Sandalwood or Santalum album, commonly known as “Chandan” in India comes from the bark of a tropical evergreen tree native to southern Asia and India and is widely grown in states of Mysore, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Sandal oil has high medicinal value and holds a significant place in ayurvedic medicine and aromatherapy. Both the bark and the oil extracted from it has been used for ages in treating various skin conditions and works as an effective natural remedy for glowing and flawless skin.
chandan oil has several health benefits as well and research has shown that it works effectively against certain cancers like breast, prostate and cervical cancer.
The first documented use of sandalwood goes back 4000 years. The most important part of the tree is the heartwood present in the roots of the trees and sandalwood essential oil is extracted from steam distillation of the heartwood.
Chemical Composition Of Sandalwood Essential Oil
The basic constituents of sandalwood essential oil include:
- Santalols (up to 90 percent)
- Fusanol
- Hydrocarbons (Santene, b santenes)
- a-and ß-Santalic acid
- Alcohols (teresantol and santenol)
- Borneol
- Santalone
Best Health Benefits Of Sandalwood Oil
The health benefits of sandalwood essential oil are numerous. It has potent antidepressant, sedative, antifungal, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties that help in relaxing muscles, promoting sound sleep, preventing infections, relieving respiratory disorders and curing nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
Antiseptic Property
The effective antimicrobial and antiseptic property of sandal
oil makes it a perfect natural remedy for treating infections. Applied topically, it help in soothing and healing sores, boils, burns, cuts, insect bites and rashes and prevents them from turning gangrenous.
Sandalwood essential oil can also be ingested internally, like consuming 3-4 drops of the oil with a glass of milk can help in healing internal wounds, esophageal ulcers, and infections of the genital or urinary tract.
The antiseptic property of the oil also acts as a natural remedy for tonsillitis, sore throat, expels mucus to relieve respiratory problems, bronchitis, coughs and laryngitis.
Anti-Inflammatory
The intense relaxing property of sandalwood oil helps in healing the inflammation of the nerves and soothing the nervous system.
It also helps in relieving the inflammation of the circulatory system, digestive system and excretory system and treating digestive disorders such as problems of heartburn, upset stomach and diarrhea.
Applied topically with face packs, it helps in reducing the soreness, redness and pain associated with pimples and acne. It helps in clearing the harmful toxins that blocks the skin pores and causes boils and pimples.
Removing Dark Spots And Scars
When it comes to skincare, the benefits of sandalwood oil are numerous. Both sandalwood paste and the essential oil are used in beauty products and natural face packs for lightening hyperpigmentation, blemishes, age spots and scars from skin.
It promotes cell regeneration that replaces the dead skin cells with new cells which in turn lightens dark spots, scars and blemishes. It also helps in relieving skin infections, excessive dryness, eczema and psoriasis and prevents their reappearance.
It is the perfect natural moisturizer for dry skin that nourishes the cells and helps them in retaining moisture.
Relieve Anxiety
Our present hectic lifestyle is a major reason for anxiety, stress and depression and it is up to us to relieve stress and anxiety with treatments and intense healing therapies.
The sedative property of sandalwood essential oil acts as a natural calming and relaxing agent that relieves restlessness, tension, anxiety, fear and stress.
It helps in relaxing the nervous system and reducing aggressing and irritability that promotes concentration, clarity of thought process, raised inner vision and enhanced awareness. No doubt, it is one of the most important essential oils used in meditation and aromatherapy.
Astringent
Sandal oil acts as a natural astringent that improves the elasticity and strength of muscles and tissues which makes it a perfect natural anti-aging remedy that prevents the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and crow’s feet.
It tightens the skin and prevents sagging to make it appear youthful, supple and firm. It reduces the size of open pores and adds a natural glow to skin.
The astringent property of the essential oil also helps in improving oral health and strengthening gums by inducing the contraction of gum muscles and improving the hold of the gums.
Healing Insomnia
The chemical component “sesquiterpenes” present in sandalwood essential oil help in stimulating the pineal gland in the brain that produces melatonin, the main antioxidant that regulates sleep cycles, promotes sleep and cures the problems of insomnia, troubled sleep and other sleeping disorders.
It induces the feeling of tranquility and calmness that relaxes the brain and the nervous system and helps promote healthier sleep. It also acts as a powerful immune system booster and brain power enhancer.
Substitute sleeping pills and melatonin supplements for sandalwood essential oil- a natural sleep remedy.
Relieve Muscle Aches
The relaxant and sedative property of sandalwood essential oil helps in relaxing tense muscles and joints and relieves spasms, pains and contractions associated with it.
It calms the nerves, blood vessels and muscles and treats cramps, lymph node congestion and sciatica. Mix 4-6 drops of chandan oil with your favorite massage oil and massage your sore muscles to relax, refresh and rejuvenate your body.
Lowering High Blood Pressure
Sandalwood essential oil is also known for its antihypertensive abilities that act as a natural remedy for lowering high blood pressure and maintaining it at a safe level.
It enhances the functions of the circulatory system and improves blood circulation that helps in supplying oxygen and nutrients to the various organs and cells and keeps the blood vessels and arteries clot free, prevents arteriosclerosis and broken veins.
3-4 drops of sandalwood essential oil can be consumed with a glass of milk or water on a regular basis to control high blood pressure.
Therefore, sooth tension and anxiety, relax your aching muscles, enjoy healthy sleep and get naturally glowing, flawless skin- all from this one amazing natural essential oil and bask in the glory of nature.
I am so impressed by the numerous health benefits of sandal wood oil. I shall be getting some supplies in short order.
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Sandalwood oil can absolutely be applied daily and after a bath, and for small spots can be used undiluted, but for large areas like over your whole face, or body it is recommended to use a carrier oil or drop it in another moisturizer, like lotion or cream.