The Topical And Aromatic Therapeutic Applications Of Sandalwood

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.

First just a little background -- sandalwood essential oil is steam distilled from the heartwood of the sandalwood tree. Sounds pretty straightforward, until you learn that sandalwood is actually a parasite; it grows only on certain other trees in tropical environments. One cannot simply put a sandalwood seedling in the grown and coax it to grow, it has to be planted next to the right host tree, already of a certain age, for it to climb up. When harvesting the wood, which is very slow to grow, both trees need to be cut down. Clearly this presents challenges for this important resource.

The harvesting of the wood in India, where the finest specimens are considered to be from, has been halted by the government in order to protect the tropical rainforests. Elsewhere in the world, harvesting is regulated to ensure the demise of the rainforests in India does not happen again for this purpose. In only a very few locales has viable cultivated (human-planted) sandalwood begun to produce essential oil in commercial quantities.

Obviously there must be something to this oil for it to be so prized! While the oil and the wood have been closely tied to spiritual practices for thousands of years, research laboratories are only just now uncovering some profound medicinal properties. A paste made of the wood has historically been used as medicine for the skin, and now it's been discovered the essential oil alone can actually prevent the formation of skin cancers. When skin is pre-treated with the oil, then exposed to potentially damaging quantities of ultra-violet radiation, the formation of cancerous tumors is significantly reduced.

Researchers have gone on to elucidate the ways the oil prevents cancers from forming on a microscopic level, noting the effect is a result of the primary natural chemical constituents of sandalwood essential oil. The important point is that this constituent is found in the essential oil from the three primary commercial sources: India, Australia and certain islands in the South Pacific. There are even sources where trees have been specifically selected for "high santalol content" which you can find from some aromatherapy companies. Including sandalwood essential oil in your skin care formulas is an excellent way to potentially make use of this wonderful benefit.

Aside from its therapeutic effects from topical application, the oil's aroma deeply affects our psyche. The rich, elegant scent has been shown to be both stimulating and calming at the same time. The result is a sense of clarity and awareness. Subjects being researched reported the effects of the whole sandalwood oil, and that of "alpha-santalol". It was found that the individual constituent was stimulating to alertness and mood, though only the whole oil also resulted in greater relaxation and vigor. This very interesting mix of effects on the mind, which correlate well with the oil's use as a meditation aid. A drop or two on the wrists, temples, or forehead is a great way to enjoy the aroma for this purpose.

While the aroma is stimulating in certain ways, calming in others, and never considered "sedating", it has been shown in research to significantly improve sleep for those who may frequently have trouble falling or staying asleep. Sleep-disturbed subjects spent much less time awake, and much more time in dream-sleep when exposed to the oil's vapor. However, researchers also concluded that the effect was not from the actual scent of the oil, but from action of the oil once in the bloodstream. If using sandalwood for sleep, it's not necessary to smell it -- the feet tend to be an area of the body very receptive to the actions of essential oils, and a gentle foot massage with a dilute sandalwood oil formula may help those who are having sleep difficulties.

These are only a few of the important health benefits available from sandalwood essential oil. It has a host of other wonderful skin-care properties, being used for nearly every skin care condition imaginable. It's also an excellent fixative for natural perfumery, functioning as the base note in many fine colognes and perfumes. Because the chemical profile of the oil from the three primary sources on the globe are relatively close, you can generally use any of these for the therapeutic effects described here. For perfumery and other aromatic applications, try sampling oils from Australia and the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, in addition to an Indian oil if you can acquire it. This way you can become familiar with the range of aromas -- investing in a quantity of the oil once you find your favorite is a great idea. The aroma gets even better as the oil ages, so both the price and your appreciation for your stock will increase over time.

Author: Ellen Tesston has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using vanilla essential oil and other aromatherapy oils.