Sandalwood

(S) Chandana

Pan Used: wood and volatile oil

Energetics: bitter, sweet, astringent/cooling/sweet PV- K or Ama+ (in excess)

Tissues: plasma, blood, muscle, marrow and nerve, reproductive

Systems: circulatory, nervous, digestive

Actions: alterative, hemostatic, antiseptic, antibacterial, carminative, sedative, refrigerant

Indications: eye diseases, cystitis, urethritis, vaginitis, acute dermatitis, herpes Zoster, bronchitis, palpitations, gonorrhea, sunstroke

Precautions: high Kapha, severe lung congestion

Preparation: infusion (hot or cold), decoction, powder (250 mg to 1 g), medicated oil

SANDALWOOD cools and calms the entire body and mind, with its influence spreading throughout the circulatory, digestive, respiratory and nervous systems. It relieves fever, thirst, burning sensation and stops sweating. A few drops of sandalwood oil applied to the third eye will relieve heat and thirst, and is good for fever or overexposure to the sun.

Sandalwood helps the awakening of intelligence. Its prabhava is to help open the third eye, to increase devotion and promote meditation. It also aids in the transmutation of sexual energy.

Sandalwood, a good addition to other formulas, reduces fever; it is good for almost any inflammatory conditions and for cleansing the blood. Externally, the oil or paste can be used for most infectious sores or ulcers. In short, sandalwood is a very good anti-Pitta medicine.

A strong sandalwood oil can be made by steeping four ounces of sandalwood powder in one pint of cold water overnight, adding to one pint coconut oil and cooking over a low flame (not boiling), until all the water evaporates.