Indian Sandalwood is one of the most used wood from decades and its trees evergreen and goes up to 13-16 meter height with a girth of 100cm to 200cm.
It has cultural importance and medicinal uses as well. In INDIA, it is 432 also called “Srigandha”.
Chandan has a special place in Indian tradition where it is being used from cradle to cremation. The commercial value of sandalwood and its essential oils is very high as they are used in cosmetics, pharmacies, aromatherapy, the soap industry, and perfumes.
Sandalwood is a commercially and culturally important plant species especially in India belonging to the family Santalaceae. The wood is valued in carving because of its dense character. Sandalwood oil is extracted from the heartwood by steam distillation. [1]
In India, Chandan is also called as ;
Hindi name - Safed chandan
English name - Sandalwood
Telugu name - Tella Chandanam
Bengali name - Chandan
Tamil name - Chandanam, Santhanam
Gujarati name - Sukhada
Malayalam name - Chandanam
Kannada name - Sri gandha
Types of Sandalwood:
Red Sandalwood:
(Rakta Chandana; Pterocarpus santalinus)
Red Sandalwood is a tree. The tree in the middle of the trunk (heartwood) and bark are used as medicine. People use Red Sandalwood for conditions such as cancer, wounds, gastrointestinal problems, and fluid retention, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.[2]
In the manufacturing process, Red Sandalwood is used as a flavoring agent for alcoholic beverages.
White Sandalwood:
(Shweta Chandana; Santalum album)
White sandalwood is an evergreen tree. Wood and oil from wood are used as medicine. Do not confuse white sandalwood with red sandalwood.
People use white sandalwood for common colds, bronchitis, vaginal infections, bladder infections, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.[2]
White sandalwood is used as a flavoring in foods and beverages. In manufacturing, white sandalwood oil is used as a fragrance in soaps, cosmetics and perfumes.
Both red and white sandalwood have equally powerful elements that help nourish the skin and body. However, if you buy red or white sandalwood, it's easy to see that the latter is more easily available on the market and in different types. Kouki is considered to be more expensive than white varieties, so certain regulatory issues are reducing supply. However, if you buy white sandalwood, also keep in mind that the scent of sandalwood in East India is more pronounced than that of coastal or Australian sandalwood. Sandalwood, one thing remains the same-users can enjoy both aesthetic and medicinal quality superior to other synthetic products on the market today.
Chemical Constituents:
Main chemical constituents of chandan are:
Santene
α-Santalene
β- Santalene
Teresantalol
α-Santalol
β-Santalol
Norticycloekasantalal etc.
Medicinal Properties:
Sandalwood medicinal properties according to Ayurveda ;
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
Benefits and uses:
Natural Disinfectant: Indian sandalwood is well known for its disinfectants and antibacterial properties that are effective in healing and restoring health of the skin.
Skin Moisturizer: Sandalwood is well known for fighting by hydrating dry skin. An important ingredient in lotions and creams focused on keeping the skin dry. It improves the activity of skin cells, which helps them absorb more water, which is then used to moisturize the skin and make it look young, smooth and shiny. Sandalwood moisturizes the skin without causing acne. It is a natural emollient that acts as a moisturizer.
Anti-Aging Agent: Sandalwood acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that stimulates blood circulation in the skin area. This means that the skin is well nourished and that nearby metabolic waste products can be eliminated. In addition, it acts as an antioxidant, blocking free radicals that wrinkle the skin.
Reduces Acne: Sandalwood powder has long been used to treat acne in adults as well as teenagers who are enthusiastic about breaking out their skin. Traditionally, it was completely ground and contained in turmeric, and it also turned out to be very effective in reducing acne rashes. It's a great suggestion for those who have a regular breakout. It provides a gentle way to prevent skin infections and heals common wounds such as wounds and boil. Fight bacteria that can damage your skin. Helps to heal wounds and acne quickly. It helps the skin condition to thrive.
Cures Ocular Diseases: When sandalwood is combined with extracts of other herbs such as Neem, Bringaraj, Nirgundi, Sovanajana, Punarnava, Satapatri and Madu, it is a mixture commonly used in Ayurveda to prevent eye diseases such as refractive error and cataracts.
Heals Ulcer: According to one study, sandalwood can effectively heal ulcers. Experiments conducted as part of the study showed that the use of sandalwood extract could significantly control ulcer formation.
