Definition

1. Noun:
   • Costus root / Saussurea root: The dried root of the Saussurea costus or Aucklandia costus plant, valued in traditional medicine, particularly in East Asian and Ayurvedic systems, for its distinctive aromatic properties.
   • Aromatic wood used in medicine: More generally, any fragrant wood used for medicinal purposes, though this often specifically refers to the root of the Saussurea plant.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Mộc hương là một vị thuốc quan trọng trong Đông y. (Costus root is an important herb in Traditional Eastern Medicine.)
  • Bài thuốc này có thêm mộc hương để giảm đau bụng. (This herbal formula has added saussurea root to relieve abdominal pain.)
  • Mùi thơm đặc trưng của mộc hương giúp kích thích tiêu hóa. (The characteristic fragrance of costus root helps stimulate digestion.)

Advanced Usage

• In traditional medicine pharmacology, mộc hương is classified as an herb that regulates (vital energy), alleviates pain, and resolves dampness.
  • Vị mộc hương trong đơn thuốc có tác dụng hành khí. (The costus root ingredient in the prescription acts to move qi.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quảng mộc hương (n): A specific variety or high-quality type of saussurea root, historically sourced from the Guangdong/Guangxi region of China.
  • Quảng mộc hương được đánh giá là có chất lượng tốt hơn. (Guangdong costus root is considered to be of better quality.)

Synonyms

• Costus root: The common English name for the medicinal herb.
• Saussurea root: The botanical name-based term.
• Aucklandia root: An alternative botanical name.
• Putchuk: A name used in some historical and Ayurvedic contexts.

Notes on Usage

• Mộc hương is a specialized term primarily used in the context of traditional medicine, herbalism, and pharmacology. It is not a common word in everyday modern conversation.
• The direct translation "fragrant wood" can be misleading, as the primary medicinal part is the root, not the wood of the tree.