We're always looking for new ways to relax, tap into our inner peace, and just practice self-care. Palo santo is a vintage source that's turning into more than just a new trend to accomplish all of the above. Palo santo is Spanish for "holy wood" and is found on a tree called Bursera graveolens that grows in South American countries like Peru and Ecuador. Incans traditionally believed the smoke that stems from the wood as it's burned during ceremonies had medicinal benefits. Today, whether you spray its scent from a perfume bottle, inhale it as an essential oil, or indulge in it from a candle, the benefits of palo santo are still very present.
The Benefits Of Using Palo Santo:
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Relax, Sis
Palo santo has been compared to sage for several reasons; one of them being that they both offer relaxing results. Palo santo is said to have cleansing properties that ward off negative energy when a stick of it is burned and waved.
Gets Rid Of The Common Cold
Like many essential oils, when palo santo oil is placed in hot water and inhaled, it can reduce symptoms of the common cold like inflammation and congestion. Here's a bonus: It can also relieve stomach aches, bloating, cramping, and nausea.
Headaches, Be Gone
Yes, palo santo oil has a reputation for reducing headaches when combined with a carrier oil and rubbed on the temple of your head. Even when put in a diffuser or rubbed as a stick, palo santo oil can serve as a natural remedy for headaches.
Move Back, Bugs
Who knew palo santo could also work as a bug repellant? Smudging palo santo keeps away pesky insects like mosquitoes - and because it doesn't include any toxic chemicals and products, it's harmless for you and the bugs. So, it's a win-win.
Sweet Sleep
The smoke that comes from smudging palo santo can help you get a good night's sleep with its therapeutic antidotes. Burning a little before bed can help your body relax and reduce stress, getting you ready for a much-needed solid night of rest.
How To Use Palo Santo:
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While palo santo comes with a nice handful of benefits, there are multiple ways you can use it to make sure it serves the purpose you really need. If you have an actual stick of palo santo, light it with a candle (pointing the tip 45 degrees down to the flame) and let it burn for roughly 30 seconds before blowing it out. You can then place it in a candle holder or keep it in your hand.
Smudging is another method to take advantage of palo santo to get rid of negative energy. Many people start at their front door and make their way through their space to cleanse the home of any unwanted vibes.
A Final Note About Palo Santo:
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Lastly, it's vital to note that the palo santo tree is on the endangered watch-list. The United Plant Savers Medical Plant Conservation has stated that there are less than 250 full-grown trees in the wild, and the amount continues to dip (but isn't heading for extinction yet).
It's also advised that palo santo and other trees that are popularly used for sage and smudging (i.e. white sage, sweetgrass, and cedar), are extremely sacred to the Indigenous community and should be used as more than a trend. One option is to purchase palo santo from a viable and ethical company and business that support farmers that harvest the herb.
Alternatives for palo santo that could have the same benefits include lavender, rosemary, European sage, juniper, mint, and dill.
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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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