Palo Santo Powder - 50 g

Scientific Name: Bursera Graveolens

Family: Burseraceae

Origin: Ecuador, Peru

Color: Grayish yellow

Aroma: Balsamic, Minty, Citrusy

Properties: Antiseptic, Disinfectant, Purifying

Quantity: 50 grams

Palo Santo has very ancient origins; it was used by Inca shamans in their religious rituals as a means of warding off negative energies through a dense smoke with great spiritual power.

Incense sticks and an aromatic essential oil with numerous properties are made from the wood of the Palo Santo tree. The botanical description of the Palo Santo tree ("holy wood") was only published in 1824 following a German expedition to the Americas, but it had already been known and used for centuries by South American populations.

Palo Santo is produced, both as incense and as essential oil, in full respect of the environment and the tree itself, as only naturally fallen and dried specimens are used, since young trees do not possess the required characteristics: to produce its distinctive scent, for example, trees must be at least 10 years old and naturally dried.

Curiosity

According to traditional use, Palo Santo is primarily used to counteract negative energies that may cause physical ailments for which no other causes have been identified, or negative psychological conditions such as depression, sadness, and bad mood. According to the original worldview of some South American populations, Palo Santo protects both adults and infants from "bad energy" and "white plague," negative energies believed to cause the evil eye and illness when coming into contact with strangers.

Palo Santo is used instead of regular incense to purify homes and gently repel mosquitoes and other insects. Children's clothing and diapers are also exposed to the smoke to protect them from bites. It is used in both secular and religious ceremonies, and in some cases by the Catholic Church.

Traditionally, the fresh liquid that oozes from an incision in the Palo Santo bark is used to treat scalp fungus. Its resin is used to disinfect infants' umbilical wounds and to relieve toothaches and cavities. Palo Santo is also used internally to prepare an herbal tea for treating stomach pain, intestinal problems, vomiting, general body aches, and respiratory and urinary tract problems. It is also used for psychosomatic and mood disorders.

Main benefits of Palo Santo oil:

• For asthma attacks and allergies.
• To relieve coughs and colds.
• To ease anxiety.
• For headaches.
• For meditation and psycho-physical relaxation.

How to use the resin: to burn it, charcoal briquettes must be used. They should be lit with a lighter or stove flame; therefore, tongs or similar tools are recommended to avoid unpleasant burns. When the charcoal is lit across its entire surface, place it in the incense holder and add the resin.

Experts recommend placing a little sand around the base of the incense holder to help dissipate the heat.