Sandalwood (檀木)
Sandalwood is a class of woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and, unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. Sandalwood oil is extracted from the woods for use. Sandalwood is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world. Both the wood and the oil produce a distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued for centuries.
Sandalwood is an evergreen tree native to India and Indonesia and grows to 8 to 12 m in height and 2.5 m in girth. The bark is smooth and gray-brown in color, and the small flowers have numerous short stalks. Sandalwood is also known as santal oil, white saunders oil, white or yellow sandalwood oil, and East Indian sandalwood oil.
Sandalwood oil has a warm, woody odor and is commonly used as a fragrance in incense, cosmetics, perfumes, and soaps. It also is used as a flavor for foods and beverages. The wood has been valued in carving because of its dense character.
In traditional medicine, sandalwood oil has been used as an antiseptic and astringent, and for the treatment of headache, stomachache, and urinary and genital disorders. In India, the essential oil, emulsion, or paste of sandalwood is used in the treatment of inflammatory and eruptive skin diseases. The oil has been used in the traditional Ayurvedic medicinal system as a diuretic and mild stimulant, and for smoothing the skin. The leaves and bark were used by early Hawaiians to treat dandruff, lice, skin inflammation, and sexually transmitted diseases. Sandalwood oil has also demonstrated repellency against the crop pest Tetranychus urticae (two-spotted spider mite).
Sandalwood is a sacred wood with a lovely aromatic scent.
It is used extensively in modern times for incense, aromatherapy, carvings, malas (prayer beads), Ayurvedic medicine, perfumes, and essential oils, where it is said to bring one closer to the Divine.
In ancient India, Egypt, Greece, and Rome it has been used for over 4000 years for purposes as diverse as building Hindu temples, and embalming.
Sandalwood’s scent is both excellent for staying present and alert during meditation, which makes it wonderful for ritual and spiritual practice.
Its scent is said to transform desires, and also to bring emotional balance.
Sandalwood is also used as an aphrodisiac. Note that healing meanings are spiritual supports to healing and are not prescriptions or healthcare information.
In ancient Buddhist tradition, Sandalwood has been celebrated as the perfect meditation tool for many, many years.
It is believed that the scent of Sandalwood will stimulate your sensuality, make you more aware of yourself and of the world, bring about peace and serenity, arouse your divine thoughts, and inspire deep relaxation.
Burning Sandalwood incense will promote a deeper and more relaxed state and increase your spiritual energy.
Sandalwood works to stimulate your base chakra. It’s believed to increase trust and improve your self-identity as well.
In the Ayurvedic healing tradition, Sandalwood promotes energy and enthusiasm. It also increases your self-esteem and your zest for life.
Burning Sandalwood near your home’s front door will welcome visitors and attune them subconsciously to your home’s positive energies. It will encourage them to leave their fears, doubts, worries, and anger outside.
You can use the healing aroma of Sandalwood to promote feelings of peace and serenity and to ease various ailments of the digestive system.
Breathing in the aromatic smoke from Sandalwood incense stick can also help lift melancholy and depression, as well as promote restful sleep.
Sandalwood subdues your aggression and irritability. What it does is promote compassion and openness instead.
It also enhances your meditative experience.
Sandalwood is particularly good to use in relieving your stress, especially when you combine it with Bergamot or Lavender.
Sandalwood will also help in realigning your body, mind, and spirit.
Sandalwood is also known to help in finding your spiritual purpose, clearing the mind, and helping you through periods of fear and uncertainty.