Learn about Palo Santo’s therapeutic and purifying properties, as well as how to utilize it in your home to restore peace and serenity.
Palo Santo is the new seasonal must-have fragrance. If you smelled a delightfully sweet, musky citrus perfume wafting in the air at your neighborhood yoga studio or New Age boutique, it was probably Palo Santo.
What exactly is it, and what are the advantages? Let’s tap into the sacred Palo Santo tree’s mysterious spirit, shall we?
What is Palo Santo, exactly?
Palo Santo is a mystical tree that grows on the coast of South America and is connected to Frankincense, Myrrh, and Copal. Its name means “holy wood” or “wood of the saints.”
Burning these sticks is a spiritual activity practiced by Indigenous Andean people to purify their territory and ward off evil spirits. Smudging is a spiritual activity in which you use a piece of smoldering Palo Santo or a herb bundle, such as white sage, to clear your energy fields.
The holy wood, which belongs to the citrus family, contains lovely notes of pine, mint, and lemon. It’s ideal for the holidays.
Healing Health Benefits of Palo Santo
Palo Santo has long been used as a natural cure for colds, flu, and stress-related ailments. It can also help with asthma, headaches, anxiety, depression, and inflammation.
Palo Santo (Source: Pachamama)It’s an excellent essential oil for aromatherapy and can also be used in therapeutic treatments. It can also be used to cleanse and hydrate the skin when added to candles, soaps, scrubs, and body lotions.
It has a soothing effect and also strengthens the immunological and nervous systems, allowing for faster recovery from disease.
Palo Santo tea is said to assist digestion naturally.
The holy wood also includes a high concentration of d-limonene, a chemical that has been linked to the prevention of a range of malignancies.
Cleansing
Palo Santo, like Sage and Cedar, is most commonly used for spiritual cleansing and energy (house) cleansing. The smoke from the wood sticks is said to dispel negative energy and restore peace and calm emotions.
Palo Santo wood burns to provide an uplifting, pleasant, and fresh smoke that repels mosquitoes and other insects. The scent is thought to increase creativity.
Relaxation
We enjoy lighting a Palo Santo stick before meditating because it helps us relax and connect with ourselves. The wonderful earthy, sweet, and lemony aroma transforms the energy in any area.
Do you fancy a hot bath? To 1 tablespoon of bubble bath or body wash, add 2 drops of Palo Santo essential oil, 2 drops of Lavender, and 1 drop of Mandarin essential oil. To help you relax and refresh, add this to your bathwater.
How to Make Use of Palo Santo
Palo Santo (Source: Pachamama)To light your Palo Santo stick, we recommend using a candle. Hold it at a 45-degree angle with the tip pointing down toward the candle flame. If the sticks are damp, they may be difficult to light, so make sure they are dry before using.
Allow 30 seconds for the stick to burn before blowing it out. The embers will emit a stream of smoke that will spread across the environment. You can either hold the stick in your hand or place it on an incense holder.
Smudging can be done at home, beginning at the front door and working your way around the house.
Focus on the corners of each room where energy tends to remain sluggish, with a specific aim in mind (typically to clear your home of negative energy).
If you want to rekindle it, simply blow on the embers. You may just repeat the igniting process when the embers die out.
Under no circumstances should the flame under the stick be left burning for longer than a few seconds! Make sure to read the product description before purchasing. Place the stick in a fireproof bowl once you’ve finished cleaning the house.
Sage or Palo Santo: Which Is Better?
Sage and Palo Santo are two of the most common smoke-cleaning herbs. Palo Santo is best for smaller places because it does not burn as long and must be re-lit several times, which can be inconvenient for clearing larger spaces.
Sage, on the other hand, produces a big amount of smoke, making it easier to clear a larger area.
Where can I get it?
As we learn more about the advantages of Palo Santo and demand for the fragrant sticks develops, so does the bootleg market! It is critical that you can distinguish between genuine and counterfeit items.
Palo Santo from sustainable sources is available from numerous companies.
Although the price is slightly higher than their low-cost competitors, you can rest assured that you are helping businesses that are producing and harvesting these valuable plants in a sustainable manner.