Everybody that knows anything about aromatherapy knows about sandalwood essential oil. And even folks that don’t have a clue about aromatherapy might still really enjoy the aroma of sandalwood. It’s thought it may be the number one “aromatic” plant material in the history of mankind, with a history that dates back over four thousand years. Yet while its sublime aroma may be why most people purchase the oil, its also an impressive medicine. Aromatherapy practitioners think of its skin-care properties first, but there’s a lot more to sandalwood than many folks know.
The exotic oil comes from the heartwood of trees native to certain tropical regions of the world. Curiously, the sandalwood tree is only found growing on, or intertwined with, other trees; it’s considered, in fact, a parasite. Further, the trees are quite slow growing, and demand a certain amount of age before being mature enough to distill a significant volume of high-quality oil. This makes for a unique challenge in growing the wood and distilling the precious essential oil.
The wood considered the world’s finest is the Santalum album species of India. The trees have been so over-harvested however that they are now endangered. In India and Nepal, it has been decreed that the governments of these nations are now the owners of all the sandalwood trees in these nations. Sandalwood oil has essentially come to a stop in these countries, and the only “legal”oil left is several years old, produced before the ban went into effect. On a very positive note, the acclaimed Indian species of the tree is under large-scale cultivation in Australia (a producer of a very pleasant wildcrafted essential oil as well), though these have not reached maturity in numbers for commercial availability of the essential oil.
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 at South Dakota State University, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, noted “alpha-santalol, a major component of sandalwood oil, is effective in preventing skin cancer in…UVB-induced skin cancer development.” Researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, noted that the oil caused apoptosis (normal cell death) of cells that were on their way to becoming cancerous. Clearly the essential oil makes an important therapeutic contribution to skin care formulations for those spending a lot of time in the sun.
The aroma is highly regarded for its calming, centering qualities, without being sedating. Researchers in Vienna, Austria published research indicating study participants were positively affected in the areas of alertness, attentiveness, calmness, mood, relaxation and vigor. This correlates to its long-time use as the first choice aromatic in aiding meditation. It is reputed to quiet mental chatter, again while bringing the awareness to a singular focus.
Curiously, the oil has also been researched for supporting deeper, more restful sleep. The essential oil works both when inhaled and when topically applied. One study examining the effects of inhaling santalol, the primary natural constituent of the oil, found this component could result in a significant decrease in the time spent awake in sleep-disturbed subjects, and also increased the total time spent in REM sleep. This study noted that the effect was not due to the aroma’s interaction with the olfactory sense and the brain, but by its distribution throughout the bloodstream via inhalation. This implies that a similar effect may be achieved by wearing the oil as a natural perfume, or similar topical method.
This is just a brief look at some wonderful therapeutic actions available using sandalwood. Its skin care properties go far beyond sun protection; these include care for dry skin, mature skin and acne-prone skin as well. The oil is very safe, and well-tolerated by nearly everyone. When you find yourself looking for a source of sandalwood, you’ll find several varieties available. Research has shown them to be fairly equivalent in many respects therapeutically — for skin care, the lower-cost Australian is an excellent choice. For aromatic uses, find one that you enjoy the most! And know that a little goes a long way — start with a small amount, and enjoy its subtle, uplifting nature.
Flower essence practitioners will enjoy making personal flower essences blends for their clients. The author loves the North American Flower essence line.
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