Palo santo essential oil is known for its powerful antioxidant capabilities. Also called holy wood, palo santo essential oil comes from the palo santo plant. In fact, it belongs to the same family as frankincense and myrrh. And like its cousins, this essential oil is useful for treating a variety of conditions. For example, it can fight free radical damage, relieve headaches, and reduce stress. However, one of the most prominent and well-known uses of this oil is to repel insects. Read on to learn more about the fascinating history of this essential oil.
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Palo Santo: a spiritual connection
The palo santo tree has strong spiritual and mystical ties, and as such it has been used by shamans and other spiritual and medicine leaders for centuries. In fact, the common practice was to use it to clear airspace negativity, similar to the notion of using sage. Its aroma is sweet and woody, with slight nuances of both citrus and mint, making it a truly unique fragrance.
Palo Santo essential oil health uses
Thanks to its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, there is great wealth in what a good palo santo essential oil can do.
1. Headache treatment
You can treat migraines and stress-induced headaches naturally with palo santo essential oil. For immediate headache relief, diffuse the oil around the home and inhale the fumes. You can also try rubbing palo santo oil and coconut oil on your temples and neck for pain relief. Use cautiously, however, as some people find that fragrances make migraine symptoms worse. Try a small inhalation from the bottle before diffusing or using it on your temples.
2. Improves the immune system
It is true that your body naturally detoxifies itself. But when it’s overloaded with toxins and pollutants, your body needs your help to rid itself of toxins. You can do this by eating a proper, organic diet and drinking plenty of pure, filtered water. However, it can also help your body detox with the power of essential oils. And palo santo essential oil can help in this process because it naturally helps support the immune system. For example, it can help reduce inflammatory responses caused by poor diet, pollution, stress, and illness. Combine several drops of pure palo santo oil with hot water to use as a detoxifying agent.
3. Cold or flu remedy
As mentioned above, palo santo essential oil promotes a healthy immune system. Additionally, palo santo oil works to improve blood circulation and give you a natural boost of energy. As such, this essential oil works well to fight a cold or the flu. For example, it can help reduce feelings of nausea, dizziness, and congestion. To help fight viruses and infections, apply a few drops of palo santo oil to your chest or add some warm water to your bath. You can also diffuse the oil while you sleep, keeping the diffusion mechanism close to the bed, like on the nightstand.
4. Stress reducer
Palo santo oil can help reduce pain, anxiety, and insomnia when inhaled. Apply several drops of palo santo essential oil mixed with a carrier oil, to the head, neck, or chest to reduce anxiety and promote a more restful night’s sleep. You can also diffuse it next to your bed while you sleep, or add several drops to the bathroom before going to bed. Do you want to reduce stress throughout the day? Of course, yes! To de-stress, pour palo santo essential oil into an essential oil necklace. This will give you the ability to smell it throughout the day. Alternatively, just take the bottle with you to work, or wherever the day takes you.
As this essential oil helps relieve stress and can eliminate an air of negativity, it is the perfect candidate for use in meditation. Spread it before or during your meditation practices to achieve a relaxed and positive frame of mind. Remember, you don’t have to set aside a large segment of time in your day to meditate. It can be as simple as diffusing palo santo or another relaxing essential oil, then taking five or ten minutes to focus while repeating a meaningful mantra.
5. Insect repellent
Many years ago, palo santo chips were used as incense to keep mosquitoes away. You can still do the same today with essential oil. Why use store-bought repellants with questionable ingredients when you can use the power of an essential oil instead? Use palo santo oil as a natural insect and mosquito repellent by combining it with water and spraying directly on your skin or clothing.
6. Pain reliever
The powerful anti-inflammatory properties of Palo Santo essential oil can help treat muscle and joint pain caused by arthritis, injury, neck pain, back pain, and muscle pain. Apply several drops of the oil with a carrier oil to the affected area three times a day. Also, you can try adding palo santo oil and Epsom salts to a warm bath for pain relief. However, if your pain is accompanied by inflammation, be sure to follow your bath with an ice treatment. Heat can make inflammation worse, while ice works to decrease it.
7. Allergy treatment
Thanks to the anti-inflammatory abilities of palo santo oil, it is a fantastic natural allergy treatment. Inhale the oil for relief of allergy symptoms. Palo santo oil can also help ease other inflammatory conditions, such as digestive problems and asthma symptoms. You can also consider diffusing the oil for the relief of these symptoms. Some odors, however, can make asthma symptoms worse in some people. Start with a singular inhale from the bottle to see how it affects you.
Palo Santo essential oil side effects
There are no exceptional side effects to consider with this essential oil. However, as with any essential oil, it can cause skin irritation, such as a rash or an allergic reaction. Test a small amount on a small area of your skin before applying generously. In addition, the internal use of this essential oil can cause nausea or vomiting. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid the use of most essential oils, especially internal use, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.