Sandalwood (Santalum)

Sandalwood oil comes from the wood and roots of Santalum album, or the East Indian sandalwood tree. Sandalwood oil has many traditional uses. For centuries, East Indian sandalwood oil has been a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine, the folk medicine of India. It’s also been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Sandalwood has anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties and comes as a soothing agent for people suffering from itchiness triggered by skin infections such as Eczema and Psoriasis [1], [2]. It also modulates the immune reaction and mediates efficient wound healing with minimum scarring [3]. Sandalwood has shown anticancer effect in various studies, due to the presence of active compound Alpha Santalol which kills skin cancer cells and breast cancer cells [4], [5]. This oil is fit to be consumed internally as well to be used to topically for the skin.

#anti-inflammatory #antiviral # antimicrobial #antifungal #Eczema & Psoriasis #Anti-cancer (Skin & breast)

As far as quality is concerned, Indian Sandalwood (botanical name Santalum album) is considered the best. There are two more varieties, the Hawaiian Sandalwood (Santalum ellipticum), which is quite expensive, and the Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) which is not too beneficial, but is commercially more in use, since the first two varieties are rare and subsequently expensive; the Indian variety is on the verge of extinction and is exorbitantly expensive. The main constituents of the essential oil of sandalwood are beta santalol, santyl acetate, and santalenes. Sandalwood oil is commonly known for its woodsy, sweet scent and it is frequently used as a base for products such as inches, perfumes, cosmetics and aftershave creams.It is easily blended with different oils, making it more desirable as a mix.

Kerala - Region of Availability

For centuries, sandalwood has reserved a place of dignity and respect in many civilizations and religions of the world, especially in the Hindu religion, where it is considered holy and indispensable in almost all of the social and religious rituals and ceremonies, from the birth of an individual until their death. In every step, sandalwood is required. It is offered to various Hindu gods and goddesses, mixed with flowers and other ceremonial offerings, used to embalm bodies and applied on foreheads which are practiced in some communities in India, and it is also burnt with the pyre when cremating the dead.