Sandalwood Essential Oil: A Great Aroma With Science Proven Benefits

Sandalwood is both a classic scent and a classic medicine. Used as an aromatic for over 4000 years, and as a medicine in the Ayurvedic system for perhaps a millennium, the wood itself has been greatly valued by mankind. The essential oil, while only becoming popular in the last hundred years, is a truly classic scent, with important science-proven therapeutic medicinal applications. Whether it be for the body or mind, sandalwood oil can offer effective support. Here’s a look at the therapeutic applications of this treasured oil, and how you too might benefit from its medicinal magic.

The exotic oil comes from the heartwood of trees native to certain tropical regions of the world. Curiously, the sandalwood tree is only found growing on, or intertwined with, other trees; it’s considered, in fact, a parasite. Further, the trees are quite slow growing, and demand a certain amount of age before being mature enough to distill a significant volume of high-quality oil. This makes for a unique challenge in growing the wood and distilling the precious essential oil.

The very finest oil, certainly aromatically — and some people believe therapeutically as well — is distilled from the Santalum album species native to India. The essential oil has become so highly valued that over-harvesting of the trees has made a significant impact in deforestation in certain regions. So much so that the government of India made it a law that they now own all the sandalwood trees in the country! This, of course, is meant to prevent poaching of the trees, as clearly the offense is rather serious stealing the valuable resource from the government. Thankfully, there are plantations of this same species of tree underway, and other sources of very fine sandalwood oils that are now close in rivaling the quality of the Indian material.

What could it be about this essential oil that makes it so highly coveted? For starters, the wood has been pulverized and made into a paste used on the skin for centuries in India — both for ritual and medicinal activities. It turns out that, under laboratory research, the essential oil significantly reduces the development for skin cancer significantly when applied to skin before exposure to ultraviolet rays. Further, it also prevented cancers from developing from contact with carcinogenic chemicals — a very interesting therapeutic activity indeed.

Researchers at South Dakota State University, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, noted “alpha-santalol, a major component of sandalwood oil, is effective in preventing skin cancer in…UVB-induced skin cancer development.” Researchers at the University of Colorado, Denver, noted that the oil caused apoptosis (normal cell death) of cells that were on their way to becoming cancerous. Clearly the essential oil makes an important therapeutic contribution to skin care formulations for those spending a lot of time in the sun.

The original allure of the tree and its oil was its fantastic aroma. Clearly early on, people recognized there was something different about it: the oil is unique for its ability to both stimulate and calm at the same time. These effects have been the subject of research, finding that the oil managed to both heighten senses and bring about a aura of calm — a perfect combination of course for the meditative purposes for which the oil is frequently employed. Just a drop or two on the wrists or forehead is an excellent way to enjoy sandalwood’s mind-centering effects.

Interestingly, while the oil heightens awareness, it actually supports deeper, more restful sleep. Research on the inhalation of the aroma showed that study participants usually challenged to get a good rest spent much less time awake, and the total time spent in “rapid eye movement” sleep was also increased. The affect was attributed to the oil’s action in the bloodstream after inhalation, not on the sensing of the aroma. So a gentle massage with the oil may be just as effective as using a diffuser for improved sleep with the oil.

This is just a brief look at some wonderful therapeutic actions available using sandalwood. Its skin care properties go far beyond sun protection; these include care for dry skin, mature skin and acne-prone skin as well. The oil is very safe, and well-tolerated by nearly everyone. When you find yourself looking for a source of sandalwood, you’ll find several varieties available. Research has shown them to be fairly equivalent in many respects therapeutically — for skin care, the lower-cost Australian is an excellent choice. For aromatic uses, find one that you enjoy the most! And know that a little goes a long way — start with a small amount, and enjoy its subtle, uplifting nature.

Understanding The Benefits Of Massage Therapy

More and more individuals are increasingly learning about the many benefits that massage therapy can offer, just as they are gaining the knowledge of there different types of massage that are available. However, what some may not be aware of are the many other benefits that can be offered through massage by both means of mind and body.

Massage treatments offer much more than the natural assumptions that many people hold toward this practice. Most are aware, however, that massage can assist with alleviating back and overall body pain, eliminate stress and bring forth relaxation, promote circulation, help soothe muscle aches and tension, and can offer overall relief to those who work out regularly such as athletes.

The world of massage offers many benefits not just to the body, but also to that of the mind and the emotions that many of us tend to carry. For instance, it can truly help with those who are feeling overall stress, but it can even help with depression and anxiety factors that plague millions of people every day.

Throughout our daily lives, people build up toxins which brings on problems with muscle tension. In the end, muscle tension starts to take its toll on the body, or musculoskeletal system, which can also eventually take its toll on one’s mental well-being. Such symptoms that may be a result of this can be anything from fatigue, irritability, stress, to loss of motivation. Treatments of massages can often help to release these toxins, fighting against many of these problems.

Regular massage treatments and massage therapy can help benefit more long term suffers such as those with arthritis, asthmatic individuals, chronic back pain, those with high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, as well as those suffering from premenstrual issues. It can also benefit in more advanced ways such as with helping to increase the immunity by promoting stimulation to the body’s natural defense system.

Other beneficial signs that toronto massages may help to fight against scars or stretch marks by way of body circulation and cell regeneration. It can also help with swelling, post-surgery ailments, cramping, spasms and symptoms of migraine problems. Massages often trigger the body’s endorphins, which can often act like a natural pain reliever, bringing relief to many common issues.

The endorphins released into the body due to massage can also benefit in terms of promoting energy as well as reaction, but is often reported to help with that of overall concentration. Many people are finding that they have fewer problems with sleeping or fatigue, and are able to meet the daily needs of their lifestyles more effectively with proper and regular massage treatment visits.

Should one keep up on frequent massage therapy session, they are likely to notice better, long term results in the long run. However, it is important to keep in mind that you should always discuss ahead of time what’s troubling you or anything that the professional you’re dealing with should know about. This will help ensure better overall results in the long run, and possibly find a means to rid yourself of other ailments that massage may actually help fight against in the end.