Palo Santo (Holy Wood flakes & powders)

Palo Santo "Holy Wood" Wood FLAKES 1oz

The name Palo Santo translates to "Holy wood"  best when used for deep healing and clearing energy. Its benefits include relieving the symptoms of headaches, inflammation, emotional trauma, stress, colds and much more. Palo Santo has a citrus- like scent.

Can be also used as pot mulch or walkway mulch. Imagine your garden smelling like palo santo. Easy burning on charcoal as wood flakes are thin sliced.

This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For educational purposes only.

Histories and Stories of Palo Santo

Palo Santo has a rich cultural history that stretches all the way back to the Incan Empire. Many indigenous cultures of Mexico, Central America, and South America have used the bold, sharp Palo Santo resin and wood for spiritual, shamanic, and medicinal purposes for millennia. Its smoke has been used in ceremonies, rituals, prayer, and meditation to cleanse negative energies, clear sacred space, attract good fortune, and for spiritual and energetic preparation and protection; similar to the way Native Americans use White Sage in smudging rituals.

Palo Santo has a very uplifting effect that is traditionally used to treat sadness, grief, and depression. Traditional healers often bathe a patient in thick plumes of smoke, or treat them in smoke-filled rooms while offering prayer and performing spiritual healing to cure them of serious depression, sadness, or spiritual turmoil. Some of Palo Santo’s chemical constituents, such as limonene, are know to oxygenate the brain, leading to positive, heightened mental states. It is also used in Indigenous medicine for many other physical illnesses and ailments. Its smoke is a strong mosquito and insect repellent in its native damp jungle habitats.

Palo Santo has the ability to clear the mind, enhance concentration, reduce tension, clear the atmosphere, and enhance creativity. There is much folk lore suggesting that it is a magical, mystical tree with the power to bring good fortune to those who utilize and respect it. When burned, Palo Santo leaves behind a potent, lasting aroma, refreshing the atmosphere and rejuvenating energies. Traditionally used by South American Natives as a smudge stick, the thick, rich wood smoke clears negative energy around an individual or their home, leaving peace and good feelings in its place.

Today, Palo Santo is mainly used as an incense. Its popularity has grown rapidly over the years in the United States and among different spiritual communities, bringing economic stability to many South American villages that produce its products. Its wood can be found in almost every metaphysical store or incense shop in America. Unfortunately with its popularity also comes poaching and over-harvesting of wild plant populations, regardless of government protection efforts. Therefore, it is important to support suppliers who care for the trees and practice natural, traditional, and legal harvesting methods.

Medicinal Uses

Palo Santo is a relaxing sedative that has a strong soothing effect on the mind and nervous system, relieving stress, anxiety, panic attacks, nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, migraines, and headaches. Scientific studies have recently found that Palo Santo is rich in terpenoids and limonene. Both of these compounds have strong anti-depressive actions. Being rich in limonene also gives Palo Santo its potent antimicrobial properties. It is traditionally used to fight bacterial infections, viruses, parasites, yeasts, fungus, and is often used as a disinfectant.

Different parts of the tree have also been used topically for anti-inflammatory and skin cell regeneration properties in the treatment of cuts, wounds, burns, and other physical injuries. Folk healers will apply Palo Santo as a compress for muscle and joint pain, rheumatic pain and arthritis, and for reducing inflammation and soothing sore muscles. Some indigenous healers have used Palo Santo in the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. It has high antioxidant properties and has recently been studied for its potent anti-tumor actions.

Palo Santo helps to clear and open the airways and lungs. It is also traditionally used in the treatment of common respiratory ailments such as colds, flu, cough, allergies, asthma, and respiratory infections for its decongestant, expectorant, and anti-microbial properties. The leaves and bark of the Palo Santo tree are also used in different preparations. Tea of the leaves is prescribed as a digestive aid and for stomach complaints. Medicine people prepare teas, tinctures, and other plant extracts to support immune health and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

Magical and Metaphysical Uses

Many Indigenous cultures believe that Palo Santo has strong magical powers. Therefore it’s used by shamans and medicine people for many spiritual purposes. The process of the dying tree giving up its potent oil in the afterlife symbolizes rebirth after death and reincarnation. Not only does the tree produce this ‘living’ oil after it dies, but the oil itself gives life and hope to the sick and often to those dying of serious illness.

It is well-known in the native growing regions of Palo Santo that the tree has special spiritual powers that bring people good fortune. Many reports from medicine people, sustainable harvesters, caretakers of Palo Santo forests, patients who have been healed by it, and others who have come into contact with or have used Palo Santo smoke or oil for some time, say that this tree has blessed many areas in their lives; whether bringing them a love partnership, financial abundance, or optimum health and wellness. This tree is known for having a generous spirit.

Palo Santo is also used for protection when people leave their home or lands to travel. They ask for protection from the tree before departure. It is also called upon for protection by medicine people and shamans when performing ceremonies, healing work, or ‘journeying’ to the Spirit World.