How Can Sandal Wood Be Used In Daily Life?

Sandalwood has been around for quite a while. Perfume manufacturers use sandalwood to create perfumes that are in demand all over the world. The smell of sandalwood is also used for therapeutic purposes and today, it’s popular for its oil as well. Furthermore, sandalwood benefits are well renowned as it has been used for centuries to cure certain diseases and multiple studies have been conducted on the same subject.

How is sandalwood used traditionally?

As mentioned earlier, sandalwood has been used for centuries as a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine. Plus, it has also been used in the making of traditional Chinese medicine. Researchers around the world have constantly studied the relationship of sandalwood with certain diseases and they have found positive results. Experts state that sandalwood is able to deal with digestive, muscle, and mental problems along with hemorrhoids and urinary tract infections. Moreover, the scent of sandalwood also makes for perfumes and aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a type of therapy that involves the use of oil to cure mental and physical health outcomes. 

How Can Sandal Wood Be Used In Daily Life?

Some studies have found that sandalwood happens to contain several compounds that deal with anxiety management, bacteria, and wound healing. Although multiple studies have been conducted on sandalwood as mentioned earlier but there is very limited evidence suggesting that sandalwood is indeed beneficial for health.

Anxiety

Perhaps one of the major benefits of Sandalwood is that it might help reduce anxiety. A study conducted on the relationship between sandalwood and anxiety in women with breast cancer found that the use of sandalwood helps reduce the anxiety level. The participants were asked to have an aromatherapy massage for four weeks until the findings were achieved. Even though the studies provided promising results but certain limitations existed as well due to limited subjective measures to evaluate anxiety. 

Insomnia

Insomnia is a disorder in which an individual fails to sleep at night. He/she will remain awake throughout the night, which ultimately takes a toll on mental health. As a result, the individual feels fatigued, tired, and unable to perform physical activities during the day. Luckily, a study conducted on animals found that sandalwood promotes healthier sleep. Its smell tends to soothe the nerves and encourages the stimulation of hormones that allow humans to sleep. 

Mental Alertness

Although sandalwood is known to offer calming effects but it also appears to enhance mental alertness. There was a time when it was believed that sandalwood deactivated behavioral responses. While it does that on one hand, on the other, it activates a physiological response. Then again, the compounds found in sandalwood stimulate mental functioning that enables one to remain more alert. 

Possible Side-Effects

Despite the fact that sandalwood is known to provide several health benefits, there are some limitations as well. For instance, it is suggested that sandalwood oil should not be applied to the skin at full-strength. It might lead to skin irritation, rashes, and even chemical burns for that matter. Moreover, the constant exposure to sandalwood’s scent can also increase the blood pressure and heart rate. If you have some type of allergy, you should consult a doctor before sandalwood application as it can trigger allergic reactions as well. 

What To Look For?

When looking for original and authentic sandalwood oil, you should make sure that it has a minimum free alcohol level of 90%. This is the international standard for authenticity. Since sandalwood is in demand and popular across the globe, there are several sources that sell low-quality cheap sandalwood oil. Additionally, check to see whether the oil has been extracted from the original Santalum family of sandalwood trees.

Final Word

Concluding, sandalwood uses are quite cognitive-centric and can be used on a daily basis but in moderation. If you experience allergic reactions, you might want to consult a doctor first. Lastly, make sure that you always get your hands on the original oil to reap the benefits of sandalwood.