Description

Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) is a tree that’s native to Peru, Ecuador, and other South American countries. It grows in dry tropical forests and produces very fragrant resin. In Spanish, palo santo means “holy wood.”

For thousands of years, the wood, resin, and oil have been used for medicinal purposes. It’s mainly used to treat pain and stress. It’s also said to clear negative energy.

Palo Santo is associated with several medicinal and therapeutic benefits. Reportedly, it can do the following:

Repel mosquitos : Traditionally, palo santo is widely used to repel mosquitos. It’s also said to deter ants, termites, and flies.

Reduce pain : helpful with arthritis, headaches, throat pain.

Improve stress response : Many people find the aroma of palo santo relaxing, so it’s commonly used to ease stress. It’s thought to have a purifying, cleansing effect on the body and mind.

This might also be due to limonene. In a 2013 animal studyTrusted Source, inhaled limonene exhibited anti-stress and anti-anxiety properties.