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Palo Santo Essential Oil: Its Benefits & Many Uses

Overview Of Palo Santo Oil

Curious about this woodsy & mystical oil? Palo Santo oil packs a long list of benefits you should know about from cleaning to rejuvenating your skin. Read on to discover how to make the most of this comforting oil.

Table Of Contents

What Is Palo Santo Oil?

Sourced from sacred trees grown in South America, Palo Santo wood has long been used in traditions to calm the mind and connect with the spiritual world. During the Day of The Dead in Mexico, Palo Santo is used in rituals as incense to help the living find solace and the dead achieve a peaceful afterlife.

The spiritual oil also has a wide range of uses beyond religious ceremonies. It is often prized for its health-based properties.

Palo Santo essential oil is often extracted through the steam distillation of Palo Santo bark which is tapped from Palo Santo trees. This extraction method is the most effective way to harness the “essence” of the plant and help its benefits shine through.

Fortunately, the popularity of the oil and its excess harvest (even deforestation) has not put the Palo Santo trees in the endangered list.

Palo santo oil is steam distilled from the Bursera graveolens plant. The Journal of Essential Oil Research has more details about its chemical composition. (1)

Name Palo Santo Essential Oil
Botanical Name Bursera graveolens
Native to South American countries (Peru, Ecuador)
Main ingredients Limonene, alpha terpineol, carvone
Aroma Sweet woody with mint and citrusy fragrance
Blends well with Black pepper, Clary sage, frankincense, rose, vetiver, sandalwood, lemon balm, myrrh, sandalwood and cypress essential oils
Category Woody / Earthy
Substitute Myrrh, frankincense or vetiver essential oils

Health Benefits of Palo Santo Essential Oil

1

Respiratory Support 

Palo Santo oil, derived from the steam distillation of the wood from the Bursera graveolens tree, is known for its potent respiratory benefits. It is often used in aromatherapy to help clear congestion, ease breathing, and support overall respiratory health. The oil's anti-inflammatory properties, attributed to its high limonene content, make it effective in relieving symptoms of colds, flu, and bronchitis when diffused or inhaled directly.

2

Stress Relief and Mental Clarity 

The aroma of Palo Santo essential oil is renowned for its calming and grounding effects. Often used in meditation and mindfulness practices, the oil helps to reduce anxiety, ease stress, and promote mental clarity. Its ability to calm the nervous system is particularly beneficial for those dealing with chronic stress or mental fatigue. The woodsy, citrusy scent of the oil, reminiscent of frankincense and myrrh, enhances its soothing properties.

3

Immune System Support 

Palo Santo essential oil is traditionally revered in South America for its immune-boosting properties. The oil contains compounds that are believed to stimulate the body's natural defenses, making it an excellent choice for supporting overall health and well-being. Diffusing the oil in your home can help purify the air, creating a healthier environment by reducing airborne pathogens.

4

Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammatory Effects 

The anti-inflammatory properties of Palo Santo oil extend to pain relief, particularly in reducing muscle and joint pain. When diluted with a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond oil and applied topically, it can help soothe sore muscles, ease tension, and reduce inflammation. This makes it a popular choice for massages aimed at alleviating physical discomfort.

5

Emotional and Spiritual Healing 

In traditional shamanic practices, Palo Santo is often used to cleanse negative energy and invite positive influences. The oil is considered to have a strong spiritual component, aiding in emotional healing and enhancing creativity. Many users blend it with other essential oils like lavender or frankincense to create a spiritually uplifting aromatic experience that supports emotional balance.

Palo Santo Essential Oil Benefits for Skin

Anti-Aging Properties 

Palo Santo essential oil is rich in antioxidants, which help to neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidative stress on the skin. This makes it an excellent addition to anti-aging skincare routines. When blended with a carrier oil and applied as a facial oil, it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving the skin a more youthful glow.

Soothing and Healing

Known for its soothing properties, Palo Santo oil is often used to treat skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. Its anti-inflammatory effects help calm irritated skin, while its antimicrobial properties can assist in healing minor cuts, scrapes, and insect bites. The oil is gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin when properly diluted, making it a versatile addition to your skincare regimen.

