The Palo Santo tree (Bursera graveolens) or also known as sacred wood it is one of the most popular aromatic trees worldwide, thanks to its pleasant woody citrus aroma with a slight smell of mint and for its many healing properties. It is native to the dry forests of South America, it can be found in countries like Ecuador, Peru among others.

It has a life cycle of around 30 years. When this tree dies naturally must stand 2 to 4 years in their natural environment, That's when this sacred wood manifests all its healing properties.

It is believed that years ago the first cultures that settled in Ecuador used the smoke of the Palo Santo and its essential oil to ward off evil spirits, heal the soul and body of the sick.
At present the use of this sacred wood has not ceased to be an exception, It can even be purchased in different ways: Incenses, essential oils, soaps, creams, etc.

But due to the popularity that the sacred tree “Bursera graveolens” has gained, It has caused that some sites do not respect their life cycle and therefore offer products that have no benefit or utility.

You should know that a felled Palo Santo tree has no value since it does not contain its medicinal properties or smell.

So when purchasing Palo Santo or any product derived from this sacred tree, make sure you get them from reliable sites, that work responsibly and sustainably, that carry projects of reforestation and respect for the environment and its natural resources. This is the only way to enjoy the long-term medicinal properties found in this sacred tree, Bursera Graveolens.

In Ecuador, there are Reforestation Programs that aim to restore the dry forests of Manabí where the Palo Santo tree (Bursera Graveolens) lives.

This project began more than 5 years ago with the planting of the Bursera Graveolens species as it is one of the dominant species within the dry forests of Manabí Ecuador.

In the last two years, around 9,000 trees of Palo Santo have been planted, which are constantly controlled and monitored.

Although currently not in danger, the fake news around the internet about Palo Santo is causing people to stop using it, which is not appropriate.

Why is it important to use Palo Santo bursera graveolens?

Palo Santo gives us great benefits to our health as it has multiple healing properties, including large amounts of Limonene, a medicinal terpene known to be a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic agent that can be obtained if you use its essential oil.

The constant use of this sacred wood helps to relieve the symptoms of the flu, allergies, asthma, cough, migraine, stress and tiredness, cleanses and eliminates the bad vibes of the home, helping to obtain a better meditation, relaxation, and spiritual search.
In addition to providing well-being to your body, using Palo Santo or its derived products helps protect and restore dry forests. Although it sounds crazy, it is true, since you help the artisans and the families involved in the collection of this sacred tree financially, therefore it will make the artisans continue to take care of the trees and the forest as a whole.

But if the inhabitants of the surrounding communities of the dry forests that live from the Palo Santo timber trade do not find customers who acquire this sacred wood, they will most likely begin to cut the trees to use the land in short crops, raise cattle, do construction, or something that helps them financially.

Note: “The Palo Santo tree is not harvested, it should only be collected once it has died naturally”

Restoring and caring for tropical dry forests is essential for the well-being of nature and our future since these forests have a lot of vegetation such as Ceibos, Palo Santo (Bursera Graveolens), Pepito Colorado (Erythrina velutina) among others, ideal to contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint. They should know that these trees, like all the vegetation in dry forests, do not need much water to live, that is, they can remain in their natural habitat without anyone watering them.

It is a fact that we must protect our home called EARTH. It is in our hands to use their resources responsibly, and achieve sustainability for future generations. With love!

Thank you for the great post. I completely agree with you.

You're right, I think that each of us should do something to protect our land and trees. If we talk about the Palo Santo trees, I've recently read that they are not endangered, you can find an article about it. In fact, palo santo is used for incense as a remedy for stress and anxiety, so manufacturers plant many trees to use them for commercial purposes. And I think they are doing everything to make sure that these trees don't disappear. You probably know that palo santo means “holy wood” and it's used for medicinal purposes as I mentioned above. But sometimes you can buy a fake palo santo wood, so it's important to make sure it's ethically sourced. I hope you find this information helpful.