Sandalwood is both a classic scent and a classic medicine. Used as an aromatic for over 4000 years, and as a medicine in the Ayurvedic system for perhaps a millennium, the wood itself has been greatly valued by mankind. The essential oil, while only becoming popular in the last hundred years, is a truly classic scent, with important science-proven therapeutic medicinal applications. Whether it be for the body or mind, sandalwood oil can offer effective support. Here's a look at the therapeutic applications of this treasured oil, and how you too might benefit from its medicinal magic.
For those not so familiar with the source of this wondrous material, sandalwood oil is distilled from the the wood of, of course, the sandalwood tree. Sounds simple enough, but the tree is totally unique -- its a parasite, growing only on other trees. So harvesting the wood involves cutting down both trees. To make matters more challenging, the wood isn't really ready to harvest until its at least 30 years old, and really, the older the better.
The very finest oil, certainly aromatically -- and some people believe therapeutically as well -- is distilled from the Santalum album species native to India. The essential oil has become so highly valued that over-harvesting of the trees has made a significant impact in deforestation in certain regions. So much so that the government of India made it a law that they now own all the sandalwood trees in the country! This, of course, is meant to prevent poaching of the trees, as clearly the offense is rather serious stealing the valuable resource from the government. Thankfully, there are plantations of this same species of tree underway, and other sources of very fine sandalwood oils that are now close in rivaling the quality of the Indian material.
What could it be about this essential oil that makes it so highly coveted? For starters, the wood has been pulverized and made into a paste used on the skin for centuries in India -- both for ritual and medicinal activities. It turns out that, under laboratory research, the essential oil significantly reduces the development for skin cancer significantly when applied to skin before exposure to ultraviolet rays. Further, it also prevented cancers from developing from contact with carcinogenic chemicals -- a very interesting therapeutic activity indeed.
Scientific researchers have elucidated the source of this cancer-preventative action. It turns out that one of the major natural chemical constituents, called "santalols" (found only in sandalwood oil, and no other natural material yet discovered) reinforces the signal for cells to die as they normally should. A feature of cancer cells is that they do not live and die in a natural cycle as healthy cells do -- they just go on living, growing and spreading. So application of sandalwood oil prior to exposure to a carcinogen essentially tells the cell to keep on going through its normal healthy life cycle. And despite the lack of availability of Indian sandalwood, santalols are found in all other popular species from which the oil is distilled.
The aroma is highly regarded for its calming, centering qualities, without being sedating. Researchers in Vienna, Austria published research indicating study participants were positively affected in the areas of alertness, attentiveness, calmness, mood, relaxation and vigor. This correlates to its long-time use as the first choice aromatic in aiding meditation. It is reputed to quiet mental chatter, again while bringing the awareness to a singular focus.
Curiously, the oil has also been researched for supporting deeper, more restful sleep. The essential oil works both when inhaled and when topically applied. One study examining the effects of inhaling santalol, the primary natural constituent of the oil, found this component could result in a significant decrease in the time spent awake in sleep-disturbed subjects, and also increased the total time spent in REM sleep. This study noted that the effect was not due to the aroma's interaction with the olfactory sense and the brain, but by its distribution throughout the bloodstream via inhalation. This implies that a similar effect may be achieved by wearing the oil as a natural perfume, or similar topical method.
This is just a brief look at some wonderful therapeutic actions available using sandalwood. Its skin care properties go far beyond sun protection; these include care for dry skin, mature skin and acne-prone skin as well. The oil is very safe, and well-tolerated by nearly everyone. When you find yourself looking for a source of sandalwood, you'll find several varieties available. Research has shown them to be fairly equivalent in many respects therapeutically -- for skin care, the lower-cost Australian is an excellent choice. For aromatic uses, find one that you enjoy the most! And know that a little goes a long way -- start with a small amount, and enjoy its subtle, uplifting nature.
For those not so familiar with the source of this wondrous material, sandalwood oil is distilled from the the wood of, of course, the sandalwood tree. Sounds simple enough, but the tree is totally unique -- its a parasite, growing only on other trees. So harvesting the wood involves cutting down both trees. To make matters more challenging, the wood isn't really ready to harvest until its at least 30 years old, and really, the older the better.
The very finest oil, certainly aromatically -- and some people believe therapeutically as well -- is distilled from the Santalum album species native to India. The essential oil has become so highly valued that over-harvesting of the trees has made a significant impact in deforestation in certain regions. So much so that the government of India made it a law that they now own all the sandalwood trees in the country! This, of course, is meant to prevent poaching of the trees, as clearly the offense is rather serious stealing the valuable resource from the government. Thankfully, there are plantations of this same species of tree underway, and other sources of very fine sandalwood oils that are now close in rivaling the quality of the Indian material.
What could it be about this essential oil that makes it so highly coveted? For starters, the wood has been pulverized and made into a paste used on the skin for centuries in India -- both for ritual and medicinal activities. It turns out that, under laboratory research, the essential oil significantly reduces the development for skin cancer significantly when applied to skin before exposure to ultraviolet rays. Further, it also prevented cancers from developing from contact with carcinogenic chemicals -- a very interesting therapeutic activity indeed.
Scientific researchers have elucidated the source of this cancer-preventative action. It turns out that one of the major natural chemical constituents, called "santalols" (found only in sandalwood oil, and no other natural material yet discovered) reinforces the signal for cells to die as they normally should. A feature of cancer cells is that they do not live and die in a natural cycle as healthy cells do -- they just go on living, growing and spreading. So application of sandalwood oil prior to exposure to a carcinogen essentially tells the cell to keep on going through its normal healthy life cycle. And despite the lack of availability of Indian sandalwood, santalols are found in all other popular species from which the oil is distilled.
The aroma is highly regarded for its calming, centering qualities, without being sedating. Researchers in Vienna, Austria published research indicating study participants were positively affected in the areas of alertness, attentiveness, calmness, mood, relaxation and vigor. This correlates to its long-time use as the first choice aromatic in aiding meditation. It is reputed to quiet mental chatter, again while bringing the awareness to a singular focus.
Curiously, the oil has also been researched for supporting deeper, more restful sleep. The essential oil works both when inhaled and when topically applied. One study examining the effects of inhaling santalol, the primary natural constituent of the oil, found this component could result in a significant decrease in the time spent awake in sleep-disturbed subjects, and also increased the total time spent in REM sleep. This study noted that the effect was not due to the aroma's interaction with the olfactory sense and the brain, but by its distribution throughout the bloodstream via inhalation. This implies that a similar effect may be achieved by wearing the oil as a natural perfume, or similar topical method.
This is just a brief look at some wonderful therapeutic actions available using sandalwood. Its skin care properties go far beyond sun protection; these include care for dry skin, mature skin and acne-prone skin as well. The oil is very safe, and well-tolerated by nearly everyone. When you find yourself looking for a source of sandalwood, you'll find several varieties available. Research has shown them to be fairly equivalent in many respects therapeutically -- for skin care, the lower-cost Australian is an excellent choice. For aromatic uses, find one that you enjoy the most! And know that a little goes a long way -- start with a small amount, and enjoy its subtle, uplifting nature.
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