Rakta Chandana — Red Sandalwood

Ayurvedic herb Rakta Chandana (Pterocarpus santalinus) — Red Sandalwood. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Tikta, Kashaya, Virya Sheeta, Vipaka Katu. Balances Pitta.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read

Red sandalwood for skin, bleeding disorders and cooling.

ⓘ Information

Property	Value	Description
Rasa	Tikta, Kashaya	Tikta (Bitter) — detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic; Kashaya (Astringent) — drying, absorbent, wound-healing
Guna	Guru, Snigdha	Guru (Heavy) — increases bulk, grounding; Snigdha (Oily/Unctuous) — moistening, nourishing
Virya	Sheeta	Sheeta (Cold) — cooling, decreases Pitta and inflammation
Vipaka	Katu	Katu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
Prabhava	Raktaprasadana, Dahashamana	Raktaprasadana — blood tonic; Dahashamana

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Rakta Chandana is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Raktasara, Pravalphala, Kushikashimha, Tamrasara

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Rakta Chandana are: kandasara.

Main Indications

Rakta Chandana is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Raktapitta, Trishna, Jwara, Visarpa, Vrana.

Dosha Effects

Rakta Chandana pacifies Pitta.

It may aggravate Kapha when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Rakta Chandana is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Tikta, Madhura

Guna (Quality)Guru, Rūkṣa

Virya (Potency)śita

Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu

Karma (Action)Pittahara, Netraroga, Viṣaghna, Vrṣya

Dose3-6 g of the drug (powder).

Therapeutic Uses: Chardi, Trṣḍ¡, Raktadoṣahara, Jvara, Vraḍa

Important Formulations: Candana Bal¡ Lakṣ¡di Taila, Candan¡di Lauha

Botanical Name: Pterocarpus santalinus Linn. (Fabaceae)

Part Used: Ht.Wd.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part Used	Therapeutic Use	Identifiers	References
aerial part	Anti-bacterial agents	MESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Anti-inflammatory agents	MESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Antineoplastic agents	MESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Effects on central nervous system	MESH:D002490,UMLS:C3714787, ICD-11:XA3JU6	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Cough	MESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Liver diseases	MESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0Z	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Mouth diseases	MESH:D009059,UMLS:C0026636, DOID:403	ISBN:9789327275590
aerial part	Ointments	MESH:D009824,UMLS:C0028912	ISBN:9789327275590
fruit	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717055
fruit	Urethral diseases	MESH:D014522,UMLS:C0041969, DOID:732, ICD-11:GC0Y	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Abscess	MESH:D000038,UMLS:C0000833, SYMP:0000672, ICD-11:1B75.3	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788171360536
wood	Anthelmintics	MESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Anticonvulsants	MESH:D000927,UMLS:C0003286, ICD-11:XM07T3	ISBN:9788172362461
wood	Anti-inflammatory agents	MESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1	ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172362461, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Antipyretics	MESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Aphrodisiacs	MESH:D001046,UMLS:C0003567	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Asthenia	MESH:D001247,UMLS:C0004093, ICD-11:MG22	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Astringents	MESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172363178
wood	Diarrhea	MESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Eye diseases	MESH:D005128,UMLS:C0015397, DOID:5614, ICD-11:9E1Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Fistula	MESH:D005402,UMLS:C0016169, ICD-11:DB50.1	ISBN:9788171360536
wood	Furunculosis	MESH:D005667,UMLS:C0016867, ICD-11:1B75.0	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266
wood	Graves ophthalmopathy	MESH:D049970,UMLS:C0339143, ICD-11:5A02.0	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Headache	MESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Hematologic diseases	MESH:D006402,UMLS:C0018939, DOID:74, ICD-11:3C0Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
wood	Hemophilia a	MESH:D006467,UMLS:C0019069	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
wood	Hemoptysis	MESH:D006469,UMLS:C0019079, ICD-11:MD22	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Infection	MESH:D007239,UMLS:C3714514, ICD-11:1H0Z	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Inflammation	MESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Leprosy	MESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Liver diseases	MESH:D008107,UMLS:C0023895, DOID:409, ICD-11:SA0Z	ISBN:9788172361266
wood	Mental disorders	MESH:D001523,UMLS:C0004936, ICD-11:6E8Z	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Migraine disorders	MESH:D008881,UMLS:C0149931, DOID:6364, ICD-11:8A80.Z	ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Pain	MESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3Z	ISBN:9788173717055, ISBN:9788190648974
wood	Anti-poisoning	MESH:D011041, ICD-11:NE6Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4
wood	General tonic for rejuvenation	MESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016	ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788172363178
wood	Scorpion stings	MESH:D065008,UMLS:C0238417, ICD-11:NE61	ISBN:9788172361266
wood	Skin diseases	MESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0Z	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Thirst	MESH:D013894	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Toothache	MESH:D014098,UMLS:C0040460, ICD-11:DA0A.Y	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Ulcer	MESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582	ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Visual perception	MESH:D014796,UMLS:C0042830	ISBN:9788172361266
wood	Vomiting	MESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Antiperiodic		ISBN:81-204-0828-4
wood	Diaphoretic	UMLS:C1707737	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717055
wood	Cooling effect on body	UMLS:C0678568	ISBN:81-204-0828-4, ISBN:9788172361266
	Conjunctivitis	MESH:D003231,UMLS:C0009763, DOID:6195, ICD-11:9A60	Glimpses Of Medico-Botany Of Bastar District (M.P.)
	Dysentery	MESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.Z	ISBN:9788172363178
	Endophthalmitis	MESH:D009877,UMLS:C0014236, DOID:4692, ICD-11:9C21	ISBN:9788172363178
	Fever	MESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26	ISBN:9788172363178
	Headache	MESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.Z	ISBN:9788172363178
	Hemorrhage	MESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27	ISBN:9788172363178
	Hemorrhoids	MESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.Z	ISBN:9788172363178
	Inflammation	MESH:D007249,UMLS:C0021368	ISBN:9788172363178