Nu-Nu

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Description

Two of the most effective medicines used in hunting are Nu-Nu (a hallucinogenic snuff) and Sapo, or Kambo (a preparation of frog secretion mixed with spit and burned into the skin). When hunting is poor even with the use of Nu-Nu, the more powerful Sapo is utilized.
Nu-Nu is a snuff made from toasted, crushed and finely powdered Mapacho (Nicotiana rustica) leaves, combined with the toasted, crushed and powdered inner bark of the Macambo tree (Theobroma bicolor), a member of the Cacao family. And is infused with the spirit of the maker of the drug.
Both trees are so vital to the Matses' life that when they are searching for a place to build a new puebla, both trees must be within a few hours walk of the intended home; their presence assures the Matses that the surrounding jungle will be benevolent.

Additional Remarks

Nu-Nu is a vision drug. A "giver" puts a little of the powder into one end of a hollow bamboo tube; the "user" puts the other end of the tube to his nose. The powder is then blown into the user's nose, where it explodes into his face, burning his nose and eyes and blurring his vision. He chokes up green phlegm and his blood pulses as though his body were short-circuiting. Over and over, the process is repeated until his eyes glaze over and he can no longer stand. Numbness replaces the sharp pain. He falls to the ground and his visions begin.

It is not, like Yopo, filled with tryptamines, and isn't psychedelic at all. Nonetheless, at large doses, maybe 14 half-gram bursts blown up your nostrils, there frequently comes a point--after the pain subsides--where you see something like a television screen and across it you'll see all of the animals of the jungle running. Tapir and peccary, monkeys and jaguars. The user sees himself walking in the jungle, and the animals there come to him. He communicates with the jungle animals, telling them that he is hungry and they are needed for food. He announces his intentions for hunting them and notes the location and time of day he sees them. Within a few minutes, the visions fade and a pleasant drunkenness washes over the user. If the Nu-Nu was especially potent, the visions may return unexpectedly for hours.

In the morning the hunter will go to where he "saw" the animals and wait for those he spoke with. When they arrive, he hunts them. The Matses believe that the animals are offering themselves freely to the slaughter.
The Matses say the jungle taught them the secret of Nu-Nu. In return, they never cultivate the plants whose leaves and bark are used in its preparation. They fear angering the animal spirits by having too much of an advantage over them.
The old Matses, the antiguas, say the animal sees the vision of their death as well, and still comes to the spot to die as that is its fate.

Nu-Nu and Sapo allow the Matse to experience the future, and communicate with the spirits of plants and animals. Specific predictions that constitute scenarios for hunting in a future time are captured while walking the future time track under the influence of Nu-Nu or Sapo. These predictions then manifest as experiences that occur in this ‘world’ when the hunter soon thereafter follows the trail and signs that were revealed to him when in the future, and he then concludes his journery with the successful hunt that was foretold.

One of the keys to making the Nu-Nu effective, say the Matses, is that the person blowing the Nu-Nu is also blowing his spirit and strength into you--not as in giving it away, but as in empowering you with his force as part of the force of the experience. So it's not just how hard you can blow, it's whether you can share yourself while doing it.
And the Nu-Nu is generally, or frequently, made by two great hunters--one working the leaves, the other the bark--before they're combined to give some of their force to it as well.

It is not only used in hunting, but also for curing diseases, both physical and spiritual (a distinctly shamanic practice); sometimes it is used for celebration or just to get a good night sleep after a bad day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgKuzRhddjs

Related Products

Kambo Sticks (Kambo Sticks)

Nu-Nu

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Description

Two of the most effective medicines used in hunting are Nu-Nu (a hallucinogenic snuff) and Sapo, or Kambo (a preparation of frog secretion mixed with spit and burned into the skin). When hunting is poor even with the use of Nu-Nu, the more powerful Sapo is utilized.
Nu-Nu is a snuff made from toasted, crushed and finely powdered Mapacho (Nicotiana rustica) leaves, combined with the toasted, crushed and powdered inner bark of the Macambo tree (Theobroma bicolor), a member of the Cacao family. And is infused with the spirit of the maker of the drug.
Both trees are so vital to the Matses' life that when they are searching for a place to build a new puebla, both trees must be within a few hours walk of the intended home; their presence assures the Matses that the surrounding jungle will be benevolent.

Additional Remarks

Nu-Nu is a vision drug. A "giver" puts a little of the powder into one end of a hollow bamboo tube; the "user" puts the other end of the tube to his nose. The powder is then blown into the user's nose, where it explodes into his face, burning his nose and eyes and blurring his vision. He chokes up green phlegm and his blood pulses as though his body were short-circuiting. Over and over, the process is repeated until his eyes glaze over and he can no longer stand. Numbness replaces the sharp pain. He falls to the ground and his visions begin.

