Palo santo essential oil, made from the "holy wood" of Ecuador's Bursera graveolens, is a powerful oil used in prayer, spiritual and energy work, physical healing

Medical aromatherapy dates back several thousand years to Egypt, China and India, where plant essences and resins were more valuable than gold. Modern essential oil use, mostly passed down through European scholars and scientists of the Middle Ages, depends on traditional European herbs and familiar spices. But new discoveries in South America are beginning to enter the roster of essential oils used in physical healing and spiritual practices. One of the first and most popular of these is Palo Santo oil, Bursera graveolens.

What is Palo Santo?

"Palo santo" is Spanish for "holy wood," and palo santo trees are considered sacred in many parts of South and Central America.

Though several species are known as "palo santo," the essential oil is produced from Bursera graveolens, a plant from the same family as frankincense, Burseraceae.

Where is Palo Santo Found?

Bursera graveolens is native to much of Central America, including Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, as well as Colombia, Ecuador, the Galapagos, and Peru.

Palo santo is said to be found throughout the Gran Chaco region, spanning parts of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, but these reports may refer to another species known as palo santo and not Bursera graveolens.

In Ecuador, where much (if not all) of the essential oil is being produced, palo santo trees are protected and it is illegal to cut the trees down or harvest the branches. The oil is distilled from deadfall and the remains of dead trees, and even this requires special permits. Palo santo oil is available from Young Living Essential Oils, but this may be the only company producing the essential oil.

The wood matures over time after the tree has died, developing a chemistry that makes for a very powerful essential oil. The same chemistry does not occur in cut branches or the wood of cut trees. It is said that the spirits of the sacred palo santo trees are carried in the essential oil and are part of what makes the oil so potent.

Chemical Properties of Palo Santo Essential Oil

Palo santo is said to be chemically similar to frankincense (Boswellia carteri) but with some distinct differences.

The aroma is "woody, herbal and minty"(1) with sweet overtones – a light but very powerful fragrance.

Chemically, palo santo essential oil is rich in sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, alpha-pinene, and limonene.

Healing with Palo Santo Essential Oil

Palo santo is traditionally used in South America as an antiseptic and to remove impurities from the skin and body, as well as to clear homes of "bad energy" and bring in good luck. It is also used to repel mosquitoes and other insects.

Palo santo oil is invaluable for healing wounds, sprains and other injuries. Like frankincense, palo santo is esteemed for its ability to uplift the mood and to assist people with depression. It is also useful in meditation, energy work, and spiritual practices.

A Caution About the Quality of Essential Oils

The heat, speed, and ingredients used in processing make for very different qualities of oil, ranging from perfume grade to medicinal "therapeutic-grade" oils. Even oils marketed as therapeutic-grade may have other ingredients added that are not always disclosed on the labels. Please be extremely cautious in selecting any oils that will be used on the skin or internally. For more information, read The Real Quality of Essential Oils or contact the author.

Reference:

(1) Yukawa et al, "Chemical composition of three extracts of Bursera graveolens", Flavour and Frangrance Journal, 21:2, 234-238.

(2) Essential Science Publishing, Essential Oils Desk Reference, USA, 2007.