Sandalwood - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

Sandalwood - The Treasure of India


One of the most revered gifts of ancient India to the world has been the Indian sandalwood, also known as Chandana in Sanskrit. Long ago its value was recognized by the Chinese and Europeans, sandalwood was an integral part of Indian culture, rituals and mythology. The heartwood is considered sacred and the paste made by grinding the heartwood of the tree is integral to Hindu rituals and ceremonies as well as an innate part of meditation and prayer. It is one of the many gifts of ancient India to the world of medicine and goes much beyond being a beautifying and fragrance-imparting agent. This  plant  is  considered  sacred  and  its  importance  and  usage  are  also  mentioned  in  Vedas, Puranas,  Buddhism, Epics and Scriptures

This plant has a great reference found in Indian mythology, scripture and folklore. It is found in literatures like Arthashastra, Patanjali Mahabhasaya, Vinaya Pitaka, Milinda Pahna, Anguttara, Kautilya and Dhamma. It is also known to be mentioned in the holy books such as Ramayana and Mahabharata.

It shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipidaemic, anti-microbial, antineoplastic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, antipyretic, antiviral and anti-proliferative properties

It has different names in different languages such as Hindi Name(Safed chandan, chandan),  English Name(Sandalwood, White Indian sandalwood, sandalwood, sandal, sandal tree, East),  Marathi Name(Chandan),  Tamil Name(Chandanam, Sandanam),  Telugu Name(Tella Chandanam),  Gujarati Name(Sukhada),  Bengali Name(Chandan),  Malayalam Name(Candanam),  Kannada Name(Sri Gandha),  Sanskrit name(Chandan, Malayaja, Tilaparnaka Malayaja, Gosheersha, Shreekhanda, Chandradyuti).

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Mainly 2 types of sandlewood 

  1. White Sandalwood – Shweta Chandana – Santalum album
  2. Red Sandalwood – Rakta Chandana – Pterocarpus santalinus – Will be dealt separately.



Chemical constituents

• Indian Sandalwood is highly valued for its fragrant heartwood, which consists of the highest oil (upto 6%) as well as santalol (α & β 90%) contents in oil as compared to other species of the genus Santalum

              - Sandalwood's main components are the two isomers(alpha & beta) of santalol (about 75%). It is used in aromatherapy and to prepare soaps.

             - alpha-santalol has also been found to have anti-inflammatory effects by altering the expression of various cytokines and chemokines. Apart from cytokines, both alpha- and beta-santalol have been found to suppress arachidonic acid pathway mediated by lipopolysaccharides, thereby decreasing prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2. Its anti-inflammatory properties have awakened interest in the treatment of a number of inflammatory skin disorders like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, possibly as a result of inhibition of phosphodiesterases.

• Santalum albumplant is a rich source of volatile oil isolated from the roots and heartwood (central part of the trunk) of the plant. These volatile oils are extracted from the roots and heartwood after 30 years of its growth. The oil is yellowish, colorless, viscous,  with a heavy  sweet odor. The main active constituent present in the volatile oil is santalol which is a mixture  of  two primary sesquiterpene alcohol, beta-santalol (16.0%)band alpha-santalol (19.6%)  where  alpha form predominates.

                - The minor constituent of the plant includes lanceol, bisabolol, nuciferol and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons like alpha and beta-santalenes (C15H24), beta-bisabolene, alpha,  beta and gamma-curcumenes and bergamotenes phenylpropanoids. 

The reported major essential oil components of the plant include sesquiterpene alcohols like epi-cis-beta-santalol, alpha-trans-bergamotol, cis-beta-santalolband cis-alpha-santalol. The minor constituents are comprising of heterocyclics, alpha-bisabolol, hydrocarbon santene, alpha-santalene, beta-santalene, epi-beta-santalene, alpha-bergamotene, alpha-curcumene, beta-curcumene, gamma-curcumene, beta-bisabolene, alpha-bisabolol, trans-beta-santalol    and    cis-lanceo. The other chemical constituents  reported  in  Sandalwood  plant oil  include  teresantalol, santenol, alcohol, aldehydes, alpha santalic acid, beta-santalic acid, ketones, nor-tricycloekasantalal, isovaleraldehyde, 1-santenone, santalone and other acids including   teresantalic acids.

• The other metabolites found in the sesquiterpenoids of the sandalwood oil include alcohols, fatty acids, n-alkanes, sesquiterpene and hydrocarbons. The root part of the plant contains betulinic  acid. The  leaves  of S. album contain various flavonoids constituents such as orientin, isovitexin, vitexin, vicenin-2, isorhamnetin, chrysin-6-C-Beta-D-glucopyranoside and chrysin-8-C-Beta-D-glucopyranoside



