Sandalwood Benefits, How To Use, Side Effects, Research

Sandalwood is a coolant, very useful in gastritis, burning sensation in hands and feet. It is
also a good ingredient to include in your juice mixes, in small amounts, of course.

Botanical Name- Santalum album Linn.

Family-SANTALACEAE
Names in different languages:
Hindi Name- Safed chandan,
English Name- Sandalwood
Telugu Name- Tella Chandanam
Bengali Name- Chandan
Tamil Name- Chandanam, Sandanam
Gujarati Name- Sukhada
Malayalam Name- Candanam -
Kannada Name- Sri Gandha

sandalwood

Sanskrit Synonyms-
Gandhasara, Malayaja, Srikhanda,Maharha, Shveta Chandana, Bhadrashri, Malayaja,
Gosheersha, Tilaparnaka Shreekhanda, Chandradyuti.

chandana- chandati ahladayatiti, Pleasant to see

Gandhasara gandha saro asya Aroma is situated in heart wood.
chandradyuti-chandrajyosnavadahaladakam cooling and pleasant to see, like Moon.
Bhadrashri- bhadra shri shobha asya Pleasant, auspicious
Shri khanda shriya utani khandanyasya Which is beautiful, good .
Gandharajam- gandha dravyanam raja shreshtam Best among all aromatic substances.
Sarpavasam Sarpa nivasyatraha serpants are found often near the tree.
Tilaparnakamtilasyeva parnanyasya Leaves are similar those of sesame plant
Malayaja Malaye pradeshe jata grows in Malaya region
Shishiram sheetam sparshe veerye cha It is a coolant

Santalum album

Classical Categorization
Charaka-
Daha Prasamana Group of herbs that relieves burning sensation
Angamada Prassamana Group of herbs that relieves bodyache
Trishna Nigrahana Group of herbs that relieves excessive thirst
Varnya Skin complexion enhancing group of herbs
Vishaghna Anti toxic group of herbs
Kandughna Itching-relieving group of herbs.
SushrutaSalasaradi, Sarivadi, Patoladi, Priyangvadi, Guducyadi
Vagbhata- Asanadi, Patoladi, Sarivadi, Priyangvadi, Guducyadi

Sandalwood bark

Distribution- found in dry- scrub forests, Vindhyas mountains, mainly in Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu
Varieties:
There are mainly two varieties
White Sandalwood Shweta Chandana Santalum album
Red Sandalwood Rakta Chandana Pterocarpus santalinus Will be dealt separately.

Dhanvantari Nighantu Five Chandana, Rakta Chandana (red), Kuchandana (Patranga),.

Kaleeyaka and Barbarika
Kaiyadeva Nighantu three Rakta (red), Peeta (yellow), Pandu (white)
Sodala Nighantu 8 types Gosheersha, Shreepriya, Sambhrana, Kakubha, Barbarika,
Rakta chandana, Patanga, Harichandana.

Sandalwood fruit

Santalum album Chemical Constituents

Sandalwood oil-a-Santalol, B- Santene,and Santalenes, Santenol, Teresantalol, nor-
Tricycloekasantalal, 1- santenone, santanone, teresantalic, acid, a- and B- Santatalic acids.
Other Parts- Santalic acid, n-ocacosanol, Plamitone etc.
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)

Sandalwood medicinal Properties

Rasa (taste) Tikta (bitter) Madhura (sweet)
Guna (qualities) Laghu (light), Rooksha (dryness)
Vipaka- Katu Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.
Veerya Sheeta Cold potency
Effect on Tridosha Balances Kapha and Pitta Dosha.

Sandalwood leaves

Part used- Heart wood (Kanda Sara), Sandalwood oil

Dosage- Powder 3-4 grams in divided dose per day, decoction 50-100 ml in divided dose.
Oil 5 10 drops, in divided dose per day.

Sandalwood benefits

Sandalwood benefits:

(Charaka Samihta Sutrasthana 25) Sandalwood
(Chandana) is best in reliving bad odor, burning sensation and best to apply as paste.
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
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. Hence used as ingredient in Manasamitra Vatakam
Chandan is used in acute dermatitis, gonorrhea, palpitations.

Sandalwood seeds

Use of sandalwood in controlling sexual urge, celibacy:

Sandalwood is used in Hindu Pooja rituals since thousands of years. Reason for this is quite
intriguing. Sandalwood in small doses acts as aphrodisiac, due to its tiny sweet taste and
coolant properties. But it is also very useful in controlling sexual urge and to maintaining
celibacy Brahmacharya. This is the same reason, Sandalwood is used as main ingredient
in Chandanasava a fermented Ayurvedic medicine with Sandalwood as main ingredient is
used in treating Spermatorrhoea (Called as Shukra Meha in Ayurveda). Spermatorrhoea is
flow of semen along with urine. Read more about Chandanasav
For this exact same reason, Tulsi Holy Basil is also used in Hindu spiritual practices. Read
more about Holy Basil

And for this same reason, having 250 500 mg of Chandana powder at night, is a good
remedy for premature ejaculation. Premature ejaculation occurs where speed of excitement
crosses the speed formal proceedings. Sandalwood helps to control mind better.

Sandalwood fruit and flowers

Photo courtesy Shubhada Nikharge via flickr

Usage of Sandalwood in different seasonal regimens:

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 Aguru ( 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

Sandalwood paste external application:

A paste made of it, applied externally relieves burning sensation, imrpoves skin complexion,
cleanses wounds and stops secretions.
Its paste is applied over forehead to relieve migraine, headache.
In herpes its paste helps to relieve pain and burning.
Its powder rubbed into hands, helps to relieve sweaty palms. (Also gives a special fragrance
to your palms).
It helps to check excessive sweating and bad odour. For this same reason, sandalwood oil is
extensively used in room fresheners, perfumes, incense sticks etc.

Sandalwood for headache:

Paste of sandalwood applied over forehead relieves headache caused by stress.
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. Reference:
Charaka Samhita Rajayakshma Chikitsa.

Sandalwood essential oil:

Sandalwood oil contains similar properties. It is coolant and diuretic. 1-3 drops is added to
cranberry juice to enhance benefits.
The oil can be pressed from the wood or extracted with alcohol or water. It acts as antiseptic
and disinfectant. It is also used in bronchitis
Sandalwood side effects:
Because it is a coolant, people with asthma need a little care while taking it. or it can be
mixed with equal quantities of pepper powder to balance out the coolant effect.
It is safe to use in children and lactating mothers. For pregnancy use, it needs to be taken
under medical supervision.

How to take?
250 500 mg of sandalwood can be consumed along with water, in the morning or
afternoon.
To prepare its decoction (Kashayam), a tablespoon of sandalwood powder is mixed into two
cups of water, boiled and reduced to half a cup. This in a dose of 20 ml, twice a day can be
consumed.

Research:
Morphology, Phytochemistry
Anti ulcer activity
History and other uses

Ayurvedic medicines with Sandalwood as ingredient:

Chandanadi Kashayam used in the treatment of fever, cough, thirst etc.
Marma Gulika used in cardiac and liver disorders

Sandalwood along with other herbs such as Vacha, Agaru, Jatamansi, Camphor etc is used
for fumigation of fermentation vessel, in the preparation of Arishta and Asava Alcoholic
Ayurvedic medicines.