Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) has a long history of traditional use in aromatherapy and herbal medicine, particularly for its calming and grounding effects. Indigenous Australians have used sandalwood for ceremonial and medicinal purposes, including as a soothing agent. In Western herbalism and aromatherapy, sandalwood oil (often more commonly Santalum album, but Santalum spicatum is similarly used) is employed for its reputed ability to reduce nervous tension, anxiety, and restlessness, often through inhalation or topical application in massage oils.

However, scientific validation specifically for Australian Sandalwood’s effects on nervousness is limited. Most studies investigating anxiolytic or sedative effects focus on Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album). These suggest that inhaling sandalwood oil may modulate the autonomic nervous system and reduce markers of anxiety in small clinical studies, but extrapolation to Australian Sandalwood is indirect. The main active constituents (such as alpha-santalol) are present in both species, providing some rationale for similar effects, but robust clinical studies on Australian Sandalwood itself are lacking.

In summary, the use of Australian Sandalwood to address nervousness is primarily based on tradition and historical usage in both Indigenous and Western contexts, with only limited and indirect scientific support. The overall quality of evidence is low (rated 2/5), relying more on anecdotal and traditional practices than on rigorous clinical research.

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