healing properties of essential oils
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Sandalwood Oil - Aromatherapy For The Mind, Body, And Spirit
By Misty Rae Cech, ND, Tue Jan 10th

Sandalwood is one of the world's most widely used essentialoils, prized for its scent in perfumery, for its therapeuticeffects in Chinese, Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine systems, andfor its ability to center the mind in meditative yogictraditions.

Sandalwood essential oil is most often extracted via steamdistillation from the wood of the Sandalwood tree, with theheartwood of the roots producing the highest quality oil.Sandalwood is an evergreen, growing to a height of 9 meters,with leathery leaves and small purple flowers. Native tosouthern tropical Asia, the tree is parasitic, gaining itsnutrients from one of several other tree species. Because it canonly be grown this way, and due to its seemingly strict set ofenvironmental conditions, Sandalwood is difficult to propagate.To add to the challenge of successful cultivation, Sandalwoodtakes nearly 30 years to mature before yielding oil of any worth.

Sandalwood essential oil has a woody, balsamic, sweet andslightly musky aroma; it is a pale yellow, greenish or brownishliquid with excellent tenacity (the aroma tends to last a longtime) and superior fixative properties. There are severalvarieties available, with Santalum album is considered the mostimportant therapeutically. The Mysore region of eastern India isthought to produce the highest quality of this oil type, thoughits harvesting is creating a strain on the area's naturalenvironment. Recently, an oil of the austrocaledonia species hasbeen produced on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu fromsuccessfully cultivated Sandalwood trees. This oil has afantastic aroma, with a woody, smoky scent that can remind oneof being at the beach - an excellent base note in perfume andcosmetic blends.

In the West, Sandalwood oil is perhaps best known in the west asa natural, woody, sweet body perfume used 'as is', or as afamiliar aroma in many cosmetics, aftershaves and the like. Inthe east, however, Sandalwood’s importance in cultural andspiritual traditions cannot be overstated. The wood is carvedinto furniture, religious icons, used to build temples andburned as incense in a great variety of ceremonies. The oil isused to anoint the dead, helping their transition to the nextlife. In Burma, women sprinkle it on passersby on the last dayof the year for the release of sins. In Hindu marriages,Sandalwood is burned in a tent such that the smoke surrounds thebridal couple. For the meditative yogi, the oil and incenseencourage a serene state of mind, supporting alignment of theindividual with the universal Self.

In the traditional Indian medicine system of Ayurveda,Sandalwood is valued for it's ability to cool the fire of pitta.It is indicated for inflammatory conditions, such as inflamedskin, or intestinal and genitor-urinary conditions that requirecooling. Modern aromatherapy considers the oil an effective skincare agent for dry skin, general irritation and acne; it canhelp in cases of bronchitis, catarrh, dry persistent coughs,laryngitis and sore throat; it may relieve diarrhea and nausea,and can be supportive in cases of cystitis.

Beyond the physical body, Sandalwood essential oil is a greattonic for the hyper-active mind. In practical terms, the oil isconsidered an anti-depressant through it's ability to relievehot, agitated emotional states, and to assist in release fromover-thinking and worry. More esoterically, the aroma isconsidered 'divinely sweet' and softly balsamic, characteristicswhich evoke the grounding of the Earth element. It is said torelease one from the 'tyranny of the intellect' which can cloudone's true nature, bringing about a more serene state unifyingbody, mind and spirit. From this quiet, unified state comesforth the true creative mind, finding infinite possibility inthe here and now. It is in this peaceful, unified state wheremeditation can affect profound transformation.

Recommended essential oil blends for calming the mind are asfollows - these can be used for general massage, reflexology, orapplied to pulse points and temples: For 'obsessive' thinking,try four (4) drops of Sandalwood and two (2) drops of Vetiver inone tablespoon of carrier; for a detached analytical state trythree (3) drops Geranium, two (2) drops Sandalwood and one (1)drop Patchouli in one tablespoon of carrier. These blends canalso be created for use in a diffuser by omitting the carrieroil. For a great perfume also with soothing qualities, combinethree parts Sandalwood and two parts Vanilla oil - the blendproduces a wonderful tropical island aroma.

Finally, Sandalwood is one of the few essential whichimproves with age. Due to increasing demand, the oil's price isclimbing significantly every year - it can be worthwhile topurchase a little more than you think you'll need immediately,as storing it for some time will only result in a richer oil inthe future. Of course, samples are also a great place to start,as you can first find a Sandalwood that truly suits you.

About the author:Misty Rae Cech ND, is a naturopath and yoga teacher practicingin Boulder, Colorado, and owner of AnandaApothecary.com. Sheregularly employs essential oils and flower essences inher practice.