to the Chinese alone, so to speak, as Catholics and Eastern Orthodox also used incense in their worship. As I have always been fascinated by the smell of incense, I have became one of those who would patronise a incense shop just because I want to take a curious sniff on those newly arrived sandalwood or the oft-abandoned Aloewood.

Well, as I have read quite a number of literature on incense, the use of it only in term of worship might in truth depreciate its value greatly. Incense can be used to alleviate the atmosphere of a totally grumpy room or to impart a sense of familiarity on a newly moved house. Incense, in essence, can be uplifting, relaxing, and cleansing if used correctly.

Let me list down a few of these incenses I have in hand.

1. Sandalwood
• Sandalwood is one of the favourite of the Chinese. It is called 'Tan Xiang' and it brings a connotation of cleansing as well as calming in the human psyche. It is called Chandan in Indian. Used primarily to bring on a meditative state, I have always find this incense to be calming and somewhat improves concentration when lit.
• It articulates our strength of conviction and, also, sandalwood is said to 'cleanse' your immediate area of spiritual 'uncleanliness'.
2. Aloeswood
• This is one of those hard to find wood as the supply is dwindling in the wild. termed as 'chen xiang', it reflects the condition of the wood when it is in water, it sinks rather than floats. I am currently lighting this incense when writing this article. There is a lot of Aloeswood incense but my personal favourite has been 'Shui Chen' (Water Aloes). 
• The smell of Aloes alleviates one into musing ability, offering peace and stability. Often it helps to clear writers block (based on personal experience). It has antiseptic properties, and it helps to clear the air of germs when lit.
3. Benzoin
• Benzoin is especially useful if there is an upper lung infection (coughs and flu) as it is anti-inflammatory. Benzoin is commonly used in Chinese version of the 'kemanyan' which is easily available in any good Chinese incense shop. It's available in resinous form (which requires charcoal to burn) and in incense form in which the resin is incorporated into a matrix of compacted wood dust.
• It's a potent anti-microbial agent. If you house has always had some sort of 'damp' smell to it, chances are some mildews are growing somewhere. This can be remedied by using benzoin incense.
4. Cinnamon
• People are always estranged when they see this entry. I even ask a few friends if they have heard of such incense and many just shook their head in disbelief. However, this herbalist tells you that YES, this is an incense.
• The things it can do is tremendous. besides being an excellent aphrodisiac, it is very good in producing an aroma which imparts confidence together with a tint of courage. Especially useful when self-esteem runs low as this is one of the few uplifting incense.
• It helps in relieving nervous exhaustion as well.
5. Frankincense
• The most commonly known incense from the Bible. It is one of the most potent air purifier which cleanse the surroundings from negativity. Lore has it, if combined with sandalwood, this make a very potent spiritual cleansing blend.
• Frankincense helps in catarrhal conditions as well. It is useful in bronchitis and especially so in cough and flu. It helps expectoration of the mucus. Also, it quiets the mind thus its use in meditation. It has been reported to slow down breathing and aid concentration. This incense should be used to fight stress in today's modern world.
6. Myrrh
• The resin of myrrh is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. It is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It can benefits a sore throat, hoarse voice, and catarrhal conditions. Myrrh is expectorant as well.
• Myrrh is stimulating on the digestive system. It can help to ease flatulence and enhance a jaded appetite.
• This incense is warming and relaxing and particularly useful in elevating depression and stress.
• In herbal lore, myrrh is used to heal the cuts and bruises of the soul. It also teaches us to let go instead of clinging when the time is right. Thus, perhaps, it helps in depression as it unburdens from inside rather than just a mere abandonment.

Subsequently, it is a bit unimpressive when incense therapy is not even considered to be a form of therapy in itself. At best it would be termed as 'placebo effect' when it works. It can be considered as an alternative form of aromatherapy as well. As this herbalist sees it, such an old approach couldn't be too wrong and while writing this entry, this herbalist is enjoying its fair share of lit aloewood. Cheers.

Ginkgo, the Naked Truth

Introductions

Who has never heard of Ginkgo before? Derived from its scientific name (Ginkgo biloba), it is the most taken herb compared to all in the market. Well, as a herbalist, its popularity in herbal lore has been indisputable. From the Maidenhair of the English to the 銀杏 of the Chinese and the 은행 of the Korean; such a wide entry into the nations' numerous pharmacopœia must, at its very least, connected to its effectiveness if not its efficacy. However, despite its popularity, this grumpy old herbalist still thinks that the public has been fed a myriad of lies concerning its usages and effectiveness. Pharmaceuticals Companies tend to exploit the 'naturalness' of this herb and from there, they deduced numerous extrapolations which are imagined rather than factual.

