The Incense 'Oud

by Vivian bint Joan Taylor

Imam Bukhari reported that the Prophet said:
"Treat with Indian incense ('oud al-Hindi), for it has healing for seven diseases; it is to be sniffed by one having throat problems, and to be put into one side of the mouth by one suffering from pleurisy." This prescription was given more than fourteen hundred years ago before aromatherapy was even considered an area of alternative medicine.

Most of us are familiar with the perfume 'Oud and the wood incense 'Oud. However, very few of us actually use these two items for other than basic perfumery. The tree referred to as 'oud is Aquilaria agallocha and is also known as Aloes wood, Agarwood and Eaglewood. The scent that most are familiar with is obtained only after this tree has been infected with a fungal infection. Noninfected trees do not produce the highly fragrant oil or wood. This tree is found in various southeast Asian forests, Bangladesh, Benghal, Bhutan, Burma, China, Vietnam and Cambodia. The scent is reminiscent of vetiver and sandalwood and is extremely long-lasting.

It is important for us to note that the infected tree must be at least 50 years old to produce the oil. Although India was a major producer of this oil in the early 1900s, production has been banned because of the desctruction of these trees. (It is not known if the tree is infected until after it has been cut down, an ecologically unsound practice.) Vietnam has banned all trade in this oil as well.

While this oil is extremely rare and costly, it can also be extremely beneficial. Traditional medical uses for 'oud include: asthma, chest congestion, colic, diarrhea, diuretic, kidney problems, nausea, thyroid cancer, lung tumors and as a general tonic in China. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine it has been used as a cardiac tonic and carminative (relieves gas from the intestines). It is felt that because of the difficulty in receiving this oil, alternative medicine practitioners have not investigated it. There is some belief that 'oud oil may be useful in treating lymph system disorders, high blood pressure and as an antimalarial treatment due to its chemical composition ad components.

Further research is required into the possible healing properties of this unique oil and to determine its uses in the "seven diseases" mentioned by the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. However, we must also ask ourselves if we wish to participate in the destruction and possible elimination of this species of trees. Due to its widespread uses in Arabia, the prices for 1 kg. of 'oud in the form of oil or wood have risen as high as $10,000.00. As Muslims we have an obligation to follow the teachings of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and his sunnah.

But that must be in all aspects of his sunnah including the obligation to protect the environment. If we are not using 'oud as prescribed by Allah's Messenger, perhaps we should restrain from its use only in perfumery. It is quite possible that this oil may have great medical benefits, but if there are no trees available then we may never know.

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The Natural Way Personal Care

I have a sensitive skin. Since I was young I have psoriasis and eczema. My mother took me to every places and specialist to get me cured. It helped a bit and I stopped scratches myself until bleed but it came again soon. I also get allergy reaction easily by eating seafood.

I prone to have sinus as well. Every time I woke up in the morning, my nose blocked with mucus. I have pressure-like pain headache, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or facial tenderness.

When I was on my late 20 I started to question why these happened to me. I wanted answers to my problems. And I want it now! Through my husband, I realised that I am very sensitive to smell when my husband used his perfumes. Some smell made me headache and change my moods.

I hated doing laundry. The smell of the laundry powder, made me sick. I begin to understand that the fragrances of the washing powder trigger my sinus when I walked along the washing powder aisle in the supermarket. Since then I was very particular about smell. I avoid products with fragrances.

One day my husband and I were at Community Art and Craft Market. When we pass by a stall selling perfumes my husband stopped to have a browse. I told him that I will be at the next stall because the fragrances make me headache. He came and told me about a perfume that he really likes. He wanted me to smell that perfume and if I like it he will buy it. It was a pleasant smell and I did not get headache. Then I came to know that it was an essential oil.



That was the beginning of my world of essential oils and natural skin care products. I found out that the essential oils are concentrate so a tiny amount only is needed in based product like oil or cream. I used essential oils in olive oil and sweet almond oil to moisturised my skin. I love it. I was amazed! I hardly scratch my skin. My skin smooth and tone. The marks on my skin slowly faded. I was very impressed!

I dislike the over oily looked on my skin, when I used the facial oil that I made. I have done hours of researched on making natural cream and lotion from scratch and attended its workshop. Since then I make my own personal skin care products for my family and friends as a hobby.

Now I hardly get sinus and my skin is excellence!