One of the most popular types of essential oils, sandalwood essential oil has long been treasured for its calming effects. In addition to lessening stress and easing anxiety, aromatherapeutic use of sandalwood essential oil shows promise as a natural treatment for insomnia.
Research on the sleep-promoting effects of sandalwood essential oil includes a preliminary study published in the Japanese Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2007. In tests on rats, scientists discovered that santalol (a major component of sandalwood essential oil) offers sedative effects that may be of some benefit to individuals with sleep-maintenance insomnia (a condition marked by difficulty in staying asleep).
For more help in getting a good night's sleep, consider using natural remedies like valerian and chamomile or practicing relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation.
Continue reading: Sandalwood Essential Oil - What You Need to Know.
Sandalwood essential oil is a type of essential oil commonly used in aromatherapy. Sourced from the wood of trees in the genus Santalum, sandalwood essential oil contains aromatic compounds thought to offer a variety of health benefits.
Sandalwood essential oil is also used as an ingredient in perfume. In addition, sandalwood essential oil is frequently incorporated into religious ceremonies or practices in certain spiritual traditions. For example, Buddhists sometimes use the scent of sandalwood to maintain alertness during meditation.
How Does Sandalwood Essential Oil Work?
In aromatherapy, inhaling the aroma of sandalwood essential oil (or absorbing sandalwood essential oil through the skin) is thought to transmit messages to a brain region involved in controlling emotions. Known as the limbic system, this brain region also influences the nervous system. Aromatherapy proponents suggest that essential oils may affect a number of biological factors, including heart rate, stress levels, blood pressure, breathing, and immune function.
Uses for Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood essential oil is often touted as a natural remedy for the following health problems or conditions:
Benefits of Sandalwood Essential Oil
Although research on the health effects of sandalwood essential oil is fairly limited, there's some evidence that sandalwood essential oil may offer certain benefits. Here's a look at some key findings on the aromatherapeutic use of sandalwood essential oil:
1) Anxiety
Several preliminary studies suggest that sandalwood essential oil may help alleviate anxiety. In a pilot study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2006, for instance, researchers found that receiving aromatherapy massage enhanced with sandalwood essential oil helped reduce anxiety in patients undergoing palliative care.
In addition, a 2009 study from Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that aromatherapy massage involving the use of sandalwood essential oil helped lessen anxiety among women with breast cancer. The study included 12 breast cancer patients, each of whom received a half-hour aromatherapy massage twice a week for four weeks.
It should be noted that the aromatherapy massage in the above study also included sweetorange essential oil and lavender essential oil, and that it's unknown whether the treatment's anxiety-reducing effects resulted from the aromatherapy, the massage, or the combination of the two therapies.
2) Insomnia
Sandalwood essential oil shows promise as a means of promoting healthier sleep, according to a preliminary study published in the Japanese Journal of Psychopharmacology in 2007. In tests on rats, the study's authors determined that santalol (a major component of sandalwood essential oil) offers sedative effects that may be of some benefit to individuals with sleep-maintenance insomnia (a condition marked by difficulty in staying asleep).
How to Use Sandalwood Essential Oil
When combined with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, sweet almond, or avocado), sandalwood essential oil can be applied directly to the skin or added to baths.
Sandalwood essential oil also can be inhaled after sprinkling a few drops of the oil onto a cloth or tissue, or by using an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer.
Safety
Sandalwood essential oil should not be taken internally without the supervision of a health professional. Internal use of sandalwood essential oil may have toxic effects.
In addition, some individuals may experience irritation when applying sandalwood essential oil to the skin. A skin patch test should be done before using any new essential oil.
It's also important to note that self-treating a chronic condition with sandalwood essential oil and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences.
Pregnant women and children should consult their primary health care providers prior to using essential oils.
Learn more about how to use sandalwood essential oil safely.
Where To Find Sandalwood Essential Oil
Here are some tips on purchasing essential oils.
Widely available for purchase online, sandalwood essential oil is sold in many natural-foods stores and in stores specializing in self-care products.
Sources
Imanishi J, Kuriyama H, Shigemori I, Watanabe S, Aihara Y, Kita M, Sawai K, Nakajima H, Yoshida N, Kunisawa M, Kawase M, Fukui K. "Anxiolytic effect of aromatherapy massage in patients with breast cancer." Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Mar;6(1):123-8.
Kyle G. "Evaluating the effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing levels of anxiety in palliative care patients: results of a pilot study." Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2006 May;12(2):148-55.
Ohmori A, Shinomiya K, Utsu Y, Tokunaga S, Hasegawa Y, Kamei C. "Effect of santalol on the sleep-wake cycle in sleep-disturbed rats." Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi. 2007 Aug;27(4):167-71.
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