Authentic Sandalwood: Identification and Medicinal Benefits

　　 Sandalwood, also known as Agarwood or True Sandalwood, is the heartwood of the Sandalwood tree. It can be harvested all year round. After the Sandalwood tree is cut down, it is cut into small sections and the bark and sapwood are removed, leaving only the heartwood for medicinal use. It is classified as a type of aromatic wood in the wood section of the Compendium of Materia Medica and is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for regulating qi. It is mainly produced in India, Indonesia, Australia, and also cultivated in Taiwan. There are two types of Sandalwood in the market, namely Yellow Sandalwood and White Sandalwood. It is known for its effects of regulating qi, warming the middle, and relieving stomach pain. It is often used to treat abdominal pain, retching and vomiting, and discomfort in the chest. It is worth noting that some products on the market use Cypress wood sprayed with fragrance to impersonate Sandalwood, so it is important to be able to identify the authenticity.

　　 Modern medicine has shown that Sandalwood has a good effect in treating angina pectoris caused by coronary heart disease. Red Sandalwood tea can effectively relieve clinical symptoms, improve the blood supply situation in electrocardiogram, reduce the severity of angina attacks, and prolong the interval between angina attacks. Sandalwood and Jujube Kernel Decoction can effectively treat angina pectoris. The Coronary Heart Suhe Pill, which is used to treat chest pain caused by cold stagnation and obstruction of the heart meridian, also contains Sandalwood. The fake product, Cypress wood, does not have the medicinal effect of Sandalwood and cannot be used as a substitute for Sandalwood in medicine.

　　 Identification of Authentic Sandalwood
　　 Authentic Sandalwood is mostly cylindrical or slightly flattened, straight, and sometimes slightly curved. It is often sawn into segments of varying lengths, generally 50-100 cm long and 10-20 cm in diameter. The surface is light yellow-brown, and the color becomes darker over time. The surface is smooth and delicate, with fine longitudinal cracks visible. Both ends are flat and neat. The growth rings are not obvious. It has a clear and fragrant smell, a light taste, and a slightly spicy sensation when chewed. The fire test method can be used for identification: when authentic Sandalwood is burned, it emits a strong fragrance and produces a light smoke.

　　 Fake Cypress Wood
　　 The fake Cypress wood has an irregular segmented shape, with a yellow or yellow-brown surface that is rough and has longitudinal grooves and scars. It has obvious growth rings. It has a slight fragrance when smelled, like a strong scent of perfume, and a slightly bitter taste when chewed. When burned, it produces thick smoke and does not have the fragrance of Sandalwood.