Acne Treatment 

Palo Santo oil’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it effective in treating acne. When applied to the skin, it helps to reduce redness, swelling, and the occurrence of breakouts. To use it for acne, dilute the oil with a carrier oil like grapeseed oil and apply it to the affected areas. This treatment can help purify the skin and prevent further infections.

Skin Purification 

The purifying properties of Palo Santo essential oil make it ideal for detoxifying the skin. The oil helps to cleanse pores, remove impurities, and balance oil production, which is particularly beneficial for those with oily or combination skin types. Using the oil in a facial steam or adding it to your daily cleanser can help keep your skin clear and healthy.

Moisturization and Skin Barrier Protection 

Palo Santo essential oil helps to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier, preventing dryness and irritation. When combined with hydrating carrier oils like avocado or sunflower oil, it creates a nourishing blend that leaves the skin feeling soft and supple. This moisturizing effect is especially beneficial for dry or mature skin types.

Hair Benefits of Palo Santo Essential Oil

Scalp Health and Dandruff Control

Palo Santo essential oil can be highly beneficial for maintaining a healthy scalp. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties help to soothe an irritated scalp and control dandruff. Adding a few drops of the oil to your shampoo or creating a scalp treatment by blending it with a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil can help reduce flakiness and promote a balanced scalp.

Hair Growth Stimulation

Rich in limonene and other beneficial compounds, Palo Santo essential oil can stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth. When massaged into the scalp, the oil increases blood circulation, which can help to nourish the hair roots and encourage stronger, healthier hair growth. Regular use may also help to reduce hair thinning and loss.

Hair Strengthening

The nutrients in Palo Santo oil help to strengthen hair strands, reducing breakage and split ends. This makes it a great option for those looking to improve the overall strength and resilience of their hair. Blending the oil with carrier oils like argan or castor oil and applying it as a hair mask can leave your hair feeling stronger and more lustrous.

Natural Shine Enhancer

Palo Santo essential oil adds a natural shine to hair, making it look healthy and vibrant. The oil’s moisturizing properties help to smooth the hair cuticle, which reflects light and enhances shine. For a natural shine boost, add a few drops of the oil to your conditioner or apply it as a leave-in treatment mixed with a carrier oil.

Hair Fragrance

The aroma of Palo Santo essential oil is both calming and invigorating, making it a wonderful natural fragrance for hair. Its woodsy, citrusy scent can linger in the hair, providing a subtle, long-lasting fragrance that also promotes relaxation. This makes it an excellent choice for those who prefer natural scents over synthetic fragrances in their hair care products.

How To Use Palo Santo Essential Oil

Aromatherapy Diffusion

  • How to Use: Add a few drops of Palo Santo essential oil to an essential oil diffuser with water and diffuse it in your living space. This method fills the room with its calming and grounding aroma.
  • Benefits: Diffusing Palo Santo oil helps purify the air, reduces stress, promotes relaxation, and enhances mental clarity. It’s an excellent way to create a peaceful environment for meditation or relaxation.

Topical Application

  • How to Use: Dilute Palo Santo essential oil with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or sweet almond oil, at a 2-3% dilution (around 12-18 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil). Apply the mixture to the skin as a massage oil or spot treatment.
  • Benefits: When applied topically, Palo Santo oil helps soothe skin irritations, reduce inflammation, and alleviate muscle and joint pain. It can also be used in a massage to relieve tension and stress.

Meditation and Mindfulness

  • How to Use: Before meditating, apply a drop of diluted Palo Santo essential oil to your wrists, temples, or the back of your neck, or inhale the aroma directly from the bottle.
  • Benefits: Palo Santo oil’s grounding and calming properties enhance meditation, helping you to focus, reduce anxiety, and achieve a deeper state of mindfulness. Its spiritual significance in traditional practices also supports emotional and spiritual healing.