Properties and benefits

  • Rasa (taste) – Tikta (bitter) Madhura (sweet)
  • Guna (qualities) – Laghu (light), Rooksha (dryness)
  • Taste conversation after digestion – Katu (pungent) 
  • Veerya (potency) – Sheetala (Cold) 
  • Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Pitta Dosha.
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  • Rakta Prasadana – Detoxifies blood, useful in bleeding disorders
  • Vrushya – acts as aphrodisiac
  • Dahahara, Antardaha hara – relieves internal burning sensation, seen in Pitta imbalance conditions such as gastritis, sore throat, laryngitis, sun stroke etc.
  • Pittasrahara – useful in bleeding disorders such as nasal bleeding, menorrhagia etc.
  • Vishahara – anti toxic
  • Trushnahara – relieves thirst
  • Krumighna – Relieves worm infestation, useful in infected wounds
  • Shishira – coolant
  • Ahladana – brings about pleasant effect, nourishes sense organs
  • Klamahara, Shramahara – Relieves tiredness, fatigue
  • Shoshahara – relieves emaciation, dehydration
  • Varnya – Improves skin tone and complexion
  • Medhya – It is used as a brain tonic.
  • Trishnanigrahan – It helps in reducing excessive thirst
  • Hridya – It helps in treating heart disorders
  • Kaphanisarak – It helps in balancing the Kapha doshain the body and reduces congestion
  • Shleshamputihar – It helps in reducing the vitiated Kapha and helps in reducing halitosis (bad breath)
  • .Mutrajanan – It is used as a diuretic agent
  • Swedjanan – It helps in inducing sweating
  • Jwaraghna – It cures vitiated fever and is used as an antipyretic agent
  • Daahprashaman – It is used to reduce the  burning sensation of the body
  • Vishghna – It is used as an antivenom agent.Angmardprashaman:It is used to cure body aches.
  • .Pungyameh – It is used to cure urinary tract infections
  • Vastishotha – It helps in reducing the swelling in urinary bladder
  • Sandalwood (Chandana) is best in reliving bad odour, burning sensation and best to apply as a paste.
  • It acts as diuretic, used in treating bladder inflammation, cystitis, urethritis vaginitis.
  • It is used in eye disorders involving excessive secretion, redness and burning.
  • It is useful in menorrhagia and excessive white discharge (leucorrhea).
  • It is useful to control anger (by balancing Pitta). Hence useful in psychiatric disorders such as Mania, Schizophrenia etc.





Uses Benefits and Application

1) Sandalwood essential oil can be pressed from the wood or extracted with alcohol or water. It acts as antiseptic and disinfectant

               - Sandalwood must be distilled so that the oil can be extracted from within. Many different methods are used, including steam distillation, water distillation, CO2 extraction, and solvent extractions

               - sandalwood oil is also used as a flavour component in different food items, including candy, ice cream, baked food, puddings, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and gelatin. The flavouring is used at levels below 10 ppm, the highest possible level for use in food products being 90 ppm.

                 - Isobornyl cyclohexanol is a synthetic fragrance chemical produced as an alternative to the natural product.


2) Remedy for Pimples : Make a paste by mixing 1 tbsp of sandalwood powder with ½ tbsp of turmeric powder and 1 tbsp of rose water. Apply a coat of this paste on your face and keep for about 20 minutes and then wash it off with water. 

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3) If you sweat a lot then apply the paste of sandalwood powder on your body for 15 days before having a bath. This is an effective natural solution to  to get rid of excessive sweating and body odour that also gives your body a wonderful fragnance. 

            - This helps in soothing and cooling the irritation and burn caused by prickly heat and excessive sweating. It is safe remedy for children. 


4) In Hinduism and Ayurveda, sandalwood is thought to bring one closer to the divine. Thus, it is one of the most used holy elements in Hindu and Vedic societies.


5) Sandalwood oil can be mixed with other carrier oils and applied to de-hydrate and aging skin to gain back vitality and youthfulness of skin.


6) The calming and soothing properties of sandalwood oil help in relieving anxiety, tension and stress and ensures restful sleep.


7) Its powder rubbed into hands, helps to relieve sweaty palms. (Also gives a special fragrance to your palms).


8) Alpha-santalol, the chief constituent of sandalwood oil has been discovered to have chemopreventive effects, in addition to possibly being non-toxic against normal cells.


9) Alpha-santalol was found to be an inhibitor of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway for the skin pigment melanin. This intriguing finding suggests that Sandlewood may potentially act as an inhibitor of abnormal pigmentation associated with aging and exposure to ultraviolet light.


10) During spring, Juices, fermented drinks and Beverages of grape juice, sharambu (extract of sandalwood) is advised. One should smear his body with saffron, camphor, sandalwood and Agaru (Aquilaria Agallocha). They reduce itching and body odour. This was the ancient way of perfume. In summer, during night, after smearing body with sandalwood paste, one should sleep in open airy roof, which is cooled by moon rays.


11) Its paste is applied over forehead to relieve migraine, headache.

                - Paste prepared with costus root along with Tagara, dill seeds, Licorice, sandalwood and ghee is used to apply externally to relieve headache, shoulder and back pain.

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12) Sandalwood essential oil has been extensively used in aromatherapy as an antidepressant, to alter cogitation and psychological or physical wellness and is most likely used in fragrance material, incense, cosmetics, personal care products, meditative and spiritual practices.


13) Sandalwood oil is used in world class perfumes due to its excellent fixative properties & attars in Indian perfumes

               - Sandalwood oil is an excellent base and fixative for other high-grade perfumes and, by itself, is an excellent, mild, long-lasting, and sweet perfume.


14) In the case of urinary tract infection, Sandalwood oil helps to control the burning sensation. This is because of its Mutral (diuretic) and Sita(cold) properties. It increases urine flow and reduces the symptoms of UTI like a burning sensation during urination.


15) In India, people have a strong spiritual association with the sandalwood plant. The heartwood of the plant is burnt at funerals and weddings.


16) The plant is used by Hinduism, Buddhism and Jain culture for religious purposes. It is believed that sandalwood essence helps to transform one's desires and maintain a person's alertness during meditation. 


17) In India, the plant is used in attar (a blend of sandalwood oil and flower oil, like rose petal, jasmine, kewda and others) production for centuries. These attar products are used in the manufacturing of incense sticks.


18) sandalwood oil is used in food products like candy, pan masala, frozen dairy, desserts, puddings, baked food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to enhance the flavor.


19) Traditionally, the wild berries of the sandalwood plant are consumed by the local tribes and birds.


20) The bark contains about 12-14% tannin and has good potential in the tanning.



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