Bursera Graveolens - Palo Santo
palo santo trees

Source of Ceremonial Fumes

Indigenous names - Palo Santo, Copal De Santo, Holy Wood

Many trees of the Burseraceae family produce aromatic resins, including Copal. Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) is traditionally burned with live coals in incense burners, and the fumes allowed to pass over the body to cure various illnesses, to protect against sickness, and misfortune, and to cleanse the body after contact with the ritually unclean, especially sick persons and corpses. A tea of the bark is taken to relieve dysentery (Wisdom 1950:929-930). As well as a ritual purificatory aromatic, Palo Santo is used as an analagesic, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, diuretic, expetorant, and insecticide.

palo santo wood

Holy Wood