Sandalwood and frankincense are both steeped in the history of the ancient world. There is a long history of sandalwood in the cultures of India and Egypt. The wood of this precious tree was carved into furniture, used in temples as religious icons, and burned as incense in both Buddhist and Hindu temples. As a funeral herb, it was used to anoint and embalm the dead and to carry the soul into the next life. Furthermore, the use of this oil followed the spread of Buddhism. In fact, the use of powdered sandalwood as an incense shows how it has always been considered the aromatic foundation of Buddhist practice.
Today sandalwood has become a precious oil. Closely controlled by the government of east India, the oil is manufactured from the coarsely ground heartwood. Native to Southern Asia, most of the world’s Santalum album is grown in the Mysore region of India. The Indian standard for Mysore sandalwood is an oil that contains a minimum of 90 percent santalols.
We are not able to obtain the oils from the tree until it is 30 years old and as a result over time, demand has out stripped the production of this sweet, woody, balsamic oil. The price has risen dramatically and has also stimulated the production of artificial oils so well, that only a seasoned aromatherapist or correct testing would reveal its true chemistry.
Frankincense, the oil of tranquil contemplation and spiritual liberation, is known as one of the most precious gifts from the three wise men to Jesus Christ. Today it remains as one of the four main ingredients that make up Jewish ceremonial incense and for centuries formed an integral part of the Sabbath day offering. Frankincense, Boswellia carterii, was originally found only in the harshest climate in the world, the Arabian Desert. Accessed only by desert caravans, it was a most precious gift, considered at that time to be as precious as gold. Now it is grown in the surrounding areas of Somalia, Ethiopia, Southern Arabia and China. To access the oils, incisions are made into the trunk in order to allow a milky-white oleoresin to be collected. The resin then hardens into an orange-brown gum, which is then steam distilled for its essential oils. There are many grades of resin including age, appearance, moisture level and olfactory characteristics that determine the quality of the oil. Grade 1 essential oil is distilled from the tears and is most carefully selected from the resin that is white or yellow in color. Other resins may be reddish in color mixed with particles of bark and other foreign substances, and are sold as a cheaper essential oil.

Frankincense and sandalwood have the ability to calm and center the mind as they are gently tranquillizing and have a deeply clarifying effect on the intellect. On a day-to-day level, these oils are suggested for states of mental agitation and worry or whenever the mind is distracted and overwhelmed.
The yogis describe sandalwood oil as the fragrance of the subtle body, the center of the highest insight and enlightenment. Sandalwood exerts a considerable regulating effect and is generally known to harmonize thinking, feeling and sensing. It brings a sense of calming, centering and grounding, leaving us living fully in the present moment. Consider this oil for depression, nervous tension, restlessness, anxiety, guilt, and a feeling of insecurity.
As a mild tonic, frankincense can help uplift the mind and is also an important anti-depressive essential oil. Similar to sandalwood oil, it is an ideal aid to meditation, contemplation and prayer, ceasing mental chatter and stilling the mind. Gabriel Mojay says this of frankincense: “Facilitating a single pointed concentration, it allows the spirit to soar.”
Frankincense is also particularly useful for anxious and obsessional states linked to the past. In the same way that frankincense heals the physical wounds of the body, it also heals emotional wounds, such as grief.

Skin
It is a common theory that if we look at how or why a plant produces essential oils we can translate that into its potential properties for therapeutic use. Take frankincense for example, when the bark of the tree is slashed it is wounded. As a result, the tree uses its naturally produced resin to close the wound, immediately healing itself and consequentially making frankincense one of the best essential oils to renew damaged human cells and skin tissues. Its cytophylactic properties also make it the perfect oil for mature, wrinkled skin in need of a lift. In fact using it for scar and wound healing and as a mild astringent can help to balance sebaceous flow.
Sandalwood is also a great healer of the skin. In Ayurvedic medicine, sandalwood was valued for its anti-inflammatory, antifebrile and anti-infectious properties and was frequently applied as a paste for inflamed skin. It is an excellent oil for aestheticians to use in skin care. The strength of the essential oil is as an emollient in the treatment of dryness and dehydration, itching, irritation and inflammation and is helpful for eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.

Body
Like many other oils extracted from resins, frankincense is effective for respiratory catarrhal discharge and respiratory congestion. Used in inhalations, it may be helpful for people who suffer from asthma as it eases the shortness of breath and increases the amplitude of the breath. Additionally, frankincense has an important action in the nervous system as it slows the breathing and creates the ability to relax and yet revitalize, making it excellent for treating both nervous tension and nervous exhaustion. It also smooths the flow of stagnant Qi energy whenever there is an accumulation of stress leading to irritability, restlessness and insomnia.
Effective in lung infection and disorders, sandalwood is particularly effective when a soothing, demulcent effect is required as in cases of bronchitis involving a harsh and painful cough. In this situation, sandalwood may be combined with oils of eucalyptus and geranium and, in very low dilutions, it may also be employed as a gargle for sore throats.
The astringent properties of frankincense may assist in relieving uterine hemorrhages as well as heavy periods and generally acts as a tonic to the uterus. Similarly the primary action of sandalwood is centered on the genito-urinary system. It is outstanding for intestinal and genito-urinary conditions that require a cooling, astringent effect as in cases of diarrhea, colitis, and vaginal discharge of a yellowish color. It can also be combined with lavender, tea tree and geranium oil as part of an ointment for hot, burning cystitis.

Enjoy the calming nature of these two spectacular oils by using them in your daily life and also give this gift to your clients when they are in need of help in their lives.

Trish Green is a homeopath, certified clinical and medically trained aromatherapist. She recently completed her education in aromatherapy for use in Oncology practice. She is the director of sales and marketing for Eve Taylor North America.