Bursera graveolens | Palo santo | Holy Wood | Aromatherapy | Heiliges Holz

Sustainable Bursera graveolens

Our Palo Santo is sustainably harvested from a private reserve in Ecuador from trees and branches that have naturally fallen and have been laying dead for 4-10 years before they are harvested. Only the naturally fallen trees produce the wonderfully woody scent. The longer the tree has been dead, the more potent the scent. Some Palo Santo trees can live to be 80-90+ years old.

Bursera graveolens | Palo santo

Bursera graveolens, a beautiful aromatic tree, is prized for its aromatic wood. Used throughout Central and South America as an incense, B graveolens, is used among natives indigenous tribes, such as the Inca, to spiritually cleanse impure energy and to get rid of evil spirits, calamity and misfortune. This tree has a powerful energy, yet when it is burned, the results are one of relaxation, peace and wellbeing. Its brings a fragrant and pleasant smell to any space it is burned in.
These trees are protected under government supervision; however during tremendous wind, fallen trees are gathered in a respectful way, as the tree has been considered sacred by tribes for thousands of years. Bursera Graveolens is found growing in many areas including Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia and the Galapagos islands.

Sacred incense

Palo Santo may be burned similar to incense by lighting shavings of the wood or the whole stick can be light on fire, allowed to burn for a few moments then blown out so that it will smoke. In Peru, a shaman or medicine man, may light Palo Santo sticks and the rising smoke will enter the energy field of ritual participants to ‘clear misfortune, negative thought patterns and ‘evil’ spirits.” In terms of western culture, Palo Santo is used and burned as incense. Essential oil can be produced from the wood, which is attracting a lot of attention due to its seductive scent for use in perfumes and cosmetics. There are many health benefits reported by the indigenous that burn the wood. When combined and burned with another plant named Ruta chalepensis, the smoke is blown into the ears to treat otitis media (ear infections). In addition, the wood can also be burned with Yerba mate together with the feathers of the rhea bird. The resulting mixture of smoke is inhaled every nine days and it is well recorded to heal ‘mal aire’.

Additional Information:

http://www.sacredpalosanto.com/benefits/