Palo Santo Wood Sticks

Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) is a tree that is native to Peru, Ecuador and other South American countries.  It grows in dry, tropical forests and produces a very fragrant resin.  Palo Santo is Spanish for "holy wood."

For thousands of years the wood, resin and oil have been used for medicinal purposes.  The main use is to treat pain and stress, but it is also used to clear negative energies.

Palo Santo is used to repel mosquitos.  It is also said to deter ants, termites and flies.  There may be some merit to these claims as a 2012 study found that the oil contains a substance known as limonene.  Limonene has insecticide properties, however, more research is required before we can definitively state that it drives away mosquitos.

Palo Santo has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties according to a review in 2017.  However, while anecdotal claims state that it is useful for arthritis and headaches and any stress-related conditions, more research is required before we can make definitive claims.

The Palo Santo wood sticks are used in a process similar to Native American smudging (see our article on Native American Smudging on the Information page).  In this way, it is also sasid to drive away negative energies.  

In order to burn the wood sticks, light the end of one and allow the ignited flame to burn for 30 seconds before blowing it out.  I would recommend lying the smouldering stick on a surface such as an abalone shell or if you have an old saucer which is heat proof, this would also be ideal.  Fan the ignited stick with one hand while inhaling the smoke and if you are clearing negative energies, ensure that you spread the smoke around your auric field and if you are blessing a house, be sure to waft the smoke into the corners and places you might otherwise miss.

The scent of Palo Santo is similar to that of Frankincense and Neroli and most regular users say that it is immediately relaxing.