by Janette Peel

Created on: December 22, 2008

The warm, soothing aroma of sandalwood can help you to relax your mind and open your heart to love.

You can use the healing aroma of the sandalwood tree to promote feelings of peace and serenity and also to ease various ailments of the digestive system.
As it is more expensive than many oils, you are more likely to come across it as joss sticks, incense or in scented candles than as oil, but burning any of these can be just as therapeutic as using a vaporizer to infuse a room's atmosphere with its healing aroma.

Sandalwood encourages your stomach muscles to produce gastric juices, easing nausea, colic and gastritis. It also stimulates the production or urine and causes muscles to contract, helping to flush excess liquids from the body. Its antiseptic properties help to fight infections.

It also improves dry and cracked skin by drawing natural oils through the soft tissues to the skin's surface, making it a valuable ingredient in many toiletries.

Sandalwood is a natural antiseptic and preservative, making it useful in soap, beauty creams and other toiletries. It also contains several beneficial compounds.

Santalols: Small molecules called santalols give sandalwood its distinctive aroma. They kill bacteria and also help you to sleep, as they are natural sedatives.

Tannins: These compounds can help to stop bleeding, prevent infections, tighten loose tissues and protect and heal damaged skin.

Light your joss stick, lie back and feel your mind, body and spirit unwind as the powerful aroma calms your spirit and conjures up visions of warmer climes.

Breathing in the aromatic smoke from your joss stick can help to lift melancholy and promote restful sleep. It subdues aggression and irritably, promotes compassion and openness, enhances meditation and clears thought processes.

Sandalwood is particularly good for stress relief, especially when combined with lavender or bergamot.

Other Eastern, woody fragrances such as cedar and frankincense add to the feelings of peace and calm that sandalwood can promote.

Sandalwood is also an aphrodisiac, and can stimulate a sensual mood.

The magical scent of sandalwood stimulated the base (seventh) Chakra, improving self-identity and trust. In the
Ayurvedic healing tradition, it promotes energy and enthusiasm, increasing your self-esteem and joie de vivre.

Burn sandalwood during a full moon to increase spiritual vibrations inside your home.

Burning sandalwood near your door welcomes your guests and attunes them to your home's
positivity, encouraging

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