Sandalwood oil has many traditional uses. For centuries, East Indian sandalwood oil has been a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine, the folk medicine of India. It’s also been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
In these traditions, sandalwood oil has been used with other therapies to manage:
the common coldurinary tract infectionsliver and gallbladder problemsdigestive problemsmuscle problemsmental disordershemorrhoidsscabiesSandalwood’s scent also makes it a popular choice for perfumes and aromatherapy. In aromatherapy, aromatic oils are used to promote mental and physical health outcomes. Many ancient cultures practiced aromatherapy. It remains popular among some people today.
Few of the traditional uses of sandalwood oil have been tested with modern science. There is a lack of studies evaluating the health benefits of sandalwood. This is why scientific research on its health benefits is limited.
What does the research say?
Some studies have supported the idea that sandalwood has health perks. For example, research suggests that sandalwood may help:
increase alertnessmanage anxietysupport wound healingguard against skin cancerfight bacteriaAlertness
A study reported in Planta MedicaTrusted Source found that aromatherapy with sandalwood oil increased participants’ pulse, blood pressure, and perspiration. These are markers of alertness.
Anxiety
Research reported in Complementary Therapies in Clinical PracticeTrusted Source suggests that aromatherapy massage with sandalwood oil may help reduce anxiety. The sample size was too small to draw conclusive findings, but the results were promising.
Wound healing
Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum in Germany found that skin cells contain olfactory receptors for sandalwood. When they activated those receptors, it appeared to promote skin cell growth.
Skin cancer
A study reported in the Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics suggests a compound found in sandalwood oil may help fight skin cancer. That compound is called α-santalol. Some studies have shown that this component can help promote cell death of cancerous cells.
Ant!biotic-resistant bacteria
Scientists in the Journal of Crano-Maxillofacial Surgery suggest that essential oils may provide some disease-fighting properties against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This is a staph infection that is resistant to certain antibiot!cs. However, if you have a MRSA infection, it’s important to seek medical attention right away in order to receive timely treatment.