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 (Chandana kula)

Medicinal properties

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.

Part used, dosage

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.

How to take it?
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.

Use in celibacy

Use of sandalwood in controlling sexual urge, celibacy:
Sandalwood has been used in Hindu cultural rituals for 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 maintain celibacy – Brahmacharya. This is the same reason, Sandalwood is used as a 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. 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 the speed of excitement crosses the speed of formal proceedings. Sandalwood helps to control the mind better.

Burning Urination With Blood

This home remedy is mentioned in two textbooks – Chakradatta and Bhavaprakasha.

The Sanskrit verse –
शृतशीतपयोऽन्नाशी चन्दनं तण्डुलाम्बुना ।
पिबेत्सशर्करं श्रेष्ठमुष्णवाते सशोणिते ॥
चक्रदत्त, ३३-१४, भावप्रकाश मूत्ररोगाधिकार ३६-३९

śṛtaśītapayo’nnāśī candanaṃ taṇḍulāmbunā |
pibetsaśarkaraṃ śreṣṭhamuṣṇavāte saśoṇite ||
cakradatta, 33-14, bhāvaprakāśa mūtrarogādhikāra 36-39

Let us break down the shloka and understand its meaning.
शृतशीतपयो – śṛtaśītapayo –  boiled and cooled milk
अन्नाशी – annāśī – cooked rice eating.
चन्दनं – candanaṃ  – sandalwood paste or powder
तण्डुलाम्बुना – taṇḍulāmbunā – uncooked rice washed water.
1 part of broken rice + 8 parts of water -> filter
पिबेत् स शर्करं  – pibet sa śarkaraṃ – consume along with candy sugar
So, sandalwood + rice washed water + candy sugar.
श्रेष्ठम् उष्णवाते  – śreṣṭham uṣṇavāte – very useful in Ushnavata – burning urination
सशोणिते – saśoṇite  – associated with bleeding.

The remedy: Mix 20 grams of uncooked rice in 120 ml of water. Macerate well, filter. Take 3 – 5 grams of sandalwood powder, mix it with rice washed water and consume it before food, once or twice a day.
The diet to follow is cooked rice with milk.

Usage according to season

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 Agaru ( Aquilaria Agallocha). They reduce itching and body odor. 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

External application

Sandalwood paste external application:
A paste made of it, applied externally relieves burning sensation, improves skin complexion, cleanses wounds and stops secretions.
Its paste is applied over the forehead to relieve migraine, headaches.
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 odor. For this same reason, sandalwood oil is extensively used in room fresheners, perfumes, incense sticks etc.

Sandalwood for headache

Paste of sandalwood applied over the 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 are 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.

Distribution, varieties

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 – 6 varieties

Bh. Pr ni – 4 varieties

Sodala Nighantu – 8 types – Gosheersha, Shreepriya, Sambhrana, Kakubha, Barbarika, Rakta chandana, Patanga, Harichandana.

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-octacosanol, Plamitone etc.
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna Vijnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)

Morphology

Small evergreen glabrous tree
Branches – Slender and drooping
Sapwood – White and odorless
Heart wood _ Yellowish brown in color
Leaves – 4- 6 cm long elliptic lanceolate, subacute,
Inflorescence – Terminal axillary paniculate cyme
Flowers – Brownish purple in color, perianth is companulate
Fruit – Drupe

Sanskrit verse

Sandalwood benefits

(Charaka Samihta Sutrasthana 25)– Sandalwood (Chandana) is best in relieving bad odor, burning sensation and best to apply as a 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, urethritis and 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
Chandana is used in acute dermatitis,  gonorrhoea, palpitations.

Pharmacological Action

Anti bacterial
Anti viral
Anti fungal
Anti oxidant
Antipyretic
Hemostatic
Cooling

Photo courtesy – Shubhada Nikharge via flickr

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.

White Vs Red Sandalwood

As per Sharangdhara Samhita, if you are preparing herbal powder for oral intake, or fermented infusion (Asava), or herbal ghees or herbal oils, white variety is to be used by default. 

Whereas if you are preparing cream for external application or herbal decoction for oral intake, then red variety is the default choice. 

This is probably based on the phyto-chemical affinity of the two types to different mediums — water, fat and alcohol. 

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Research

Anti ulcer activity
History and other uses

Ayurvedic medicines

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 vessels, in the preparation of Arishta and Asava – Alcoholic Ayurvedic medicines.

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.
Sushruta—Salasaradi, Sarivadi, Patoladi, Priyangvadi, Guducyadi
Vagbhata- Asanadi, Patoladi, Sarivadi, Priyangvadi, Guducyadi
Bh. Pr. Ni – Karpooradi varga

Vernacular names

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

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 – cool and pleasant to see, like the 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.
Tilaparnakam–tilasyeva parnanyasya – Leaves are similar to those of sesame plant
Malayaja – Malaye pradeshe jata – grows in Malaya region
Shishiram –“sheetam sparshe veerye cha – It is a coolant

Sthanika Karma (Systemic Action)

External Application – Cooling, cures burning sensation, improves complexion. It helps to check excessive sweating and bad odor. Its paste is applied over the forehead to relieve headache (paittika shirasula).

Internal administration-
Nervous system – Improve intellect, mind calming. Indicated in mental disorders.
Digestive System – Pacifies pitta dosha. indicated in excessive thirst, Jaundice, Acidity etc.
Respiratory system – Helps to expel vitiated kapha dosha. indicated in chronic cough, epistaxis etc.
Excretory System – Increases urine output. indicated in Dysuria, UTI etc.
Circulatory system – Indicated in bleeding disorders, Indicated in weakened heart function.
Tapakrama – Indicated in fever associated with burning sensation
Satmikarana – Anti poisonous