It is not, like Yopo, filled with tryptamines, and isn't psychedelic at all. Nonetheless, at large doses, maybe 14 half-gram bursts blown up your nostrils, there frequently comes a point--after the pain subsides--where you see something like a television screen and across it you'll see all of the animals of the jungle running. Tapir and peccary, monkeys and jaguars. The user sees himself walking in the jungle, and the animals there come to him. He communicates with the jungle animals, telling them that he is hungry and they are needed for food. He announces his intentions for hunting them and notes the location and time of day he sees them. Within a few minutes, the visions fade and a pleasant drunkenness washes over the user. If the Nu-Nu was especially potent, the visions may return unexpectedly for hours.

In the morning the hunter will go to where he "saw" the animals and wait for those he spoke with. When they arrive, he hunts them. The Matses believe that the animals are offering themselves freely to the slaughter.
The Matses say the jungle taught them the secret of Nu-Nu. In return, they never cultivate the plants whose leaves and bark are used in its preparation. They fear angering the animal spirits by having too much of an advantage over them.
The old Matses, the antiguas, say the animal sees the vision of their death as well, and still comes to the spot to die as that is its fate.

Nu-Nu and Sapo allow the Matse to experience the future, and communicate with the spirits of plants and animals. Specific predictions that constitute scenarios for hunting in a future time are captured while walking the future time track under the influence of Nu-Nu or Sapo. These predictions then manifest as experiences that occur in this ‘world’ when the hunter soon thereafter follows the trail and signs that were revealed to him when in the future, and he then concludes his journery with the successful hunt that was foretold.

One of the keys to making the Nu-Nu effective, say the Matses, is that the person blowing the Nu-Nu is also blowing his spirit and strength into you--not as in giving it away, but as in empowering you with his force as part of the force of the experience. So it's not just how hard you can blow, it's whether you can share yourself while doing it.
And the Nu-Nu is generally, or frequently, made by two great hunters--one working the leaves, the other the bark--before they're combined to give some of their force to it as well.

It is not only used in hunting, but also for curing diseases, both physical and spiritual (a distinctly shamanic practice); sometimes it is used for celebration or just to get a good night sleep after a bad day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgKuzRhddjs

Related Products

Kambo Sticks (Kambo Sticks)

Nu-Nu

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Description

Two of the most effective medicines used in hunting are Nu-Nu (a hallucinogenic snuff) and Sapo, or Kambo (a preparation of frog secretion mixed with spit and burned into the skin). When hunting is poor even with the use of Nu-Nu, the more powerful Sapo is utilized.
Nu-Nu is a snuff made from toasted, crushed and finely powdered Mapacho (Nicotiana rustica) leaves, combined with the toasted, crushed and powdered inner bark of the Macambo tree (Theobroma bicolor), a member of the Cacao family. And is infused with the spirit of the maker of the drug.
Both trees are so vital to the Matses' life that when they are searching for a place to build a new puebla, both trees must be within a few hours walk of the intended home; their presence assures the Matses that the surrounding jungle will be benevolent.

Additional Remarks

Nu-Nu is a vision drug. A "giver" puts a little of the powder into one end of a hollow bamboo tube; the "user" puts the other end of the tube to his nose. The powder is then blown into the user's nose, where it explodes into his face, burning his nose and eyes and blurring his vision. He chokes up green phlegm and his blood pulses as though his body were short-circuiting. Over and over, the process is repeated until his eyes glaze over and he can no longer stand. Numbness replaces the sharp pain. He falls to the ground and his visions begin.

It is not, like Yopo, filled with tryptamines, and isn't psychedelic at all. Nonetheless, at large doses, maybe 14 half-gram bursts blown up your nostrils, there frequently comes a point--after the pain subsides--where you see something like a television screen and across it you'll see all of the animals of the jungle running. Tapir and peccary, monkeys and jaguars. The user sees himself walking in the jungle, and the animals there come to him. He communicates with the jungle animals, telling them that he is hungry and they are needed for food. He announces his intentions for hunting them and notes the location and time of day he sees them. Within a few minutes, the visions fade and a pleasant drunkenness washes over the user. If the Nu-Nu was especially potent, the visions may return unexpectedly for hours.

In the morning the hunter will go to where he "saw" the animals and wait for those he spoke with. When they arrive, he hunts them. The Matses believe that the animals are offering themselves freely to the slaughter.
The Matses say the jungle taught them the secret of Nu-Nu. In return, they never cultivate the plants whose leaves and bark are used in its preparation. They fear angering the animal spirits by having too much of an advantage over them.
The old Matses, the antiguas, say the animal sees the vision of their death as well, and still comes to the spot to die as that is its fate.

