Evidence supporting the use of: Sandalwood
For the health condition: Cold Sores

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Synopsis

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

Sandalwood (typically referring to the heartwood of Santalum album and related species) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly Ayurveda, Unani, and traditional Chinese medicine. In these systems, sandalwood is valued for its cooling, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Its use for skin conditions, including cold sores (herpes simplex labialis), can be traced to these traditional practices, where sandalwood paste or oil would be applied topically to various skin eruptions, wounds, and ulcers to soothe inflammation and promote healing.

However, scientific evidence for sandalwood's effectiveness against cold sores is limited. There are some in vitro studies suggesting that sandalwood oil may possess antiviral activity, including effects against herpes simplex virus (HSV), the causative agent of cold sores. These studies indicate that certain components of sandalwood oil might inhibit HSV replication in cell cultures. Despite these findings, clinical studies in humans are lacking, and the traditional use remains the primary justification for its application in this context.

In summary, while traditional systems support the topical use of sandalwood for cold sores, robust clinical evidence is absent. The current support is therefore grounded in traditional practice, with some preliminary but insufficient scientific backing.

More about Sandalwood
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