Sandalwood
- What is Sandalwood Used for Today?
- Dosage
- Safety Issues
- References
The oil of the sweet-smelling sandalwood tree has a long history of use as a perfume and incense fragrance. Sandalwood oil also has a medicinal tradition in various countries, having been used for digestive distress, liver problems, acne and other skin problems, gonorrhea, anxiety, and insomnia. Additionally, it has played a role in some Hindu religious ceremonies, and has been used as a meditation aid.
What Is Sandalwood Used for Today?
Sandalwood oil has been approved by
German’s Commission E
for treatment of
bladder infections.
1
It is not recommended as sole treatment, but rather as an accompaniment to conventional care. However, there is no meaningful evidence that it is effective for this purpose. Only
double-blind
, placebo-controlled studies can prove that a treatment really works, and no studies of this type have been performed with sandalwood. (For information on why such studies are essential, see
Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies?)
Weak evidence, far too preliminary to rely upon at all, hints that sandalwood may have antiviral,
2
anti–
Helicobacterpylori
(
Helicobacter pylori
is the underlying cause of most
stomach ulcers
),
3
sedative,
4,5
and
cancer-preventive6-8
properties.
Dosage
According to Germany’s Commission E, sandalwood oil should be taken at a dose of 1–1.5 grams daily in enteric-coated form for supportive treatment of urinary tract infections. (“Enteric-coated” products are designed so they do not open up and release their contents until they reach the small intestine.) However, this is a relatively high dose for an essential oil, and should only be used under the supervion of a physician. Non–enteric-coated products may cause stomach distress. For external use in skin conditions, a few drops of the oil are added to a cup of water.
Safety Issues
Sandalwood oil appears to be relatively safe, but it has not undergone comprehensive safety testing; in general, essential oil can have toxic and even fatal effects when taken in sufficient doses, especially by children. Allergic reactions caused by direct contact with sandalwood oil occur relatively frequently.
9-11
Sandalwood oil should not be used by young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease.
References
1
Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds).
The Complete Commission E Monographs: TherapeuticGuide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:199.
2
Benencia F, Courreges MC. Antiviral activity of sandalwood oil against herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2.
Phytomedicine. 1999;6:119–23.
3
Ochi T, Shibata H, Higuti T, et al. Anti-
Helicobacter pylori
compounds from
Santalum album.
J Nat Prod. 2005;68:819–24.
4
Okugawa H, Ueda R, Matsumoto K, et al. Effect of alpha-santalol and beta-santalol from sandalwood on the central nervous system in mice.
Phytomedicine. 1995;2:119–126.
5
Hongratanaworakit T, Heuberger E, Buchbauer G, et al. Evaluation of the effects of East Indian sandalwood oil and alpha-santalol on humans after transdermal absorption.
Planta Med. 2004;70:3–7.
6
Dwivedi C, Guan X, Harmsen WL, et al. Chemopreventive effects of alpha-santalol on skin tumor development in CD-1 and SENCAR mice.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003;12:151–6.
7
Dwivedi C, Zhang Y. Sandalwood oil prevent skin tumour development in CD1 mice.
Eur J Cancer Prev. 1999;8:449–55.
8
Dwivedi C, Abu-Ghazaleh A. Chemopreventive effects of sandalwood oil on skin papillomas in mice.
Eur JCancer Prev. 1998;6:399–401.
9
Frosch PJ, Johansen JD, Menne T, et al. Further important sensitizers in patients sensitive to fragrances.
Contact Dermatitis. 2003;47:279–87.
10
Sandra A, Shenoi D, Srinivas CR. Allergic contact dermatitis from red sandalwood (
Pterocarpus santalinus
).
Contact Dermatitis. 1996;34:69.
11
Sharma R, Bajaj AK, Singh KG. Sandalwood dermatitis.
Int J Dermatol. 1987;26:597.