Sandalwood, also known as white sandalwood, sandalwood tree, and true sandalwood, is the heartwood of the tree Santalum album L., a plant in the Sandalwood family. It is mentioned in the book "Ming Yi Bie Lu". The tree is native to its place of origin and is harvested 30-40 years after planting. The trunk is cut into sections and the light-colored sapwood is removed, leaving only the heartwood, which is then dried.
[Processing Method] According to the "Pharmacopoeia": "For medicinal use, the sandalwood should be finely ground and sieved to obtain a powder." According to the "Essential Collection of Materia Medica": "It should be ground without being exposed to fire." According to the "Pu Ji Fang": "The sandalwood should be soaked in green tea and then roasted until it turns yellow." Currently, the raw material is cleaned and then sliced or cut into small pieces. Alternatively, the raw material is soaked in water for 3-5 days, steamed for 1-1.5 hours, removed, pounded into 1mm thick slices, and dried in the sun.
[Appearance of Prepared Pieces] It is an irregular strip-like thin slice or small piece, pale yellow-brown in color, with a smooth and fine texture. It has a distinctive aroma and a slightly bitter and spicy taste.
[Quality Requirements] The moisture content should not exceed 12.0%, and the volatile oil content should not be less than 3.0%.
[Processing Functions] Sandalwood has a spicy and warm nature. It enters the spleen, stomach, heart, and lung meridians. It has the functions of promoting qi circulation, warming the middle, stimulating the appetite, and relieving pain. It is commonly used for conditions such as qi stagnation and cold accumulation, chest pain, abdominal pain, and reduced appetite; coronary heart disease, and angina pectoris. For example, the Coronary Suhe Pill (Introduction to New Drugs in China) is used to treat angina and heart disease; the Tiao Qi San (Danxi's Methods) is used to treat qi collapse; and the Sandalwood Drink (Shengji's Comprehensive Collection) is used to treat malignant wind swelling. The processing method makes the medicinal material clean and easy to mix and formulate.
