Pau Santo: how to use, benefits, composition, history and more!

Extracted from the Bursera Graveolens tree, considered one of the most aromatic plants in nature, the wood of Pau Santo, or Palo Santo in Spanish, has been used for millennia by the Inca peoples of Latin America.

Its incredible aroma has made it widely used as a natural incense and the chemical components found in this plant have several medicinal properties.

Understand, in this article, more about pau santo, what are its chemical components and the benefits of its use. See also the forms of use and its use can cause harm.

With a striking and characteristic aroma, Pau Santo has gained a lot of popularity both for use as incense and as an essential oil in aromatherapy and therapeutic treatments. Find out, below, about the tree from which the palo santo is extracted, how it is made and what is its history.

Measuring around 18 meters in height, Bursea Graveolens is native to Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and part of Mato Grosso. Its elongated cup is formed by small dark green leaves and its flowers are white with 5 petals. Flowering occurs from December to February and its fruits (small dry filaments that surround the seeds) ripen in July.

Bursea Graveolens wood is very hard and is used in the manufacture of pieces that demand high resistance. It is from this wood that guaiacol is extracted, an essential oil with a strong aroma used in the manufacture of perfumes and also in medicinal use.

The extraction of Pau Santo occurs after the tree dies, which makes the process sustainable and not aggressive to nature. To obtain a quality Pau Santo, it is necessary to extract the wood from trunks that have already died and that have been curing in nature for 3 to 6 years.

In its incense form, small splinters of the wood itself are used, burning and leaving one end red hot. The essential oil, on the other hand, is extracted from wood and used in massages and other treatments that include aromatherapy.

It is believed that the first use of Pau Santo was made by native South American civilizations. Such civilizations from regions of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and part of Brazil, discovered this wood with a relaxing and smooth aroma, starting to use it in religious ceremonies.

For the Inca peoples, the smoke of Pau Santo warded off bad spirits and negative energy. It was used for smoking warriors before battles and for energy cleansing of tribes.

There are indications that Pau Santo was also used by Indian culture in wedding ceremonies and some peoples in that region still have the tradition that the newly married couple should plant such a tree to attract good energies.

The relaxing and therapeutic characteristic of Pau Santo is related to the large amount of limonene, terpineol and menthofuran found in the plant. Check below what each of these substances provides to the human body and why they make this plant so special and sought after.

Limonene is an organic chemical substance and is attributed to it, the characteristic aroma of citrus fruits, where it is found in large quantities.

The therapeutic properties of Limonene are countless, such as: antioxidant and anticancer action, improvement of blood fat levels, weight loss and a powerful antidepressant.

More than 60% of Limonene is found in Pau Santo, either in its essential oil form or in the wood itself, as incense. It is also attributed to Limonene the energy cleaning power of environments and is considered a stimulant and efficient reducer of anxiety.

Known for its antibacterial power, Terpineol is widely used in acne treatments and other skin infections.

This substance also fights fungi and viruses in addition to increasing immunity by strengthening white blood cells. Another therapeutic property of Terpineol is the ability to inhibit inflammatory processes in the human body.

In its incense form it is able to bring balance to the mind in addition to being a tonic that increases vitality and energy.

Menthofuran, the last substance found in greater quantity in Pau Santo, is a powerful decongestant and is also used as an antiviral. Its use is also related to improving focus and concentration, aiding in greater clarity of thoughts and decision making.

The benefits of Pau Santo are countless, as it is used for energy cleansing, stress relief and also as a natural insect repellent. See below for more details on these benefits, as well as the use of Pau Santo as an aphrodisiac and antidepressant.

It is believed that Pau Santo has the ability to sanitize the energies of environments and the individual’s aura. For energy cleansing, Pau Santo must be used in its incense form, that is, by burning one of the ends of the splinter of its wood. Because it burns slowly, you should keep putting fire to the wood, keeping it burning for about 30 seconds before it goes out.

Once releasing the smoke from the wood, walk around the room you want to purify, taking the smoke to every corner of the room. Keep positive thoughts and mentalize good wishes. To purify yourself, repeat the burning process and spread the smoke from head to toe, remaining upright during the process.

If the smoke runs out during purification, repeat the burning process and continue to spread the smoke. When the purification is finished, place the Pau Santo in a metal bowl and let the coals go out naturally.

Because it has large amounts of Limonene, Terpineol and Merthofuran, Pau Santo has a great anti-stress power. Such substances are known to help increase mental focus by having antidepressant and relaxing properties.

The use of Pau Santo to combat stress is effective both in its use in the form of essential oil and in the form of incense through the burning of wood chips.

Both in the form of incense and essential oil, Pau Santo is an excellent natural repellent. This is due to the concentration of more than 60% of Limonene in the composition of its essential oil. This substance has proven effectiveness against insects and is even used in the manufacture of repellents on an industrial scale.

Presented in the form of essential oil or incense, Pau Santo has the power to reduce tensions between couples. When used in intimate moments, it is a powerful auxiliary to increase libido through relaxation and the invigorating sensation that its aroma provides to the environment.

In addition, Pau Santo is capable of dispelling dense energies that may disturb the couple’s interaction during sex.

The peculiar aroma of Pau Santo, by itself, is already a great aid for improving physical and mental well-being. In addition, the combination of Limonene, Terpineol and Merthofuran acts surprisingly against the physical and mental symptoms that depression causes. This is due to the properties found in these 3 substances that make Pau Santo so special and effective.

It is also worth noting that in many cases depressive processes originate from energy imbalances in environments and in the individual’s aura. In this way, when used as an energy purifier, Pau Santo can be a great ally in combating the causes of various types of depression.

The use of Pau Santo can be in the form of incense or through its essential oil. The most popular way of using it is directly burning its wood chips. As it is completely natural, the wood burns slowly.

One of the ends of the Pau Santo sliver must be burned until an ember is formed and, after that, it is necessary to extinguish the fire, which will result in a thick and aromatic smoke. It is recommended to spread this smoke throughout the environment, always trying to mentalize positive thoughts. Dense or negative energies will dissipate and the aroma of Pau Santo will flood the environment for several hours.

As for the use in the form of essential oil, you should look for a quality product whose extraction has been done correctly. It is important to remember that the quality of essential oils is directly related to how they are extracted, so try to purchase a product with quality certification.

The benefits of using Pau Santo essential oil are diverse and range from relief of respiratory problems in the form of inhalation to use in sitz baths to treat or prevent urinary tract infections.

In general, the use of Pau Santo does not bring any harm to the individual, but some precautions must be taken. If you have respiratory problems, avoid using Pau Santo in the form of incense or inhalation, and opt for using it in the form of essential oil.

Check that there is no allergic reaction and always be careful to look for products of good origin, even if it means paying a slightly higher price for the product.

When using Pau Santo, always bear in mind that this true miracle, in the form of wood, has been used for millennia and by people with a rich spiritual culture such as the Incas.

Whether to relieve physical pain, as a repellent, aphrodisiac or for energy cleansing, this miraculous wood is one of nature’s great gifts to humanity.