Little-leaf red sandalwood is a type of precious wood that originates in India, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. The best little-leaf red sandalwood is said to come from Mysore, India.
Worth Its Weight in Gold
Little-leaf red sandalwood grows at an extremely slow rate, taking 800 years to fully mature. A saying goes, “Nine out of ten trunks of the little-leaf sandalwood are hollow;” only one out of ten little-leaf red sandalwood trunks hold enough material to make furniture. As such, it is painstakingly difficult to obtain a piece of full-grown little-leaf red sandalwood with which to construct furniture. Due to its scarcity, little-leaf sandalwood is oftentimes said to be worth its weight in gold.
The Wood for the Emperor
Little-leaf red sandalwood is the most durable wood known. It has the densest texture compared to other woods, making it the heaviest; the wood sinks when placed in water.
Its high durability and glossy surface make little-leaf red sandalwood a suitable candidate for premium wood furniture making and ornament sculpting. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, little-leaf red sandalwood was exclusively used by royal families and called “the wood for the emperor.”
Health Benefits
Little-leaf red sandalwood can age up to a thousand years old, absorbing the energy and essence of Nature while maturing; this makes it the perfect medium to balance the yin and yang energy around us. According to the Herbalists’ Manual, little-leaf red sandalwood can calm the mind and nourish the blood while also containing painkilling and anti-inflammatory properties.
Wearing accessories made of little-leaf red sandalwood not only helps to enhance immunity, stabilize heartrate and improve sleep quality, it can also help self-cultivation practitioners obtain incredible dharmic powers that boost their practice gains.
Lastly, keeping little-leaf red sandalwood decorations at home helps repel evil influences and turn disasters into blessings. It is also said that worshiping little-leaf red sandalwood buddha statues or having a few pieces of little-leaf red sandalwood furniture can improve a home’s feng shui, bringing wealth and auspiciousness.