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MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF SANDALWOOD
C. Swaminathan and R. Richard kennedy
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Agricultural College & Research Institute
Madurai - 625104, Tamil Nadu
Sandalwood is the fragrant heartwood species of Genus Santalum album. The word
sandal has been derived from Chandana (Sanskrit) and Chandan (Persian). Historical review
reveals that sandalwood has been referred in Indian mythology, folklore and ancient
scriptures. It belongs to the family Santalaceae. It is indigenous to peninsular India. It is
predominantly spread in southern peninsula with a small area in Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan.
Botany
It is a semi root parasite, attaining a height of 12-13 m and a girth of 1-205 m with
slender dropping and erect branches. Leaves opposite; flowers purplish and flowers at 2-3
years of age. Fruit is a drupe. It flowers twice during March-May and September- December
and each kg of seed contains about 6000 seeds.
Growing conditions
It grows up to 1800 m altitude with a moderate rainfall of 600-1600 mm. It grows in
shade during early stages of its growth and later its a light demander. It can grow on sandy
soil, clayey red soil, lateritic, loamy and also in black cotton soils.
Propagation
Seeds possess a germinability of 60 per cent and retain their viability for only 60-90
days. Seeds are sown on sand medium and watered regularly. Germination commences in 4-
12 weeks time, the germinants are pricked into red gram grown poly pots of 20 X 10 cm
filled with nursery mixture containing sand, soil and farm yard manure at 3:1:1 ratio and
maintained. The red gram acts as host for sandal seedlings. Vegetative propagation can be
done through air layering or through planting of suckers.
Regeneration of sandal can be done by three ways.
a) Seed dibbling in natural bushes b) Direct sowing seeds in pits c) Planting of seedlings in
regular pits of 30 cm3.
For establishing a plantation, the seedlings of sandal are planted in pits spaced at 3 X 3 m and
the host plant for sandal is planted in between sandal rows. Without a host plant sandal will
not survive. The best host plants are Albizia saman, Casuarina, Perennial red gram, Pungam,
Melia dubia, Cassia siamea, Babul, Albizias, Neem
Maintenance
1) Protection from grazing during the initial years of establishment is required.
2) Soil working during rainy season will help in moisture conservation and will improve the
infiltration of rain water.
3) Removal of side branches periodically on the lower half of the main stem.
4) Dead and dry sandal trees including roots are removed from forests and used for oil
extraction.
5) Since tree tops, branches have no oil they are removed.
Yield
The tree is able to yield 10 kg of wood in 25-30 years. The yield will be doubled if
maintained for 40-45 years.
Medicinal values
In Ayurveda the sandal oil is treated as a cooling, exhilarating, antipyretic, expectorant and
stimulant. It is also used as an astringent to the bowels and as an aphrodisiac.
In Unanai medicine sandal wood dissipates the effect of hot sun and fever and satiates thirst
and leaves give cool and refreshing feeling. The wood is ground into paste and applied on
local inflammations, on boils, skin diseases and also on fore head during fever. The decoction
made of sandal wood is prescribed for genitor-urinary defects. For migraines the sandal paste
is applied on the nostrils for relief.
In Siddha medicine three types of sandal are recognized and they are red, yellow and white.
The wood and oil have bitter and astringent taste. It has alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic,
disinfectant, stimulant, and cooling properties. The wood paste with lime juice is used to cure
itching, scabies, eczema, inflammations and other skin diseases. The sandal paste mixed with
milk is a remedy for leucorrhea and thirst.
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