Sandalwood

History:

Sandalwood is the highly aromatic wood of the medium-sized Sandalwood tree (reaching about fifty feet in height) and is native to eastern Asia (probably to the islands in southeastern Indonesia) and has been known in India and other areas of the subcontinent for thousands of years. Some claim that it is native to India, but it is actually thought to have been introduced there well over two thousand years ago. The Sandalwood tree is an evergreen that is cultivated in a semi-wild state, usually in open forest; and because it is semi-parasitic, it depends upon a host for its nutrients that help it grow. Over three hundred plants have been recorded as hosts, which can include nearby grasses, herbs, shrubs or other trees. Unlike most trees, Sandalwood is harvested by toppling the entire Santalum tree instead of sawing them down at the trunk. The wood of the tree is straight-grained and heavy and varies in color, and the tree bears oval leaves and small flowers of varying colors that bloom twice a year. Sandalwood is said to have been used for embalming the corpses of princes in Ceylon (today's Sri Lanka) since the ninth century, and Sandalwood is now also distributed throughout Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Taiwan and northern Australia and generally thrives as a crop in drier climates in well-drained, moist, fertile soil in partial shade at a minimum of fifty-nine degrees Fahrenheit, so it is interesting to note that Sandalwood was cultivated in the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, London, in the nineteenth century. Sandalwood's name comes to us from the Sanskrit word, Chandana, and it has a rich history in India as one of the luxury goods (including gold, gems, spices, silks, ivory and perfumes) that were sent along the coastal route to the Persian Gulf for trade. It is still an extremely expensive comodity. However, aside from its commercial importance, Sandalwood was highly valued in Hindu rituals (including symbolic caste marks on the face and carved into figures and deities on temple doors, etc.) and devotional practices (including incense, etc.); and it was an important factor in the ancient Ayurvedic medicine of India that was (and still is) used in that system as a cooling herb for the body and head, and for scorpion stings and snake bites. The trees are usually felled when at least fifty years old, and because it is somewhat soft, the wood is highly prized for carving, and the oil is invaluable in perfumes, aromatherapy and the cosmetic industry. Sandalwood smells not unlike other wood scents, except it has a bright and fresh edge and provides perfumes with a striking wood base note. Sandalwood essential oil was popular in medicine up to 1920-1930, mostly as a urogenital (internal) and skin (external) antiseptic, because of its main antibacterial component, santalol. The wood, oil and roots are used in herbal preparations. There are about nineteen species of Santalum, but the Sandalwood (Santalum album) has the highest oil content. Some of the constituents in Sandalwood include a rich essential oil, with at least ninety percent sesquiterpene alcohols, called santolols, the active ingredients present in all parts of the tree.

Recommended Dosage:
Take one (1) capsule, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Pregnant and nursing women and young children should not use Sandalwood Herbal Supplement, nor should those who suffer from chronic liver disease. Do not use Sandalwood for over six weeks without talking to your doctor, and upset stomach and skin itching have been reported with the use of Sandalwood.

Capsule Information:
Our Sandalwood supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules.(click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 500 mgs.

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Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.