Benefits of Sandalwood for Skin in Ayurveda

Today, every person wants beautiful, glowing skin. To get beautiful skin, we use various cosmetic products, due to which many types of side effects are seen on our skin. Instead of using artificial products, we can make our skin more beautiful and glowing by using natural herbs. These include Ashwagandha, sandalwood, basil, saffron, etc. Let’s dive into the blog and explore the amazing Ayurvedic sandalwood benefits for your skin and overall well-being.

We have been using sandalwood as an Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. According to Ayurveda, sandalwood has natural and medicinal properties. There are so many amazing benefits of sandalwood for skin that you will be surprised to know about. In today’s article, we are going to talk about the Ayurvedic sandalwood benefits for the skin, under which we will discuss its types, how to use it, directions to use it according to skin types, safety precautions, etc.  

An Overview of Sandalwood

Sandalwood is a medicinal plant whose botanical name is Santalum album. The sandalwood tree takes about 20 years to fully mature, and after about 40–60 years, it turns into a fragrant tree. Its height is 6–9 meters.

The bark of the sandalwood tree is a mixture of brown and red. Sandalwood leaves are oval and soft. Its flowers are brownish-purple in color and do not smell. Sandalwood fruits are round and fleshy. Their seeds are oval and hard. People sell the soft wood of its stem and the root in different forms on the market.

We use sandalwood to make decorative items. We can also prepare incense sticks from sandalwood. It gets rid of all kinds of skin-related diseases. We also use sandalwood in Indian religious rituals.  Its aroma changes the atmosphere of the house and makes it fragrant.

Types of Sandalwood

There are many types of sandalwood found on earth, which we use for different purposes. Santalum is the main genus of sandalwood species, which belongs to the same family as mistletoe.

The following are the types of sandalwood:

1. True, white, or Indian sandalwood

We usually call the Santalum album ‘Chandan’. We use it to cure vaginal infections, bladder infections, and bronchitis. This type of sandalwood is most popular in India. It fights acne-causing bacteria to make the skin clear and glowing. 

2. Australian sandalwood

Australian sandalwood is a great and popular ingredient in a variety of aromatherapy products. It is an important part of Australia’s economy and that of its aborigines. Experts use white sandalwood to make medicines. The amount of control in it is very low, due to which the oil extracted from it has a greater effect on its therapeutic value.

3. Hawaiian sandalwood

Hawaii Sandalwood is known as ‘Illahi’ in the local language. Hawaiian culture has a rich history of using sandalwood in ceremonial functions as well as perfumes. 

4. Fiji sandalwood

Fijian people have a long and flourishing connection with Sandalwood. They call it ‘Yasi’ or ‘Yasi Din’. The locals used to perform religious ceremonies with it. Also, they used to make perfumes & cosmetics with it. 

5. Red sandalwood

Red sandalwood is heavily found in the southern part of India in dense forests. The Indians have always used sandalwood in treating health issues as well as in religious ceremonies. 

Ayurvedic sandalwood benefits for Skin

The importance of sandalwood in Ayurveda is very high, which helps in curing many types of diseases related to the skin. There are many medicinal properties present in it that are capable of diagnosing problems related to the skin.

The following are the Ayurvedic sandalwood benefits for skin:

1. It helps to get rid of Sunburn

Sandalwood has a pita-reducing quality. It cools the skin in cases of sunburn. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help us get rid of acne.

2. It whitens the skin

According to traditional Indian medicine, sandalwood lightens the complexion of the skin and reduces excess heat in the body.

3. It prevents skin damage

Many times our skin gets damaged due to strong sunlight, due to which the color of the skin starts turning black. The medicinal properties present in sandalwood protect the skin from damage. Make a paste by mixing turmeric and milk with sandalwood powder. Apply this paste to the face, and after drying it, wash it with cold water.

4. It Gets Rid Of Pimples And Blemishes

Pimples are born on the skin for many reasons. Many times, even after the pimples go away, the spots remain on the face, which spoils the look of the face. The medicinal properties present in sandalwood are the same as those in Mulethi Powder, which removes spots on the skin.

5. It reduces skin tanning

Due to strong sunlight, there is a problem of tanning on the skin, for which sandalwood paste is very beneficial. Sandalwood has anti-tanning properties that prevent the skin from getting tanned. Prepare a mixture of sandalwood powder, honey, lemon juice, and curd, and wash it after keeping it on the face for 15 minutes. There are a lot of benefits to applying for it.

6. It keeps the skin hydrated

The skin becomes dry due to dehydration. The oil found in sandalwood protects our skin from drying. If you are also troubled by the dryness of the skin, then mix two spoons of rose water with sandalwood powder and prepare a paste. Apply this paste to your face. By doing this regularly, the dryness of the skin ends.

7. It makes the skin young

With increasing age, wrinkles start appearing on the skin, due to which the skin starts looking dull and lifeless. Using a sandalwood face pack on the skin removes wrinkles and makes your skin look younger.

8. It removes skin infections

Sandalwood has anti-inflammatory properties. Along with reducing inflammation, it also removes skin infections, just as aloe vera does. If you are facing the problem of infection, make a paste by mixing two spoons of curd with one spoon of coriander powder and one spoon of sandalwood powder. Apply it to the face and wash it with cold water after 15 minutes. By doing this, one gets rid of skin infections.

