Palo santo

Palo Santo (“Holy Wood” in English) is a tree from the burseraceae family, commonly called the incense trees. It grows in the dry forests of the Pacific Coast of South America and can grow to between 4 to 10 meters in height. As with the incense tree of the Middle East (Boswellia carteri), Palo Santo is a very strong tree with the ability to withstand extended droughts. In the dry season, the tree loses its leaves, which easily sprout again when the rain returns.

Palo Santo wood is resinous and contains a lot of essential oil. The Incas and other still existent indigenous cultures have used it for a very long time for various medical treatments and religious ceremonies. Palo Santo is frequently used for energetic cleansings and to help dispel negative energies and entities. Its use is considered to facilitate the connection between our world and the spiritual one.

A very interesting fact about Palo Santo is that, in comparison with the live wood, the dead wood contains a higher quantity and quality of essential oils. For this reason, to protect the species from extinction it is now illegal in Peru to cut down the tree. Only the collection of dead trunks and branches is allowed.

Palo Santo essential oil comes from the steam distillation of the ground up dead wood. The oil is composed mainly of monoterpenes (26% limonene), sesquiterpenes, and monoterpene alcohols. It has a clear, intense golden color and a gentle, slightly lemony wood smell.

Palo Santo essential oil has the following properties: anti-depressant, anxiolytic, tranquilizing, sedative, anti-tumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and it is also good for the skin. For massages, it is generally used diluted in a pure vegetable oil. It is recommended to use it undiluted with a diffuser to purify your surroundings. With the supervision of a specialist, it can be taken internally to prevent or treat certain kinds of cancer.

At the energetic level, Palo Santo essential oil has cleanses energetic bodies and helps to transmute dense memories. At the emotional level, it is an oil which helps to soften and balance emotions. It has a synergistic action with chakras 6 and 7. It is highly beneficial for helping us to find calmness, stay centered, and be at peace.