Energetically cleansing is increasingly becoming popular these past few years. More and more people understand how it benefits them. Apart from working with crystals and burning sage, burning other herbs and woods are also gaining traction, and one of them is palo santo wood.
Palo santo, which means “holy wood” in Spanish, is the harvested wood from palo santo trees found primarily in Peru, Ecuador, some regions of Central America, and the rest of South America. These trees grow in dry tropical forests and produce fragrant resin. They are part of the citrus family and are related to frankincense and myrrh.
Burning palo santo sticks is a sacred practice used by Indigenous communities of the Andes to cleanse their spirit and ward off evil spirits. This practice is called smudging, a spiritual practice that helps clear your energy field using a piece of burning palo santo or a herb bundle such as a white sage.
For thousands of years, these trees’ woods, resin, and oil have been used for several purposes, including medicinal and spiritual. Below are some of the reasons why you should start burning palo santo.
Burning Palo Santo Benefits
Clear negative energy in your home.
Because of the high resin content of this wood, palo santo is believed to release purifying properties when burned. According to the Shamanic history of South America, this palo santo wood can remove negativity and obstacles, attracting good fortune. To cleanse your home or any space in your home, simply light the palo santo stick and then extinguish the flame, gently waving your hand over the stick or waving it in the air. White smoke will be emitted from the burning stick, which will disperse around you and the space you are cleansing.
Palo santo sticks are a perfect addition to your rituals.
Rituals are a great way to decompress. They are also perfect for those who crave routine. The act of smudging, or even simply the process of lighting the stick and allowing the smoke to be released into the room, can be helpful in rituals. This allows for a mindful and intentional release and shift in energy. Apart from that, rituals are also beneficial for shifting our unhelpful attachments to sticky thoughts or emotions.
The aroma can help improve stress response.
Many people find the aroma of palo santo relaxing; that’s why burning the stick can help ease stress. The smoke coming from the wood is thought to have a purifying and cleansing effect on the body and mind. In a study by Pharmacol Biochem Behav, inhaling Limonene, one of the main components of palo santo, helped reduce stress and anxiety.
Burning palo santo woods can let you experience the plant’s scent.
Palo santo is often sold as incense sticks or cones, which are usually made from fine wood shavings combined with natural glue. The incense burns faster compared to the sticks. However, when buying incense, you need to do your research and read the packaging. Sometimes the incense sticks are made from using essential oil rather than wood shavings. To make sure you experience the plant’s scent, it is advisable to buy palo santo sticks rather than incense. You can also experience the smell by lighting a Palo Santo Smudge Candle, perfect for relaxing.
Lighting a palo santo stick helps set the mood when meditating.
Before meditating, try lighting a palo santo stick. The smoke coming from the stick will help you feel more relaxed and set your mediation mood. The earthy, citrusy smell of the wood will literally change the room’s energy, allowing you to get deeper into your meditation practice.
Benefits of Other Forms of Palo Santo
Palo santo oil can help repel mosquitos.
Traditionally palo santo has been used to repel mosquitoes. It is also said to deter ants, termites, and flies. This may be true according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, stating that palo santo is mainly composed of Limonene, a substance with insecticide properties. That’s why palo santo essential oil is used in natural insect repellants.
Its essential oil can help reduce pain.
Another supposed benefit of palo santo is pain relief. From a research published in the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, the Limonene found in palo santo has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Limonene can provide relief by inhibiting neuronal pathways. Because of this, people use it to treat different types of pain, including headache, throat pain, and arthritis.
The Mecka
Get your palo santo now and enjoy the benefits of burning one. Here at Mecka, our goal is to help create a ritual and a process that allows you to relax and enjoy the essential things in life. We can't control what happens to us every day, but we can control how we react and feel. We should cherish every moment we have, but that's a lot easier said than done. That's why we find products and techniques that will help lead better lifestyles and instill better habits that will hopefully one day make our world a better place.