|
 (Santalum spicatum) Sandalwood oil is extracted from a parasitic tree native to the East Indies. The Australian oil has a woody, balsamic, creamy aroma;
it is a pale yellow, viscous liquid with excellent tenacity (the aroma tends to last a long time) and superior fixative properties.
The long history of Sandalwood in the cultural and spiritual life of Asia cannot be overstated. The wood was carved into furniture, temples, and religious icons; it is burned as an incense in Buddhist and Hindu temples, and retains an important place in Tibetan and traditional Chinese medicines.
The oil is high in sesquiterpenes, a class of compound which has been studied in Europe for its stimulating of the pineal gland and the limbic region of the brain - the center of our emotions.
Sandalwood has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries, traditionally as a skin tonic, and for yogic meditative practice. It may be beneficial for both acne and dry skin; it has also been used to treat chronic bronchitis.
The oil's aroma is sedative, with possible antidepressant effects. Sandalwood may also be helpful in cases where depression has lead to sexual difficulties, and can support the nervous system and circulation.
Information courtesy of http://www.anandaapothecary.com
"If you can't eat it, don't put it on your skin."
|
™