One of the aim of this article is to educate the masses regarding this oft-liked herb. Consumers need to know how to differentiate factual claims from dubious ones. A few interesting issues surrounding Ginkgo will be enumerated here.

1. How much of Ginkgo would I really need?
   • No it doesn’t depends on individual unless you are using it for special needs viz. Alzheimer and the like. If you are using it for health maintenance, this author would strongly suggest that you keep to the recommended dosage of 40-60 mg two times per day. Taking too much would not help you going anywhere. Also, claims that pills having over thousands of mg of Ginkgo is misleading. Those superfluos numbers simply refers to the weight of the crude herbs whereas the 40-60 mg aforementioned is the content of the active ingredients (which is 6% terepene lactones and 24% flavone glycosides of standardised extracts). If one where to take 2000 mg worth of active ingredients, that person would be akin to committing suicide.
2. Will Ginkgo improves my memory?
   • While it’s true that taking Ginkgo would sometimes improve the memory but this is not always the case. It is also unfitting to prescribe this to kids to improve their memory and concentration unless under dire needs (a more fitting herb would be Centella asiatica which is known as Pegaga in Malaysia).
   • Ginkgo improves memory and intellectual capabilities by improving circulations as well as micro-circulations of the body. Hence, if the lost of memory is caused by insufficient transportation of the blood to the brain, this would certainly be improved by taking Ginkgo. Ginkgo does this indirectly and never would one be legal to claim that Ginko improves memory.
3. Ginkgo is natural, so there is no worries over its intake.
   • The more worrying and sorry state of today’s world has always been a very wrong adage that ‘anything natural is safe to take’. It is true that herbs have always been safer than pharmaceuticals but it is still better to treat them an ‘as necessary’ item. Take it this way, you don’t take an aspirin or two on one fine sunny day but you would definitely do that when you have a splitting headache. It is crucial to treat herbs as medication regardless of its application; only take herbs when you are in need.
   • Ginkgo by itself is blood thinning and ‘blood-moving’. Hence it has a very good capacity to further thin your blood if you are taking anticoagulant medications. This might cause internal bleeding if your blood is too thin. Such occurrences are rare at best but it is my duty and job to ensure that you will not make it to the headline to be the first.
   • In addition, if you are taking MAO inhibitors (for depression), it is wise to exclude Ginkgo as it has the potential to potentate the drug.
   • Also, do not take Ginkgo before ANY surgery as this will cause bleeding during operations. However, there is some evidence of good result when used in bypass surgery.

The Factual Usage

There has been an extreme recent reports on local newspaper that Ginkgo does nothing. Such extreme claim did not need proof of refutation from our side, rather the burden of proof is on their side as they claim that all these years of research and tradition is futile in the hand of one research.

It is well-established that Ginkgo helps to improve blood circulation but one has to know, not all product is created equal. Reliable supply of Ginkgo extract is relatively few and it is easy to misconstrue that Ginkgo has no effect if we take the wrong product. However, how could consumers discern which product is good and which is not? The answer is simple: Always read the label. Products which claim to have thousands of mg of Ginkgo leaves powder might not be reliable and neither does one that does not offer standardised extracts. Those which does not state the content of ginkgolic acid is dangerous as well. Ginkgolic acid has to be ‘not detectable’ as this could pose health threat if taken.

It is interesting to note that Ginkgo helps with conditions listed below as well:

1. Tinnitus (Ringing of the ear). Usages might be long term to discern effect.
2. Elderly Depression.
3. Vertigo

Which Brand Then?

In this author’s humble opinion, two reliable brand that I would endorse using is Tanakan and Tebonin. Tanakan is used when someone needed some general boast on the circulation. Usually, this is prescribed together with Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) for a synergistic effect. Tebonin is usually sued when patients are elderly and needed an extra boast on their circulation. For such patients, it is recommended that they took Tebonin with other potent antioxidants such as asthaxanthin, bilberries extract, Coenzyme Q10, and Lutein as well as Zeaxanthin (being specific to the eyes).