Butterfly flowering plants Latin: Pterocarpus santalinus
Plant description
The stately tree grows wild and in cultures in India and on Ceylon. It carries pinnate leaves, whose leaflets grow up to 10 cm long. The small butterfly flowers are yellow and red veined.
The fruit, a legume, lignified and winged, is spread by the wind. When injured, a red sap escapes from the inside of the trees. The red sandalwood differs from the fragrant white sandalwood. It is not related to the white sandalwood, its heartwood contains rose-scented essential oil. It is said to have a slight disinfecting effect on the urinary tract, but it is not used medicinally.
Medicinally used plant parts
The red heartwood, freed from the sapwood, is used medicinally. It is sold in larger blocks or logs and is then crushed. Sandalwood has a silky shine, only when rubbed it has an aromatic smell, is tasteless and easily split. Ingredients: The most important ingredient is the fine crystalline Santalin, a red dye.
Curative effects and application
A medical effect cannot be proven with red sandalwood. Nevertheless, it was and still is added to some tea blends in crushed form as a decorative addition. It is only considered to have a weak, water-driving effect.
The silky, shiny, blood-red pieces of wood make colorless tea blends more attractive and thus supposedly easier to sell. No side effects are to be expected.