SANDALWOOD OIL

(Santalum album, Santalaceae)

Country of origin: India

Geographical origin: Mysore region

Contents:

The product contains pure essential oil of sandalwood (Santalum album, Santalaceae) in the vegetable basis.

Plant description:

This is a small evergreen, parasitic tree that grows up to 9 metres. It has a brown-grey trunk and many smooth slender branches. It has leathery leaves and small pinky-white flowers. The tree must be thirty years old before it is ready for the production of sandalwood oil.

Historical and traditional use:

Regarded in The Orient as a sacred fragrance throughout history, Sandalwood's use in rituals spans 4.000 years. The sandalwood is one of the oldest known perfumery materials. It is mentioned as a “chandan” in the Nirukta, a 'vedic commentary of the 5th century B.C., and in the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata among other ancient Indian books. How much it was really worth, one may conclude from the tails of  “The Arabian Nights” ⁽¹⁾. The price of the sandalwood in the past, had often determined the value of the some oriental currencies.Even today, Sandalwood oil and paste is used in religious ceremonies, and for making a incense sticks. Solid wood is used for making ornaments (Buddhist and Hindi statues) as well as intricate designs of Buddhist temple doors. The sandalwood oil has been traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections, skin deseases, as a sedative and aphrodisiac.

(1). The Arabian Nights: The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad the Seaman

The essential oil properties:

The essential oil is brownish-yellow viscous liquid with the characteristic woody balsamic scent of sandalwood. Usually produced by steam distillation of crushed roots and heartwood of at least thirty years old sandalwood tree (Santalum album, Santalaceae).

Chemical composition:

The pure oil contains alcohols sesquiterpenols: alpha santalol 60%. , beta santalol 30%, as well as sesquiterpenes: teresantol, santen and santalen.

Actions and use:

Aromatherapy:

The sandalwood oil acts as a distinctive antidepressive and sedative, thus it has been used in cases of depression, insomnia, nervous tension and stress. During the 4000 years of uninterrupted use, the sandalwood oil has been appreciated as an exquisite aphrodisiac and even today it has still been used efficiently for treatment of frigidity and impotence. As an antispasmodic and antiphlogistic, sandalwood oil is useful for alleviation of symptoms of the sore throat, bronchitis and dry coughs. Caution! Because of extreemly bitter taste it can be used only by the local massage.

Local therapy:

As an astringent and antiphlogistic, sandalwood oil is useful for treatment of after shave barber's rush, acne, scars, chaped and greasy skin.

Way of application:

– For the aromatherapy treatment of depression, nervous tension and stress following procedure

has been usually applied: Put 4 to 6 drops of sandalwood oil on the piece of cloth and inhale

deeply for 5 minutes, then rub 3 drops  on the each temple and massage slowly for 4 to 6

minutes.

– Aromatherapy of bronchitis and dry cough: Put 5 drops of the sandalwood oil on the piece of

cloth, and inhale deeply for 8 minutes.

– Aromatherapy of sore throat: Rub 6 drops of the sandalwood oil on the neck and massage for

10 minutes.

– Aromatherapy of frigidity and impotence: Put 8 drops of the sandalwood oil on the piece of

cloth and inhale regularly for 6 minutes.

Udesirable effects:

Not known.

Contraindications:

Not known.

Notes:

The sandalwood oil is among the very few essential oils which can be used freely during the pregnancy, to alleviate depression, insomnia and stress from the very early stage of pregnancy.