Rakta Chandana (Red Sandalwood) in Ayurveda: Properties & Everyday Use

In short

Rakta Chandana, known as red sandalwood in English, is a plant of the classical Ayurvedic tradition. Classical Ayurveda describes it as bitter and astringent in taste, heavy and oily in quality, and cooling by nature. It is known mainly through the classical texts rather than the everyday kitchen.

Good to know

This page is for learning, not a guide to taking it. If you're pregnant, nursing or take regular medication, check with your doctor before using it.

What it is

Rakta chandana ("red sandalwood") is the heartwood and bark of Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. (family Fabaceae), known in English as red sanders: a moderate-sized deciduous tree with extremely hard, dark-red heartwood (JABB 2025 review). It is endemic to India, with a localized distribution in the dry, hilly forests of the southern Eastern Ghats (southern Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu), and reviews describe it as an endangered species under pressure from illegal harvest (WJPPS review abstract; JETIR pharmacognostic review). The heartwood yields the red dye santalin, used as a colouring agent in pharmaceutical preparations and foodstuffs (JABB 2025 review).

Do not confuse it with white sandalwood. Our article on chandana covers Santalum album (family Santalaceae): a different species, a different family, and different traditional uses. Research on one does not transfer to the other.

Classical properties

Traditional use

In Ayurveda, rakta chandana is classified as a cooling (sheeta) drug. Traditional records describe the heartwood decoction for ulcers, eye diseases, inducing vomiting and mental aberrations. It is used as a cooling agent and credited with antihyperglycaemic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic and tonic properties, plus activity in haemorrhage, dysentery, as an aphrodisiac and diaphoretic (JABB 2025 review). The heartwood is described as bitter and sweet, cooling, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge, with its decoction given in chronic dysentery and for vitiated pitta, burning sensation, vomiting, skin diseases and ulcers. These are traditional claims, not clinical proof: the research record is examined separately below.

What research has looked at

Tension-type headache (one small RCT)

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Lahore, Pakistan enrolled 80 adults (18–65) with tension-type headache, giving either P. santalinus bark extract or placebo for one week. Mean pain scores (visual analogue scale) fell from 6.22 to 0.48 in the extract group versus 6.10 to 4.05 with placebo (p < 0.001), with no reported adverse events (JHWCR trial). Caveats: this is a single small, very short trial reporting an unusually large effect (95% complete pain relief): it needs independent replication before it can support any treatment claim, and it is not a headache treatment. It also tested a bark extract, not the traditional heartwood preparation.

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant effects (animal study)

A methanolic wood extract given orally to rats at three doses inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema, reduced acetic-acid-induced writhing, and increased hot-plate pain latency in a dose-dependent manner. In the lab it scavenged 76.6% of DPPH radicals at 500 µg/mL. No mortality occurred even at the highest tested dose (PMC animal study). This is preclinical pharmacology: it establishes biological activity in rodents, not efficacy in people.

What the evidence does not support (yet)

No randomized clinical trials were identified testing rakta chandana for its classical Ayurvedic indications: ulcers, eye diseases, dysentery, bleeding, or diabetes. Reviews of the species agree it "has remained unexplored for many pharmacological activities claimed" (JABB 2025 review).

Safety notes

No dedicated human safety trials of rakta chandana were identified. In the rat study above, a single high oral dose produced no mortality (PMC animal study), but animal tolerance is not human safety evidence. There are no data on use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or on interactions with medications: consult a qualified practitioner before medicinal use. Because the species is endangered, source material responsibly; legality and sustainability are real concerns with red sanders timber.

FAQs

What is rakta chandana?

The heartwood and bark of Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. (red sanders, Fabaceae), an endangered Indian tree whose heartwood yields the red dye santalin (JABB 2025 review).

Is rakta chandana the same as sandalwood (chandana)?

No. White sandalwood is Santalum album (Santalaceae): covered in our chandana article. Rakta chandana is Pterocarpus santalinus (Fabaceae). Different species, different family, different evidence base.

What is rakta chandana used for in Ayurveda?

Ayurveda classifies it as a cooling drug, traditionally used for ulcers, eye diseases, dysentery, bleeding, burning sensations and skin diseases (JABB 2025 review). These are traditional uses, not clinically proven effects.

Does it help with headaches?

Only very preliminary evidence: one small 1-week RCT of 80 adults reported large pain-score reductions with a bark extract, but the effect size is unusually large and the trial needs replication (JHWCR trial). It tested bark extract, not traditional heartwood preparations.

Is rakta chandana safe?

No human safety trials were identified. Animal studies showed no mortality at tested doses, but that is not human safety evidence. There are no data for pregnancy, breastfeeding, or drug interactions.

Swastik does not suggest amounts. The right amount depends on the person, the preparation and the product, so check with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or your doctor before taking any herb.

Sources

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.

Related herbs

Herbs with overlapping classical actions and dosha effects in the Swastik herb library.

  • Ananta Mool — shares Raktaprasadana actions; also pacifies Pitta
  • Bandhuka — shares Dahashamana actions; also pacifies Pitta
  • Dadima — shares Raktaprasadana actions; also pacifies Pitta
  • Drakshadi Kashayam — shares Dahashamana actions; also pacifies Pitta
  • Drakshadi Kwath — shares Dahashamana actions; also pacifies Pitta
  • Durva — shares Dahashamana actions; also pacifies Pitta
  • Gambhari Phala — shares Dahashamana actions; also pacifies Pitta
  • Gangeruki — shares Dahashamana actions; also pacifies Pitta