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Chandana चन्दन
Santalum album · Santalaceae
Also known as: Sandalwood, Safed Chandan, White Sandalwood, Chandan Saphed, Chandan Safed, Chandan
Part used: Heartwood
Chandana (Santalum album) is white sandalwood, whose fragrant heartwood is Ayurveda's principal cooling drug. It is used for burning sensations, fever, thirst, acne and urinary irritation, applied as a paste and taken internally. The tree is protected in India, so genuine heartwood is scarce and adulteration is common.
| Rasa (taste) | Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent) |
|---|---|
| Guna (qualities) | Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
| Virya (potency) | Ushna (Hot) |
| Vipaka | Katu (Pungent) |
| Dosha | Balances Kapha & Vata |
| Prabhava | Classical systemic action |
Key takeaways
- Botanical name: Santalum album
- Part used: Heartwood
- Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata
- Typical dose: Heartwood powder 1–3 g or as cooling paste externally; sandalwood water and syrups also used.
Chandana in other languages
Introduction
Chandana (white sandalwood, Santalum album) is Ayurveda's supreme cooling herb — its fragrant heartwood calms heat, soothes the skin and mind, and cools the urinary and circulatory systems. It is prized in both medicine and worship.
Classification
Of the Santalaceae family, Chandana is grouped among the cooling (Sheeta), Dahaghna (burning-relieving) and Varnya dravyas. Its bitter-sweet taste and strongly cooling potency pacify Pitta and calm heat throughout the body.
Uses & benefits
White sandalwood is a cooling drug used wherever Pitta has produced heat — burning of the skin, thirst, fever and burning urination. It is applied externally as a paste for complexion and prickly heat, and taken internally in cooling asavas such as Chandanasava and Ushirasava.
Chandana for burning sensation
The classical Dahaprashamana drug. Used wherever heat and burning dominate — skin, stomach, urinary passage or the body generally.
Chandana for acne
The paste applied to the face is the traditional remedy for inflamed acne, working by cooling rather than drying.
Chandana for fever
Used in Pitta fevers with heat and restlessness, taken as an infusion or applied to the forehead.
Chandana for burning urination
A standard Mutrala drug in cystitis and burning micturition, usually with Ushira and Gokshura.
Chandana for thirst
Named among the Trishnanigrahana drugs for excessive thirst, particularly in fever.
Chandana for skin pigmentation
Applied as a paste with rose water for uneven tone and blemishes — the most widespread domestic use in India.
Chandana for Raktapitta
Cooling and blood-settling, used in bleeding disorders of Pitta origin.
Chandana for palpitation
Described as Hridya, used where a fast heart accompanies heat and anxiety.
Chandana for headache
The paste applied to the forehead is a household remedy for heat headache and sunstroke.
Chandana in classical formulations
Present in Chandanasava and most of the cooling compounds, where it supplies both the action and the fragrance.
Dosage — how much to take
Heartwood powder 1–3 g or as cooling paste externally; sandalwood water and syrups also used. Follow your Vaidya's advice.
Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm with a qualified Vaidya.
Traditional uses — questions answered from the classical texts
Answers are drawn from the citations and properties recorded for this drug. No chapter-and-verse reference appears that the record does not carry.
Which classical texts describe Chandana?
The citations held for Chandana in this catalogue are: Sushruta Samhita (Daha & Pitta context); Bhavaprakasha Nighantu (Karpuradi Varga).
What does the Sushruta Samhita record about Chandana?
Cited for burning sensations and heat. Reference: Sushruta Samhita — Daha & Pitta context.
What does the Bhavaprakasha Nighantu record about Chandana?
Described as cooling and Varnya. Reference: Bhavaprakasha Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga.
What is Chandana traditionally used for in Ayurveda?
White sandalwood is a cooling drug used wherever Pitta has produced heat — burning of the skin, thirst, fever and burning urination. It is applied externally as a paste for complexion and prickly heat, and taken internally in cooling asavas such as Chandanasava and Ushirasava.
What are the Ayurvedic properties of Chandana?
Rasa Tikta (Bitter), Kashaya (Astringent), Guna Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry), Virya Ushna (Hot), Vipaka Katu (Pungent). Dosha action: Balances Kapha & Vata. Prabhava: Classical systemic action.
Why is Chandana classified the way it is?
In dravya-guna a drug's dosha action follows from its taste, qualities, potency and post-digestive effect. Chandana carries Ushna (Hot) virya and Katu (Pungent) vipaka, which together give the recorded action: Balances Kapha & Vata.
Which part of Chandana is used medicinally?
The part used is Heartwood.
How much Chandana is taken, and how?
Heartwood powder 1–3 g or as cooling paste externally; sandalwood water and syrups also used. Follow your Vaidya's advice. Dosage varies with age, constitution and condition — confirm it with a qualified Vaidya.
When should Chandana be avoided?
Generally safe; use pure sandalwood. Large internal doses used cautiously. Follow your Vaidya's advice.
Where does Chandana grow?
Sandalwood is a small hemi-parasitic evergreen tree native to southern India, especially Karnataka, growing in dry deciduous forests.
Classical references
- Bhavaprakash Nighantu — Karpuradi Varga
Described as cooling and Varnya. - Charaka & Sushruta Samhita — Daha & Pitta context
Cited for burning sensations and heat.
Modern research
-
Sandalwood Album Oil as a Botanical Therapeutic in Dermatology
(see source). Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (2017)
A review of East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album, Chandana) oil in dermatology, describing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial actions relevant to acne, eczema and psoriasis.
View study
Safety & precautions
Generally safe; use pure sandalwood. Large internal doses used cautiously. Follow your Vaidya's advice.
Where it grows
Sandalwood is a small hemi-parasitic evergreen tree native to southern India, especially Karnataka, growing in dry deciduous forests.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chandana used for?
Sandalwood is Ayurveda's main cooling drug, used for burning sensations, Pitta fever, thirst, acne, skin pigmentation and burning urination. It is applied externally as a paste and taken internally as an infusion or in compounds.
How do I apply sandalwood paste to my face?
Grind the heartwood with a little water or rose water into a smooth paste, apply a thin layer to the affected area, leave 15–20 minutes and rinse with cool water. Daily use is fine for inflamed acne.
Why is real sandalwood so expensive?
Santalum album is protected in India, takes decades to develop heartwood, and has been heavily over-harvested. Genuine oil and heartwood are correspondingly costly, and cheap "sandalwood" products are usually Australian sandalwood, red sandalwood or a synthetic fragrance.
Is red sandalwood the same as white sandalwood?
No. White sandalwood is Santalum album, fragrant and used for its cooling action. Red sandalwood is Pterocarpus santalinus, not fragrant, used mainly for colour and in cooling preparations. They are different trees with different uses.
What is the dose of Chandana?
Heartwood powder 1–3 g per day, or a cold infusion 40–80 ml. Externally as a paste, without a dose limit. Sandalwood oil is not taken internally except within licensed preparations.
Are there side effects of sandalwood?
Very well tolerated externally; occasional contact sensitivity occurs, so patch test. Internally it is cooling and drying, so it suits hot conditions rather than cold ones. Avoid internal use of the essential oil, which can irritate the kidneys.
Can sandalwood be used daily on skin?
Yes, the paste is traditionally used daily and is gentle. If your skin is already dry, follow it with a light oil, since sandalwood is cooling and mildly drying.
