Sandalwood Essential Oil

Santalum Album (Indian Sandalwood)

Indian Sandalwood is of the highest quality. Australia and Hawaii also produce Sandalwood Essential Oil, but it is not considered to be of the same quality and purity as the Indian variety. Indian sandalwood is almost extinct due unsustainable farming practices. Australian sandalwood is improving and can be considered as an alternative.

Sandalwood Essential Oil does not have to be diluted for topical application, for inhalation, or for ingestion.

Can be blended with Bergamot, Black Pepper, Geranium, Lavender, Myrrh, Rose, Vetiver and Ylang-Ylang for aromatherapy uses.

Known Uses

Sandalwood Essential Oil promotes cognitive clarity, mental awareness, and improves memory and concentration when used as incense or fragrance. It creates a feeling of relaxation and peace when inhaled or rubbed on the skin. Sandalwood can increase one’s libido particularly for men.

As an astringent it can soothe, tighten, and cleanse the skin, as well as strengthen gums and muscles. It has also been used to treat urinary tract and chest infections, and coughs. If you have a sore throat, you can put a few drops of sandalwood oil in a cup of water and gargle with it. It can also be safely taken with milk to cure internal infections, such as those of the throat, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and excretory tracts.

Sandalwood Essential Oil can be applied to the skin to reduce inflammation and acts as an antiseptic for mild skin irritations such as superficial wounds, pimples, warts, or boils. It relieves all types of inflammation in the brain, digestive, nervous, circulatory, and excretory systems. It is is especially beneficial in cases of nervous and circulatory inflammations.

Sandalwood reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension and lowers bad cholesterol. It heals scars, aids in weight loss, fights aging, boosts immunity, and can be used as a deodorant. Its fragrance keeps away microbes and small insects.

As a relaxant and sedative, Sandalwood works against spasms and contractions by relaxing nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Thus, it effectively treats cramps, aches, and coughs. It also induces relaxation in the intestines and abdominal muscles, thereby helping with the removal of gases and prevents bloating.

Sandalwood Essential Oil can be given as health tonic for growing children. It is soothing on the stomach, and on the digestive, circulatory and nervous systems.

History

For centuries, sandalwood oil has been a part of the religious traditions in India and other Eastern countries. The sandalwood tree itself is considered holy and used for various religious rituals, from the birth of an individual until their death. In every step, sandalwood is required. It is used in decorating babies on their birthdays and to decorate brides and bridegrooms on their wedding day, and is used in the embalming process at one’s death. In India, it is also burnt with the pyre when cremating the dead.

Warnings

No risks have been associated with sandalwood essential oil, except that it should be mixed with some type of carrier oil for applications on bare skin to test its strength before using it full strength.