9. It reduces the signs of aging

In summer, when our skin is exposed to sunlight, the signs of aging start appearing. People who have to come and go outside due to work, these symptoms are seen early in those people. Due to the presence of anti-aging properties in sandalwood, its use hides the problems caused by old age.

Signs of anti-aging include wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. Sandalwood paste is very beneficial in getting rid of them. To reduce the symptoms of anti-aging, keep a mixture of sandalwood and rose water on the face for 20 minutes. Then wash it with fresh water.

10. It provides coolness to the skin

Chandan is an Ayurvedic paste that provides coolness to the skin. Its effect is very cold. That’s why the skin feels cool when using it. It helps reduce the redness of the skin. Applying sandalwood paste in the summer gives great relief. It also protects us from the negative effects of heat and sunlight.

11. It cures skin diseases

As we know, Neem cures skin disease, but there are very few people who know that due to the medicinal properties present in sandalwood, by using it, a person suffering from a serious problem like skin disease can also get rid of it. For this, make sandalwood paste and apply it to the affected area. By applying sandalwood paste regularly, you can overcome the problem of skin diseases.

12. It gives relief from the bad smell of sweat

Due to sweating, a bad odor comes from the skin. Many people use many artificial products, especially perfumes, to get diagnosed with this problem, but this is not a permanent solution. You can get relief from the smell of sweat by using sandalwood. By making sandalwood paste and applying it to the body, the body gets cool and sweat doesn’t smell bad.

13. It also removes chicken pox

In the initial stage of chicken pox, small blisters start coming out on the face, and sandalwood paste is very beneficial. To get rid of it, making a paste of white sandalwood and applying it to the body gives a lot of relief. If you want, you can also drink sandalwood paste mixed with Hilmochika juice.

14. It cures leprosy

Leprosy is a disease caused by untouchability, and getting rid of white sandalwood is very beneficial. To cure leprosy, take sandalwood and camphor in equal quantities. Grind them together. Now apply the prepared mixture to your body. With this, you can get rid of leprosy.

How to Use Sandalwood for Glowing Skin

We can use sandalwood in many ways for the purpose of taking care of the skin.

The following are the main ways of using it:

1. Powder 

White sandalwood powder combats excess body heat. That’s why sandalwood is easily available in powder form. Red sandalwood powder is found to have anti-inflammatory properties. We use it to remove acne and spots on the skin. 

2. Oil

Sandalwood oil is easily available and quite popular. It helps keep the mind calm. It improves the quality of our sleep. If there is a problem with insomnia, using it also helps to get rid of this problem. It is used in aromatherapy, which calms the mind and reduces stress. You can use its oil as a preservative in food. You can also use it to enhance the taste of food.

3. Soap

We can make soap and lotion using sandalwood. It has the ability to reduce sunburn. Soap made from red sandalwood is very beneficial.

4. Hydrosol or floral water

We use sandalwood to scent the linens and small rooms. This is a great way to keep the house fresh.

Directions for Use of Sandalwood According to the Types of Skin:

Human skin is delicate and of different types. That’s why we use sandalwood in different ways for oily and dry skin.

Follow the directions given below to use sandalwood according to your skin type. 

1. Oily skin:

The method of using sandalwood on oily skin is different. First of all, prepare a paste by mixing 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder with 1 tablespoon of rose water in a jar. After this, apply it to your clean face. Leave the face to dry for 10–15 minutes. After that, clean it with lukewarm water. You can store the remaining paste in a jar.

2. Dry skin:

Sandalwood should be applied with some caution to dry skin. For this, make a paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of milk or curd with 2 tablespoons of sandalwood powder in a jar. Now apply it to your face and leave it to dry for 10–15 minutes. Finally, clean it with lukewarm water. You can store the remaining paste in a jar.

Safety Precautions for Sandalwood:

Sandalwood is safe for people of all skin types, including children and adults, as well as older people, but using it for a long time can harm you. Consuming sandalwood in the proper quantity regularly does not cause any harm to your body, but consuming it in certain conditions can cause side effects. While using it, it is necessary to know about its safety precautions, which are as follows:

• Pregnant women should not use sandalwood oil, as it can have adverse effects on the fetus.
• People who are kidney patients should avoid consuming sandalwood oil. Consuming this increases the chances of kidney damage.
• Do not use sandalwood if you are feeling itchy or allergic to the skin after using sandalwood. If you are allergic, use it only after consulting a doctor.

Conclusion:

We have been using sandalwood as an Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. According to Ayurveda, not only Multani Mitti but also sandalwood have natural and medicinal properties. We also use sandalwood in Indian religious rituals. Its aroma changes the atmosphere of the house and makes it fragrant. It is an Ayurvedic herb from which many types of medicines are made. Experts make powder, cream, and lotion from sandalwood, the use of which is beneficial for the skin.

If you like this information, then share it with your friends and relatives so that they too can get acquainted with the benefits of sandalwood for skin. Read our other blogs for similar beneficial information.