SANDALWOOD - essential oil

Sandalwood is a class of heavy, yellow and fined grained woods from trees in the genus Santalum. Unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. Both the wood and the oil produce a distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued for centuries. Consequently, these slow-growing trees have suffered over-harvesting in many places and have declined to near extinction in some areas.

Sandalwood is indigenous to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii, and other Pacific Islands. Sandalwood is expensive compared to other types of woods, therefore, to maximize profit, it is harvested by removing the entire tree (which takes 15 years to reach maturity) instead of sawing it down at the trunk close to ground level, so that wood from the stump and root (which have high levels of sandalwood oil), can also be used.

In Hinduism and Ayurveda, sandalwood is thought to bring one closer to the divine. Thus, it is one of the most used holy elements in Hindu and Vedic societies. It is also seen in Islamic, Jain, Japanese, Chinese, Buddhist, Tamil and Zoroastrian religions and cultures as a mark of devotion and respect for both the gods and the deceased.

Health benefits
• Anti-septic: ulcers, boils, acne
• Anti-inflammatory: brain, gastro-intestinal tract, nerves, circulation, excretory system, insect bites, fevers, genito-urinary system
• Anti-spasmodic: relaxant, sedative, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, lungs
• Astringent: gums, muscles, skin
• Scar healing
• Carminative: intestines, abdominal cramps, gas formation
• Diuretic: increases relaxation of urinary tract
• Disinfectant: throat, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, excretory system, genito-urinary system
• Insect repellent
• Emollient: cools and refreshes skin
• Hypertension: lowers blood pressure even if used externally
• Memory booster
• Sedative
• Tonic: gastro-intestinal tract, circulatory system, nervous system