Dalbergia, Rosewood, Jiang Xiang 降香
Indian Rosewood, Sisau TreeJiang Xiang (TCM)
Shimshapa, Krishna-shimshapa (Ayurveda)
Seesham (Unani)
Irupoolai (Siddha)
Dalbergia sissooBeddome, The flora sylvatica of southern India, vol. 1 (1869-1874)
Dalbergia sissoo(Photo by Bijay Chaurasia) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Dalbergia odorifera, D. sissoo
Parts used:
Heart wood
The leaves are also used in India
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, slightly Bitter
Classification:
K. Move the Blood
Uses:
1. Moves Qi and Blood
-Epigastric, Costal or Hypochondriac pain
-Lumbago
-Chest tightness and pain, Angina Pectoris
-in Tibetan Medicine it is used in formulas to harmonise Qi and Blood, and settle Wind
-used in gynecological formulas (Tibetan Medicine)
2. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Turbid urine, Urinary stones
-Edema of the Limbs (Tibet)
3. Harmonises the Stomach:
-aromatically resolves Damp to relieve Nausea and Vomiting
4. Stops Bleeding:
-Traumatic injury, Sprains, Fractures
-various types of Bleeding
Dose:
Decoction: 9–15 grams (up to 20 grams) added towards the end;
Powder: 1500mg–3 grams
Fine powder can be applied topically
Comment:
“Burn the drug to fumigate the house to prevent attack of epidemics or evils and devils. An infant should wear a small piece of the drug to prevent vicious attacks and factors”. (TCM: Li Xun)
Substitute:
1. Red Sandalwood: Dalbergia has been used as a substitute for Red Sandalwood.
2. It was previously viewed as a good substitute for Myrrh and Dragon’s Blood. (Li Shi Zhen)
Main Combinations:
1. Pain and Swelling from Trauma, Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Frankincense (Ru Xiang) and Myrrh (Mo Yao), both internally and topically.
2. Chest Pain, Angina Pectoris:
i. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Curcuma Yu Jin, Peach kernel (Tao Ren)
ii. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Saffron
iii. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Salvia Dan Shen
iv. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Sandalwood (Tan Xiang), Curcuma Yu Jin, Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi)
v. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Salvia Dan Shen, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong, Notoginseng San Qi, Safflower (Hong Hua) (as in Xinning Pian). This is also used for Coronary Heart disease.
3. Blood stasis:
i. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Notoginseng San Qi, Myrrh
ii. in the Upper Body, Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Myrrh, Ligusticum Chuan Xiong.
iii. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Triphala, Madder, Safflower, Costus, Shilajit
iv. from Sporting Injuries, Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Myrrh, Frankincense
v. externally, Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Dragons Blood, Myrrh, Frankincense, Camphor
4. To harmonise Qi and Blood, and settle Wind, Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Aloeswood, Chebula, Costus, Frankincense, Clove, Nutmeg, Safflower, Pearl (as in the Aloeswood formulas of Tibetan Medicine)
5. Uterine Bleeding, Postpartum Bleeding, Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Madder, Lacca, Cinnamon, Chebula, Sea-buckthorn fruit, Inula racemosa, Aloeswood (Tibetan Medicine)
6. Nausea and Vomiting:
i. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Citrus Chen Pi
ii. Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Agastache Huo Xiang, Costus Mu Xiang
7. External Bleeding, apply a powder of Dalbergia Jiang Xiang with Dragons Blood (Xue Jie) and Frankincense
Cautions:
1. Not used for Bleeding due to Heat
2. Avoid in Yin deficiency with Heat
3. Only used for obstruction of Qi and/or Blood.
CITES listing:
Both the above-named species are listed in CITES as endangered.