Major Uses of Sandal Wood

Medicinal Uses:

The wood is bitter, dry, antipyretic, aphrodisiac useful in diseases of the heart, burning sensation, cold, bronchitis, vaginal discharges and small pox.

The wood is tonic to the heart and the brain. 

Paste is useful in inflammation and head ache. 

It has antiseptic properties and can be applied to skin. Local people commonly apply the wood ground up with water in to a paste to local inflammations to the temples in fevers and to skin diseases to allay heat. 

In Madagascar, the wood is mixed with salt and applied to wounds. The heart wood and root contains scented sandal wood oil, which are highly valued in medicine, cosmetics, perfumery and industries. 

Wood is used for fine carvings also.

Sandal finds many religious uses also.



Sandal wood oil is the base of high quality perfumes. 

In medicine it is used as antiseptic and antipyretic. 

The sandal wood is known as a remedy for fever, indigestion and palpitations. 

The paste of heartwood is applied on inflammations, skin diseases etc. 

It is considered sacred by Hindus. 

The heartwood is coolant, and is reported to be bitter, diuretic, disinfectant, anti septic cardiac, sedative and tonic. 

It is a curative medicine for bronchitis, biliousness, fever, thirst cystitis, dysentery, gonorrhea, ulcers and genitor-urinary tract problems. 

The paste of heartwood is a medicament for skin problems and in the preparation of Ashokaristam, Chandanadi choornam, Chandanasavam, Anutailam and Dhanvantaram kashayam etc. 

There are different types of chandana, referred to in Sanskrit literatures. Many adulterants and some synthetic products used in the market have cut down the quality of sandalwood products and medicines.

Other Uses:
The wood is largely used for making small domestic items; it retains its pleasant perfume for a long time. The wood powder is used for making Agarbathis and as incense powder. The oil is largely used as perfume in in toilet fresheners’ preparations and in insecticides also.