Reduces Stress and Hypertension: Sandalwood-derived oils can be used to treat high blood pressure and relieve stress with aromatherapy. The content of the oil helps the brain make serotonin, improves a person's positivity, and induces well-being and satisfaction.
Prevents Natural Teeth Loss: Chandan oil has a convergent nature that is very helpful in strengthening the gums. It also prevents natural tooth loss.
Helps Balance Skin Tone: Sandalwood paste has been found to be very good at promoting even skin tones. Continued use of sandalwood paste also helps prevent sunburn from accumulating on the skin. The mild ingredients of sandalwood work thoroughly to suppress the formation of keloids on the skin. Sandalwood as a disinfectant This particular majestic wood is widely known for its disinfectant and antibacterial properties that effectively heal the skin and restore health.
Itchiness Relief: Many people are facing the problem of itching of the skin. This causes them to scrub their skin from time to time. As a result, the skin is damaged. Sandalwood paste or oil has a soothing effect on the skin and relieves itching. If your skin is puffy, it helps to relax and can also be used to reduce itching after an insect bite. It reduces redness and swelling of the skin faster than other treatments. It functions as a gentle sealant that instantly closes cracks and cuts on the skin.
Relaxes Nerves and Muscles: Sandalwood acts as an antispasmodic to relax nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Sandalwood oil can prevent muscle contraction and cramps when used regularly.
What Researchers Say On Sandalwood :
Anti-inflammatory: Sandalwood exerts anti-inflammatory effects by altering cellular signals in the body. There is some evidence that sandalwood can relieve inflammation of skin conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.[3]
Wound healing: Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany found that skin cells contain olfactory receptors for sandalwood. When they activated those receptors, it appeared to promote skin cell growth.[3]
Skin cancer: Studies published in the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics suggest that compounds in sandalwood oil may help fight skin cancer. This compound is called α-santalol. Several studies have shown that this ingredient can help promote cell death in cancer cells.[3]
Anxiety: A study of 87 women who underwent breast biopsy showed that aromatherapy with lavender, sandalwood, and orange peppermint reduced anxiety. Their initial level of anxiety was self-reported, as was the level of anxiety after aromatherapy. Another study of 32 people in Vienna, Austria, had participants inhale lavender oil and sandalwood oil. This study found that participants had low blood pressure and low levels of cortisol in saliva after aromatherapy.[3]
Dose:
There are many ways to use sandalwood oil in home aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy:
Put a few drops in an ounce of your favorite lotion
Heat it in a small kettle of water to scent your home
Evaporate it using an essential oil infuser
Mix a few drops with an ounce of carrier oil like sweet almond oil and apply to your skin[6]
For the treatment of urological problems:
It is recommended to administer 1-1.5 g daily for up to 6 weeks.
Sandalwood oil should be administered with a resistant coating that protects against gastric secretions.
Oil should not be taken inside in its natural state.[6]
Side Effects:
Sandalwood oil can cause skin irritation, but is generally not thought to irritate human skin.[7]
Sandalwood oil is generally safe to use, but with warnings and precautions. Sandalwood oil is not recommended as essential oils are intended for topical use only. When applying to the skin, dilute with carrier oil, soap, lotion and buffer. Breastfeeding mothers and toddlers should avoid sandalwood oil.[7]
In addition, sandalwood essential oils can cause allergic skin reactions in certain people, so it is important to first test on a small area of skin. People suffering from all kinds of illnesses, such as liver disease and cancer, should also take special care when using oils in aromatherapy.[7]
Sandalwood dermatitis and sandalwood oil have been reported to cause mild allergies, so people with known allergies or hypersensitivity to sandalwood oil or its ingredients should avoid using the oil. However, there are few reports of side effects of sandalwood oil-there are some cases of the above allergic reactions in the available literature.[7]
Is Chandan illegal?
Growing sandalwood by individuals was banned until 2002. Today, we can grow trees but it is illegal to cut and harvest the wood, use it or sell it in the open market.
Permission is required from the state forest department, which sends its officials to cut the tree and buy the sandalwood.
The government banned red sandalwood logging in 2000 after the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species said the tree was at risk of extinction if not protected. There is no accurate count of the number of trees remaining across the 2,000 square miles of arid, hilly forests that are their main habitat. [5]
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