Evidence supporting the use of: Sandalwood
For the health condition: Infection (viral)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Sandalwood (primarily from Santalum album) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Historically, sandalwood has been applied in various forms (oils, pastes, infusions) for conditions believed to involve "cooling" or purifying effects, which included infections or inflammatory processes, sometimes interpreted as "fevers" or "heat" in traditional paradigms. There are anecdotal and textual reports from traditional medicine sources suggesting its use for skin infections and general immune support, including some references to viral conditions, although the distinction between bacterial and viral was not made in historical texts.

From a scientific perspective, sandalwood essential oil and its main constituent, alpha-santalol, have demonstrated mild antimicrobial activity in vitro, but robust evidence for antiviral effects, especially in human clinical settings, is lacking. Only a few laboratory studies hint at possible activity against certain viruses, but these findings are preliminary and do not directly translate into clinical efficacy. No significant clinical trials support sandalwood's use for treating or preventing viral infections. Thus, its use for viral infections is supported mainly by tradition rather than scientific validation.

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