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The Science-Supported Healthy Benefits Associated With Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood is both a classic scent and a classic medicine. Used as an aromatic for more than 4000 years, and as a medicine in the Ayurvedic method for perhaps a millennium, the wood on its own has been greatly valued by mankind. The essential oil, while only becoming popular in the last hundred years, is an incredibly classic scent, with important science-proven beneficial medicinal functions. Whether it be for the body or mind, sandalwood oil can offer effective support.
To begin with just a little background -- sandalwood essential oil is steam distilled from the heartwood of the sandalwood tree. Sounds pretty straightforward, until you find out that sandalwood is actually a parasite; it grows only on certain other trees in tropical environments. The tree needs to be planted adjacent to the right host tree, already of a specific age, for it to climb up. When harvesting the wood, which is very slow to grow, both trees need to be cut down. Clearly this presents challenges for this important resource.
The harvesting of the timber in India, where the top-quality specimens are considered to be from, has been halted by the authorities in order to protect the tropical rain forests. Elsewhere in the world, harvesting is regulated to ensure the demise of the rain forests in India does not happen again for this reason.
It is clear that for the reasons of uniqueness alone, the essential oil is something to be cherished. However, the oil has some very impressive and important medicinal characteristics that make it even more valuable. One application is a direct derivation of the use of the wood's paste for skin care: The essential oil has been shown to prevent the occurrence of skin cancer if applied before exposure to UVB light as well as chemo-toxins.
Research workers at South Dakota State University, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, noted "alpha-santalol, a major component of sandalwood oil, works well in preventing UVB-induced skin cancer development." Researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, noted that the oil caused apoptosis (normal cell death) of cells which were on their way to becoming cancerous. Clearly the essential oil makes an important therapeutic contribution to skin care formulations.
The aroma is highly regarded for its calming, centering qualities, without being sedating. In Vienna, Austria researchers published a report where participants were positively affected in the areas of alertness, attentiveness, calmness, mood, enjoyment and vigor. This correlates to its long-time use as the first choice aromatic in aiding meditation.
Curiously, the oil has also been researched for supporting deeper, more peaceful sleep. The essential oil works both when inhaled and when topically applied. One study examining the effects of inhaling santalol, the primary natural constituent of the oil, found this component could result in a significant decrease in the time spent tossing and turning in sleep-disturbed subjects, and also increased the total time spent in REM sleep.
So you will notice that sandalwood oil has some wonderful, valuable therapeutic activity -- features that everyone can enjoy. The most common are Australian as well as South Pacific, though you may still find some Indian available through specialty sources. You will find they have subtly different aromas, and you may have a strong preference for one over another. Once you discover an oil you like, buy some to put away! Sandalwood improves (and more costly) with age -- you'll have a wonderful oil for you and your family to enjoy now and on into the future.
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