White Sandalwood

Eating Benefits: The Cooling Elixir White Sandalwood is not "eaten" like a fruit, but its heartwood and essential oil are consumable medicinal products in Ayurveda and Unani medicine. The edible-grade Sandalwood Oil is famous for its potent diuretic and antiseptic properties; just a few drops are traditionally prescribed to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) and gastric irritability. It is considered the ultimate internal "coolant" (Sheetal), used to lower body temperature during high fevers or heatstroke. Beyond internal medicine, it is a staple in "edible beauty." The paste made by rubbing the wood on a stone is applied to the skin to clear acne, blemishes, and prickly heat, promoting a flawless complexion. Unlike Red Sandalwood, White Sandalwood is intensely fragrant. This aroma itself is therapeutic; inhaling it or consuming traces of it in traditional syrups (like Sherbet) acts as a nervine tonic, reducing anxiety, stress, and insomnia. In the food industry, high-grade sandalwood oil is even used as a natural flavoring agent in sweets and chewing gums (approved by food safety authorities in minimal amounts). Plantation Benefits: The "Liquid Gold" For a farmer, White Sandalwood is arguably the most lucrative legal crop in existence, often called "Liquid Gold" because the oil extracted from the heartwood is one of the most expensive essential oils in the world. A single mature tree (after 12-15 years) can yield heartwood worth ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000, depending on the oil content. The demand is insatiable—driven by the global perfume industry, cosmetics, and religious rituals—meaning there is never a shortage of buyers. However, growing it comes with a unique biological twist: White Sandalwood is a Hemiparasite. This means it cannot grow alone; its roots must attach to the roots of a "Host Plant" (like Neem, Casuarina, or Pigeon Pea) to suck nitrogen and nutrients. This necessitates a mixed-farming model. Farmers must plant host trees alongside the Sandalwood, which naturally creates a diverse, forest-like ecosystem. While this adds a layer of management complexity, the payoff is immense. Unlike Red Sandalwood, which is valued only for the wood, White Sandalwood offers double value: the wood for carving and the oil for fragrance.