(NaturalHealth365)  Derived from the sturdy heartwood of the East Indian sandalwood tree, sandalwood essential oil is known for its elegant, soothing scent.  Due to its appealing combination of woodsy notes and floral overtones, sandalwood has long been a staple in incense, candles, and perfumes.

But this exotic oil delivers much more than just a pretty fragrance.  Sandalwood has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine healing systems to manage infections, colds, digestive complaints, skin conditions, and nervous tension.  In fact, recent research supports some of these uses, confirming sandalwood’s diverse bioactive compounds and potential health-promoting effects.  In a review published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, the authors reported that sandalwood essential oil shows promise in clinical trials against inflammatory skin conditions.

Let’s see what else this aromatic oil can do for you.

Promote skin healing with sandalwood oil

When used topically, sandalwood’s antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects can promote skin health, soothe irritation, and speed wound healing.  This may allow sandalwood to help reduce inflammation involved in psoriasis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and acne.

An eye-opening study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology revealed that human keratinocytes (the cells that form the outer layer of skin) possess olfactory receptors for sandalwood – showing that these receptors aren’t confined to the nose.  Even more surprisingly, activating these receptors has an unexpected result: promoting the increased proliferation and migration of skin cells and supporting faster healing.

Sandalwood essential oil’s rich, calming fragrance can help banish anxiety

The effects of this luxurious essential oil are often described as uplifting, reassuring, grounding, and calming.  It’s no accident that holistic healthcare providers increasingly advise sandalwood oil aromatherapy to ease anxiety.  This is backed up by a randomized, controlled clinical trial of 87 women published in Worldviews Evidence-Based Nursing, which showed that a mixture of sandalwood and other oils significantly reduced anxiety in women undergoing breast biopsies.  And there’s more.

A pilot study conducted at the University of Vienna and published in Natural Product Communications credited a combination of sandalwood and lavender oil with causing significant reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, along with a distinct drop in salivary cortisol levels, the “stress” hormone.  In other words, it can alleviate physiological reactions to psychological stress.  With mild sedative qualities, sandalwood oil is also believed to promote deep and restful sleep.  If you suffer from jangled nerves or restless nights, aromatherapy with sandalwood essential oil is certainly worth a try!

Sandalwood constituent may have anticancer effects

Sandalwood essential oil is extremely rich in a compound known as santalol, which is believed to have anticancer effects.  In fact, santalol comprises between 50 to 90 percent of sandalwood oil.  In a review published in the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, researchers found that sandalwood oil can promote apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in skin cancer cells, reducing the likelihood of the development of pre-cancerous cells into squamous cell cancer.

And it accomplished this without harming noncancerous cells.  The team concluded that santalol-rich sandalwood essential oil might be valuable as a topical, non-destructive chemopreventive agent through selective targeting of proliferative cancer and pre-cancerous cells.  That is quite the endorsement!  While further studies are clearly needed, this is a promising finding.

Access the benefits of sandalwood oil through aromatherapy and massage

Mix two to three drops with a tablespoon of carrier oil, such as almond, jojoba, coconut, or olive oil, to apply sandalwood oil topically.  Massage into wrists, temples, and the back of the neck to promote sleep.  For skin conditions, apply to affected areas.  Naturally, consult your holistic doctor before using sandalwood essential oil for massage or aromatherapy.

You can also use an aromatherapy diffuser to calm frazzled nerves or even heat a few drops in a small pot of water.  If you don’t have a diffuser, simply apply a few drops to a tissue and inhale.  You can even add a few drops to a warm bath for calming effects.  (It doesn’t get any easier or more user-friendly than that!)

By the way, sandalwood essential oil’s ability to help cleanse, moisturize, and protect hair can also help beautify and condition tresses.  Merely mix a few drops into your favorite lotion or shampoo.

When buying sandalwood oil, choose a product from a reputable vendor and look for pure sandalwood essential oil.  The words Santalum album – sandalwood’s botanical name – should appear on the label.  Beware of those labeled “scented” or “perfumed” oil, however, as these terms can be tip-offs to a synthetic, diluted, or inferior product.

As research shows, this ancient oil can offer up-to-the-minute health benefits.  Maybe it’s time for you to access the luxurious health benefits of sandalwood essential oil?  Post your comments below about your own experience.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
NIH.gov
Healthline.com
Doterra.com
SagePub.com
EurekAlert.org
ScienceDirect.com