Rakta-Chandana (Red Sandalwood)

Rakta-candana रक्तचन्दन

Pterocarpus santalinus · Fabaceae

tree heartwood shita cites-restricted

Rasa-Panchaka — five-fold pharmacology

Rasa: kashaya · tikta— tastes at first contact
Guna: guru · ruksha— qualities
Virya: shita— potency (cooling)
Vipaka: katu— post-digestive effect

The six classical tastes (Ṣaḍ-rasa)

Dosha effect

Vata

·neutral

Pitta

↓pacifies

Kapha

↓pacifies

pacifies (↓) aggravates (↑) neutral (·)

Functions

complexion-impartinganti-Pittablood-purifier

Pterocarpus santalinus — NOT a true sandalwood (which is Santalum album). Heartwood imparts the deep-red dye used in face powders and Vyanga-hara preparations. CITES Appendix II since 2013.

Used in 5 recipes

churna Eladi Choornam (Eladi-gana face powder)

Elādi Cūrṇa · एलादि चूर्ण

face · body

pimples; rash.

vatakapha

lepa Dashanga Lepa (10-herb classical lepa)

Daśāṅga Lepa · दशाङ्ग लेप

face · body

urticaria; swelling.

pitta

taila Kumkumadi Tailam (classical oil version)

Kuṅkumādi Taila · कुङ्कुमादि तैल

face

Vyanga (melasma); uneven complexion.

pittavata

ghrita Tikta Sarpih (Bitter Ghee — simple)

Tikta Sarpis · तिक्त सर्पिस्

face · body

mild Kushtha; chronic fever.

pittakapha

ghrita Vyanga-hara Ghrita (Kumkumadi precursor)

Vyaṅgahara Ghṛta · व्यङ्गहर घृत

face

Vyanga (melasma); Nilika (bluish pigmentation).

pittavata Sch-E (orig)

Safety flags

CITES Appendix II