Palo santo has quickly become a mainstay and trendy product sought after for its stated spiritual and medicinal properties, as well as its fragrant scent. Literally meaning “holy wood” in Spanish it’s related to the same family of plants as frankincense and myrrh and its uses dates back hundreds of years.

Where Palo Santo Comes From

Palo santo, also known by its scientific name of Bursera graveolens, comes from a shrub or tree that is native to tropical dry forests in many South and Central American countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. Graveolens translates to “strong-smelling,” a nod to the incense-like scent emitted when a branch is broken.

Sustainability is a concern since the tree is not considered endangered and rising popularity has led to concerns of deforestation as dry forest areas where the plant originates are threatened.

Though Bursera graveolens is the least concern and considered stable, bad harvesting practices do take place. Most recently authorities in Peru detained nearly 12,000 kilos of palo santo wood that was cut down illegally; by law it must only come from trees that have died naturally.

As such, it is recommended to always check the source of palo santo wood prior to purchase to avoid harm to the natural world.

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What Is Palo Santo Used For?

Palo santo is commonly used for a wide range of spiritual and medicinal purposes in its various forms. Traditionally, burning the wood or its resin and oil are used as a remedy for pain caused by ailments such as arthritis or to treat headaches, as well as to reduce inflammation, and stress. A scientific review paper found that palo santo does contain certain anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

It is also used to cleanse negative energy from households or rooms – in a practice known as smudging – and is frequently used in yoga studios or during meditation. Prior to modern usage, the Incas burned palo santo in rituals and religious practices to drive away evil spirits.

Palo santo is considered an effective insect repellent, as it is said to help ward off mosquitoes, flies, and ants as it contains limonene and other compounds that can act as natural repellents. Though many of these uses date back centuries, scientific evidence of their effectiveness remains somewhat limited, even with some researchers studying it.

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How to Use Palo Santo

Palo santo is often burned as incense or its oil is used in a diffuser. In the practice of smudging, the palo santo is lit, blown out after around 30 seconds and then its smoke can be wafted around a room or space. Likewise, its oil or resin is applied to the skin as a natural remedy.

When used as an oil, health experts recommend first testing it on a small area of skin for a number of days to ensure no adverse reactions occur. When burning palo santo, it is advised to do so in a well ventilated room and avoid prolonged use in places such as bedrooms. Smoke inhalation is associated with a number of illnesses due to the release of numerous chemicals and gases and can acerbate existing conditions such as asthma.

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Is Palo Santo Safe for Pets?

The use of palo santo around pets is not advised, particularly any prolonged or direct exposure. Pets can have greater sensitivity than their owners, and it is important to observe any reactions or displays of avoidance if palo santo is used in their presence. Palo santo can irritate cats in particular and it can be toxic.

Rooms should always be well ventilated during and after use, and pets should not be left alone with palo santo products to avoid chewing or ingestion, or while it burns. It is advised to talk to a veterinary professional prior to using palo santo products in a household with pets.

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Article Sources

Our writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:

Sean Mowbray is a freelance writer based in Scotland. He covers the environment, archaeology, and general science topics. His work has also appeared in outlets such as Mongabay, New Scientist, Hakai Magazine, Ancient History Magazine, and others.