Sandalwood (Santalum album)

Parts used and where grown: Sandalwood trees grow in India and Asia. The wood is renowned for being excellent for carving and also yields the medicinal oil.

In what conditions might sandalwood be supportive?

• infection

Historical or traditional use: Sandalwood oil was used traditionally to treat skin diseases, acne, dysentery, gonorrhea, and a number of other conditions.1 In traditional Chinese medicine, sandalwood oil is considered an excellent sedating agent.

Active constituents: The essential oil contains high amounts of alpha- and beta-santalol. These small molecules possess antibacterial and sedative properties.2 3 Synthetic sandalwood does not contain the active ingredients.

How much should I take? Typically, a few drops of sandalwood oil are dissolved in water, and the infected area of skin is then soaked in the solution, or the diluted oil is applied directly.

Are there any side effects or interactions? Some people may experience mild skin irritation from topical application of sandalwood oil.

References:

1. Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1985, 426-7.
2. Okazai K, Oshima S. Antibacterial activity of higher plants. XXIV. Antimicrobial effect of essential oils (5). J Pharm Soc Japan 1953;73:344-7.
3. Okugawa H, Ueda R, Matsumoto K, et al. Effect of alpha-santalol and beta-santalol from sandalwood on the central nervous system in mice. Phytomed 1995;2:119-26.

 

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The information presented in HealthNotes Online is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your physician, nutritionally-oriented health care practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications.