What is Palo Santo and why you need it.

What Is Palo Santo—And What Does It Do Exactly?

Well for starters it’s one of our favourite ways to create rituals in our lives at SWEAT X WONDER. We are true belivers in its benefits; in fact, it’s making believers out of a lot of people. Though thinking about energies and how they impact your overall wellness might not be part of your day-to-day right now, many holistic practitioners and healers are awakening us to the more subtle ways to care for ourselves. At the studio sense a shift as well; there’s a rise and a growth of consciousness around energy and spirituality and we’re starting to turn to these more ancient practices from cultures that live closer to the land.

With information constantly at our fingertips (hello Internet), people are looking into alternative ways to explore wellness that don’t rely on modern medicine’s quick fixes. What was once a tradition of the past; energy cleansing is on a successful comeback tour thanks in part to Palo Santo, the unassuming wood that before you know it, you might start crediting for your amped-up wellness. Here's everything you need to know about it:

So, what is Palo Santo?

It’s wood from a tree called Bursera graveolens, nicknamed Palo Santo, that grows in South America. For centuries, Palo Santo, which translated means “holy wood,” has been burned as an energy cleanser. The ritual comes from Incan tradition that says the smoke from the wood, burned during spiritual ceremonies, is medicinal.

If this sounds a lot like smudging with sage you wouldn’t be too off the mark. Like sage, which is predominantly used by Native Americans, South American shamans believed burning Palo Santo had similar properties capable of resetting energy that was tainted by negativity or conflict. It also is thought to neutralize issues before they ever start. It even has the power to attract sacredness and benevolence to a space according to shamanic practitioners

Whether it’s conflict at work or a stressed-out partner bringing you down at home, Palo Santo is said to shift agitated and harmful energy the door (literally), bring in positive healing energies, and allow you to approach things with an unburdened mind. This way, you’ll be better prepared to establish harmonious office relationships and start spending comforting space with your partner.

Still interested in the other benefits of Palo Santo?

First, a primer on the perks: In addition to the historic and spiritual perks of burning it, Palo Santo is also beloved in South America for its scent.

These days, to take advantage of its unique smell, Palo Santo’s been has distilled into an essential oil - Once put in a diffuser, its aroma acts as both an insect repellent and fragrance—it’s even been bottled and sold as a natural aleternative to cosmetic fragrances

When not used for its smell, Palo Santo oil has become a go-to for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Just rubbing a few drops into the skin is believed to soothe the mind and ward off headaches and anxiety, too.

Gotcha. Now, where can I get my hands on Palo Santo?

This one’s a biggie because Palo Santo is rather popular, you have to look into whether it’s been ethically sourced,” he says.

Read up on the company selling the Palo Santo you’re interested in, and check on their sourcing processes. Do they say which country the wood is from? FYI: The Bursera graveolens tree's branches have to naturally break off, the entire tree has to fall, or it has to die before the Palo Santo can be harvested from it. So, is the wood you’ve just added to your cart from a tree that’s been prematurely chopped down? Does the company’s site say anything about their work with South American suppliers and how they comply with Palo Santo importation regulations? If not, you're better off shopping elsewhere.

Because of increased demand, some businesses are illegally importing Palo Santo and sourcing it from healthy trees means it isn’t even the authentic Palo Santo you’re after. To make sure yours is sourced by a company that abides by regulations and preserves the South American ecosystem, read the site’s ‘about’ page, peep its social media accounts, and call them up if you have to.

This way you’ll end up with Palo Santo which has the spiritual properties you want to bring into your life and honors the rich history and the region it comes from.

But how do I actually use Palo Santo?

Like smudging with sage, smudging with Palo Santo is all about covering the space in which you need a boost of purified energy and want to attract alllll the good stuff with intention.

Consider what it is you'd like to bring into the room (calm? compassion? forgiveness?) and kick out of it (anger, frustration, generally bad juju), then start waving your burning Palo Santo around the corners of the room trusting your instincts as you move around.

You might even smudge around your own body if your goal is to clean up the energy around you after a particularly unpleasant run-in or situation.

And when it comes to how often you should smudge, burn your Palo Santo or use its oils as often as you feel you need to—whatever it takes to surround yourself with the pure energy you want.

Looking for ethically sourced Palo Santo? Check out our beautiful range at SWEAT X WONDER next time you visit for your sauna.