AbstractThe shielding tensor can be nonsymmetric and thus in general has both symmetric and antisymmetric parts. Relaxation by these two parts of the shielding tensor (chemical shift anisotropy or CSA relaxation) are reviewed and compared with relaxation by the dipole‐dipole (DD) mechanism. It is explained how T2can be equal to (6/7)T1or to 2T1in limiting situations for relaxation that involves the shielding tensor. Cross‐correlation (or interference) effects between CSA and DD relaxation and the relationship between CSA and spin‐rotation relaxation are briefly rev