Scientific developments may soon pave the way for pure sandalwood oil to be the medicine of the future. The documented use of sandalwood oil can be traced back to many centuries. It has been used as a sedative to reduce nervous tension in ancient Indian, Chinese, Australian, Indonesian and Egyptian cultures. To this day, the oil has a reputation as a sensual, precious substance that can intoxicate humans.
Born in 69 BC, Cleopatra the 7th was the most famous devotee of sandalwood oil. Cleopatra saturated her body and clothes in the fumes of sandalwood incense to instill male devotion. She used it lavishly on her breasts, thighs, skin and hair to intoxicate and seduce her suitors. In ancient Tantric ceremonies, males would anoint their bodies and then massage sandalwood oil into the upper thighs of the females before falling into ritual orgies.
Chinese and Ayurvedic traditional medicine have also incorporated the use of sandalwood oil in their practices. Records from the Ayurvedic Institute show that for thousands of years, Sandalwood Oil has been used as an aphrodisiac and a treatment for many ailments, including angina and coronary heart disease. Tibetan Monks discovered the use of the oil in 200 BC to help focus the mind and relax the body. Because sandalwood regulates Chi, it can successfully used to increase a flagging libido, or to relax and calm a person, generating the appropriate ambience for sexual arousal.
How can an individual oil have so many effects? According to the book, The Chemistry of Fragrances by H. Pyrus and C. Sell, our nose houses the olfactory nerve endings, which is the brain's exclusive contact with the outer body and sensory systems. Upon inhalation, an aroma is detected by these nerves endings stationed in the cavity between the eyes - known in the Hindu and Buddhist cultures as the third eye. It is here that fragrance molecules are conducted directly into the inner part of brain.
The human brain has many different divisions and functions. The division that relates to your sense of smell is the Limbic region. Known as the "old brain", it is located in the cerebral epicenter. It is responsible for instinctive responses, including the control of all hormones (for example, adrenalin) that regulate such things such as heart rate and oxygen intake. The limbic brain is the key control point for emotions and automatic function. It also triggers the brain's release of endorphins - hormones that induce euphoria and reduce stress.
A full scientific understanding of the body's instinctive response to sandalwood oil is still being developed today. However, modern research is already beginning to document the oil's physiological effect on subjects, due to its calmative properties. Research in the last two years by Hongratanaworakit, Heuberger and Buchbauer (200) has demonstrated that by simply applying sandalwood oil externally to the skin of human beings, a reduction in systolic blood pressure and heart rate is evident.
This can only mean great news for those high blood pressure. With a slower heart and improved pulse amplitude, the passage of blood and oxygen to the extremities and internal organs is enhanced. It is believed that this effect is further accentuated when the oil is used in combination with massage. Researchers are currently testing this theory.
Sandalwood oil also has clearly established narcotic properties, which induce a deep and longer sleep pattern and cause a reduction in body temperature (Phytomedicine Volume 2 (2) 1995). In addition, the oil manifests analgaesic or painkilling activity, and decreases spontaneous motor activity (the physical results of nervous tension such as eye twitching). As such, it can induce a "stress-free" state of relaxation, whether this stress is psychologically or physically induced.
A Western Australian company, Mt Romance, has been working with Sandalwood for the past five years. It stocks a variety of products made from pure Sandalwood Oil for medicinal, therapeutic and cosmetic uses. The company has just launched into formal human clinical trials of the effects of sandalwood oil and is undertaking a quantification of its physiological effects via:
- Topical application with and without massage.
- Inhalation using simple breathing techniques; and
- Medication incorporating inhalation and breathing techniques.
Following the same path as international research trials, it is expected the results will be very positive.
In the US, the California West Oakland Health Centre conducted a major research trial on 100 subjects aged 55 years and over. It demonstrated that, as well as the immediate benefits of relaxing the cardio-vascular system (via meditation), the drop in systolic blood pressure after three months was 11 points higher than the control group and 6 points greater in terms of diastolic blood pressure (Energy Times, April 1997). This blood pressure reduction is similar to that resulting of blood pressure will reduce congestive heart failure by 20-45 per cent and strokes by 35-40 per cent.
Long-term benefits of calming the mind are still to be understood. However, the theory is that it provides a balancing effect. The improved sense of well being (and natural induction of regular "highs" achieved via endorphin release) manifests a moderating effect on unhealthy behavioural actions that induce an "artificial high", such as excessive consumption of alcohol, nicotine, saturated fats and caffeine.
Mt Romance aims to encourage practitioners of massage and meditation to assist with its ongoing research on blood pressure and the heart.
People seeking further information can contact Mt Romance at the Perth Conscious Living Natural Life Expo in October. The staff and related practitioners present at the expo will be able to provide further information to anyone interested in learning more about sandalwood oil.
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