Sandalwood

White sandalwood (E):

Sandalwood is famed for its cooling fragrance and aroma. It is used for cooling pitta and clearing heat from the urinary, digestive and respiratory systems.

Chest When there is stagnation and tightness in the thoracic region sandalwood can clear pain and encourage the flow of prana and vyana vayu. It clears the airways obstructed with phlegm as it dries high kapha and regulates nervous spasmodic cough in high vata. Its antibacterial properties clear infection. Sandalwood is used with any aggravation in the heart with anxiety, inflammation or congestion affecting heart rhythm. Digestion It cools inflammation of the intestines and regulates samana vayu by encouraging a smooth digestive process. It treats colitis, enteritis, ulcers and dysentery with signs of pitta and kapha; bleeding, heat, mucus and inflammation. Its bitter and aromatic nature help the flow of ran˜ jaka pitta through the liver. Nerves The aromatic nature of sandalwood is immediately calming to an aggravated nervous system; it balances vyana vayu and cools sadhaka pitta, making it useful for treating depression and mental imbalance. It cools any excessive 'heat' in the nervous system from excessive exposure to the sun, fire, emotions, etc. Useful in headaches from high pitta with pain behind the eyes radiating along the temples, sensitivity to light, aggravated by irritation and heat (coffee, acidic foods, sour, salty, pungent flavours). Skin Useful in skin formulas, externally and internally. It relieves the inflammation and itching of pitta and kapha on the skin. Used for any burning sensation, redness, swelling; eczema, acne, urticaria (Caraka). It specifically helps to stop bleeding anywhere in the body and alleviates sensations of burning and heat. Urine Sandalwood is excreted via the mutravahasrotas and can be used for burning and dark urine as it soothes an irritated bladder and urethra.