Inhalation

  • How to Use: Place a few drops of Palo Santo essential oil on a tissue or cotton ball and inhale deeply. Alternatively, add a drop to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, cup them over your nose, and inhale.
  • Benefits: Inhaling Palo Santo oil can quickly relieve stress, clear the mind, and support respiratory health. It’s particularly effective for calming the mind and body during moments of anxiety or tension.

Bath Soak

  • How to Use: Add 5-10 drops of Palo Santo essential oil to a warm bath along with Epsom salts or a carrier oil. Swirl the water to disperse the oil before soaking.
  • Benefits: A Palo Santo-infused bath helps relax the muscles, ease tension, and provide a sense of tranquility. The oil’s anti-inflammatory properties also make it beneficial for soothing tired or sore muscles.

Skincare

  • How to Use: Incorporate Palo Santo essential oil into your skincare routine by adding a drop or two to your facial moisturizer, serum, or a carrier oil. Apply as you would with any other facial product.
  • Benefits: Palo Santo oil’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties help protect the skin from free radicals, reduce redness, and promote a clear, glowing complexion. It is especially beneficial for sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Hair Care

  • How to Use: Mix a few drops of Palo Santo essential oil with your shampoo, conditioner, or a carrier oil. Massage into the scalp and hair, then rinse thoroughly.
  • Benefits: Palo Santo oil helps maintain a healthy scalp, controls dandruff, and strengthens hair strands. It also adds a natural shine and a pleasant woodsy fragrance to your hair.

Room Spray

  • How to Use: Create a room spray by mixing 10-15 drops of Palo Santo essential oil with distilled water and a small amount of witch hazel in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use and mist around your space.
  • Benefits: A Palo Santo room spray purifies the air, eliminates odors, and creates a calming atmosphere in any room. It’s a natural alternative to synthetic air fresheners.

Spiritual Cleansing

  • How to Use: For spiritual cleansing, use Palo Santo essential oil in rituals or energy-cleansing practices. Apply a few drops to pulse points, or use it to anoint candles or crystals during ceremonies.
  • Benefits: Palo Santo oil is traditionally used for clearing negative energy and promoting positive vibrations. It is believed to protect against negative influences and enhance spiritual awareness.

Homemade Candles and Diffusers

  • How to Use: Add a few drops of Palo Santo essential oil to homemade candles, reed diffusers, or potpourri blends.
  • Benefits: Infusing your home with the grounding and cleansing aroma of Palo Santo oil helps maintain a tranquil and harmonious environment. It’s a great way to continuously enjoy the oil’s benefits throughout the day.

Bug Repellent

  • How to Use: Mix a few drops of Palo Santo essential oil with a carrier oil or distilled water in a spray bottle. Apply to the skin or spray around outdoor areas.
  • Benefits: Palo Santo oil is known for its ability to repel insects, making it a natural and effective bug repellent. It’s particularly useful during outdoor activities to keep mosquitoes and other pests at bay.

Mental Well-being

  • How to Use: Incorporate Palo Santo essential oil into daily rituals such as diffusing during work or study sessions, adding it to your bath, or applying it to pulse points throughout the day.
  • Benefits: The calming and centering aroma of Palo Santo oil helps alleviate stress, reduce anxiety, and improve mental clarity. It supports overall mental well-being by promoting a sense of peace and relaxation.

DIY Recipes With Palo Santo Essential Oil

Palo Santo has a paradoxical aroma, it is calming and grounding yet energetic. It is widely used in aromatherapy for meditation. Here are a few recipes with Palo Santo oil that you can use.

DIY Recipe #1 - Citrusy Overload

Ingredients

  • 4 drops of Palo Santo essential oil
  • 4 drops of lemon essential oil
  • 4 drops of sweet orange essential oil

Instructions

  • Add the oil drops into an aroma diffuser.
  • Diffuse the aroma in the morning and afternoon to spread an energetic citrusy vibe to the whole room.

DIY Recipe #2 - Unique Recipe with Unique Oils

There are many essential oils that are not known to many people. These oils are not rare, but people are averse to trying them out and stick to the popular ones. Here is a recipe made with essential oils that are unique.

