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Aromatherapy for the Body, Mind, and Spirit - Sandalwood Essential Oil
   
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Alternative Medicine & Herbal Preparations
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Alternative medicine is gaining more attention every day. The idea that one can heal their body, prevent physical symptoms and even treat them - naturally - is very .....
For over 4000 years, the Sandalwood tree has played a
significant part in Eastern culture as a material for art and
artifacts, a medicine, and a divine aroma. Sandalwood products
are obtained from the sandalwood tree (Santalum album),
which is a member of the Santalaceae family native to southern
tropical Asia. It is an evergreen growing to a height of 9
meters, with leathery leaves, long slender brangches, and small
purple flowers. The tree also happens to be parasitic, relying
on the nutrien-gathering ability of one of several other tree
species for its sustenance. Due to its seemingly strict set of
environmental conditions and its parasitic nature, the extremely
versatile Sandalwood tree is quite difficult to propagate.
One of the more highly-prized products of Sandalwood is the
essential oil it yields. Most commonly through steam
distillation, a rich, deep, sweet, woody oil is produced that is
values the world over. It is, in fact, one of the worlds most
widely used aromatics for its scent in perfumery, for its
therapeutic effects in Chinese, Ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine
systems, and for its ability to center the mind in meditative
yogic traditions. The source for this wonderful oil is becoming
scarce, however. It is the heartwood, the very center, of the
roots of the tree that produce oil of the highest quality
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and demand - a sandalwood tree will not survive harvest.Your Diet Won't Lower Cholesterol As Much As You Think! By Phil
Beckett Copyright Physique Concepts Inc.
Your diet doesn't impact .....
Pressure on the world's population of Santalum album is
growing; The tree takes nearly 30 years to mature before
yielding oil of significant value, and because of its stringent
environmental demands, successful cultivation is extremly
difficult.
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Who doesnt want to look beautiful? Everybody wants to look pretty and fresh. Taking care of your skin is one way to achieve what you hope for. Whether we like it or not, beauty .....
Oil of the album species has a unique aroma with
excellent tenacity and superior fixative properties. There are
other varieties available, but the oil from this increasingly
rare tree is considered the most important therapeutically. The
Mysore region of eastern India is thought to produce the highest
quality of this essential oil, though its harvest is known to
be creating a strain on the areas environment. Local forestry
officials have been killed over the illegal poaching of
Sandalwood, and 'black-market' trading continues.
There is hope, however, for meeting the world's demands -
Recently, an oil of the austrocaledonia species has been
produced on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu from
successfully cultivated trees. This oil has a warm aroma, with a
woody, smoky scent that has been said to remind one of 'being at
the beach' a useful base note in perfume and cosmetic blends.
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The only thing a woman can say for certain about her vagina is
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In the West, Sandalwood is perhaps best known in the west as a
natural, woody, sweet body perfume used as is, or as a
familiar aroma in manufactured personal items. In the East,
however, Sandalwoods importance in cultural and spiritual
traditions cannot be overstated. The wood is carved into
furniture, religious icons, used to build temples and burned as
incense in a great variety of ceremonies. The oil is used to
anoint the dead, helping their transition to the next life. In
Burma, women sprinkle it on passersby on the last day of the
year for the release of sins. In Hindu marriages, Sandalwood is
burned in a tent such that the smoke surrounds the bridal couple.
In the traditional Indian medicine system of Ayurveda,
Sandalwood is valued for its ability to cool the fire of pitta.
It is indicated for inflammatory conditions, such as inflamed
skin, or intestinal and genitor-urinary conditions that require
cooling. Modern aromatherapy considers the oil an effective skin
care agent for dry skin, general irritation, and acne; it can
help in cases of bronchitis, catarrh, dry persistent coughs,
laryngitis and sore throat; it may relieve diarrhea and nausea,
and can be supportive in cases of cystitis.
Beyond the physical body, Sandalwood essential oil well known as
a tonic for the hyper-active mind. In practical terms, the oil
is considered an anti-depressant, relieving hot, agitated
emotional states, and assisting release from over-thinking and
worry. More esoterically, the aroma is considered divinely
sweet and softly balsamic, characteristics which evoke the
grounding nature of the Earth element. It is used by yogis in
the East and West to bring stillness in meditation - a serene
mental state unifying conciousness of the body, mind and spirit.
From this quiet, unified state, one may be able to gain greater
perspective and understanding on what is known as the 'Univeral
Self'.
Adding to the oils' grace, it happens to be one of the few
aromatics that improves with age. Like a fine wine, one may
purchace a favorite vintage, put it on the shelf, and be assured
it will only be richer when finally taken down. Because of it's
growing scarcity, responsible use is suggested - but using a
little is highly recommended.
About the author:
Misty is a Naturopath in Boulder, Colorado. She is the owner of
Ananda Apothecary, with the Ananda Aromatherapy line of pure essential oils and
blends, and employs Sandalwood oil in her
practice.