Ingredients

  • 4 drops of Palo Santo essential oil
  • 5 drops of Opopanax essential oil
  • 6 drops of angelica root essential oil
  • 3 drops of yarrow essential oil
  • 7 drops of benzoin essential oil

Instructions

  • Add the oil drops into an aroma diffuser.
  • Skip a few oils if you do not have all the listed oils.
  • Diffuse it in the evening

DIY Recipe #3 - Herbal Aromatics

Ingredients

  • 5 drops of palo santo essential oil
  • 5 drops of Melissa essential oil
  • 3 drops of carrot seed essential oil
  • 5 drops of Helichrysum essential oil

Instructions

  • Add the oil drops into an aroma diffuser.
  • This blend works well spring time

DIY Recipe #4 - Simple Life

Ingredients

  • 6-8 drops of lavender essential oil
  • 5 drops of palo santo essential oil

Instructions

  • Diffuse and relax

Safety When Using Palo Santo Oil

Essential oils are great for self-care routines. However, we should also take care and follow caution when using them to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from its side effects. Generally essential oils are safe, but a few guidelines must be followed to avoid any adverse effects. Also, the oils are different, made up of different compounds. Some people may be allergic to certain compounds while others may be allergic to others. Concentrated oil must be bought after careful deliberation. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

  1. Read the label and instructions to make sure you’re using the oil correctly.
  2. While buying essential oils be wary of the terms fragrance oil, perfume oil and natural identical oil.
  3. The term pure essential oil can be widely seen on the bottles. These maybe made from substandard sources.
  4. Ensure that you are not allergic to any ingredients or compounds in the oil.
  5. Make sure to dilute the essential oil in a carrier oil for safe application.
  6. Do not add too much of the oil in the diffuser.
  7. Avoid using essential oils of sensitive areas like the eyes and nose.
  8. Don’t apply it on broken skin either unless it’s mentioned on the bottle or label.
  9. Keep it out of reach of kids and fur kids.
  10. Do not diffuse the oil near kids and pets. Consult a doctor before doing so.
  11. Some oils may make you sensitive to sun damage, so be sure to load up on SPF.
  12. Check the label to see if the oil is photo-toxic.
  13. The oil may cause embryotoxicity; consult a doctor before use.
  14. Always do a small patch test before topical application.
  15. If aromatherapy is performed directly from the bottle, make sure that the oil does not touch the skin.
  16. The common unwanted effects caused by essential oils up on topical application are rashes, redness and swelling.
  17. If you show signs of irritation, stop use and consult a health professional.
  18. Some essential oils cannot be used by people with kidney problems, whereas some essential oils cannot be used by those with blood disorders. It is always advisable to consult a doctor about your essential oil needs and predisposition for diseases.

Conclusion

Palo Santo essential oil is a versatile and powerful natural remedy, revered for its numerous health, skin, and hair benefits. Originating from the sacred "holy wood" of South America, this oil has been traditionally used for centuries in spiritual and medicinal practices. Its calming, grounding aroma makes it an ideal choice for aromatherapy, helping to reduce stress, enhance meditation, and promote mental clarity. When used in skincare, Palo Santo oil’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties soothe irritated skin, combat acne, and promote a clear, glowing complexion. For hair care, it nourishes the scalp, strengthens hair strands, and adds a natural shine.

Beyond its wellness benefits, Palo Santo essential oil also serves as a natural bug repellent, making it an excellent addition to your outdoor activities. Its ability to purify spaces and clear negative energy adds another layer of usefulness, especially in spiritual practices. Whether diffused, applied topically with a carrier oil, or used in a bath soak, Palo Santo essential oil can easily be incorporated into your daily routine to enhance your overall well-being.

As with any essential oil, it’s important to use Palo Santo oil responsibly, ensuring proper dilution and patch testing, especially for those with sensitive skin. By embracing this sacred oil, you can tap into its centuries-old benefits, bringing balance, peace, and a touch of ancient wisdom into your modern life. Whether for mental, physical, or spiritual well-being, Palo Santo essential oil stands as a timeless ally in your journey toward holistic health.

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