Nu-Nu and Sapo allow the Matse to experience the future, and communicate with the spirits of plants and animals. Specific predictions that constitute scenarios for hunting in a future time are captured while walking the future time track under the influence of Nu-Nu or Sapo. These predictions then manifest as experiences that occur in this ‘world’ when the hunter soon thereafter follows the trail and signs that were revealed to him when in the future, and he then concludes his journery with the successful hunt that was foretold.

One of the keys to making the Nu-Nu effective, say the Matses, is that the person blowing the Nu-Nu is also blowing his spirit and strength into you--not as in giving it away, but as in empowering you with his force as part of the force of the experience. So it's not just how hard you can blow, it's whether you can share yourself while doing it.
And the Nu-Nu is generally, or frequently, made by two great hunters--one working the leaves, the other the bark--before they're combined to give some of their force to it as well.

It is not only used in hunting, but also for curing diseases, both physical and spiritual (a distinctly shamanic practice); sometimes it is used for celebration or just to get a good night sleep after a bad day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgKuzRhddjs

Related Products

Kambo Sticks (Kambo Sticks)

Ficus insipida / Oje / Moraceae (Mulberry family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Description

Ficus insipida is a tree of the fig family which ranges from Mexico to South America. A slender tree at first, it can grow into a huge tree, frequently removed from areas near houses, as it is felt to attract mosquitos.
"The anthelmintic remedy ojé, prepared latex of Ficus insipida, is still used by indigenous and local people in the Amazonian regions."(1)

Contents

Phyllosanthine, beta-amyrin or lupeol; lavandulol, phyllanthol, and eloxanthine.

Synergic Combinations

Oje is included among the following plants, which are considered to "teach medicine" if the proper diet is kept, and can be added to the Ayahuasca beverage: Tobacco (a variety called Mapacho in the area), Toe (Brugmansia suaveolens), Uchu-Sanango (Tabernaemontana sp.), Ayahuma (Couroupita guianensis), Caupuri (Virola surinamensis), Tangarana (Triplaris surinamensis), Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus ebenifolia), Hiporuru (Alchornea castaneifolia), Mucura (Petiveria alliacea), Lupuna (Ceiba pentandra), Clavohuasca (Tynanthus panurensis), Bellaco Caspi (Himantanthus sucuuba), Huairacaspi (Cedrelinga catanaeformis), Huacapu (Vouacapoua americana), Chullachaqui Caspi (Tovomita sp.), Cumala (Virola sp.), Catahua (Hura crepitans), Abuta (Abuta grandifolia), Amasisa (Erythrinaglauca), Nuc-Nuc Pichana (Scoparia dulcis), Bobinsana (Calliandra angustifolia), Chiric sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora), Remo-Caspi (Pithecolobium laetum), Renaco (Ficus sp.), Tahuari (Tabebuia sp.), Capirona Negra (Capirona decorticans), and Cumaseba Negra, Tamshi, Puca Lupuna, Garabato, Millo Renaquilla, Murure, Palisangre, of which at this point I have only the common names. Some of these plants (Tobacco, Toé, Catahua, Mucura, Chiric Sanango and others) may be taken alone. This is also the case for Suelda con Suelda (Phtirusa pyrifolia), Raya Balsa (Montrichardia arborecens), Ajos Sacha (Mansoa alliacea) and Oje (Ficus insipida)

Historical

The latex was processed into powder in Iquitos and exported to many countries, especially for use by military forces. Many preparation methods exist. The latex is often fermented with sugar cane, orange juice or aguardiente, and then taken orally. If the latex is not fermented it will "burn" the insides of a person. The latex is toxic, and overdoses are dangerous. Despite its efficacy if correctly used, bad experiences make many people fear it and seek other methods to control parasites. Education programs have promoted ojé use in Peru. A common belief is that ojé trees attract mosquitos.(3)

Plant Description

A large tree with big plank buttresses. The trunk is smooth and gray brown, and the buttresses have rounded tops that are characteristic. Leaves are bright, shiny green, with yellow veins. The tip of a branch has a long, yellow, pointed stipule, which falls as the branch grows past it; this leaves a circular scar on the branch at the base of each leaf. Broken leaves drip white latex rapidly. On the ground beneath large trees are typically bright yellow fallen leaves.(2)

References

(1) Reevaluation of risks with the use of Ficus insipida latex as a traditional anthelmintic remedy in the Amazon, Anders Hansson, Julio C.Zelada and Hugo P.Noriega
(2) Ficus isipida Willd., Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
(3) Ficus insipida, Rainforest Conservation Fund

Ficus insipida / Oje / Moraceae (Mulberry family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Description

Ficus insipida is a tree of the fig family which ranges from Mexico to South America. A slender tree at first, it can grow into a huge tree, frequently removed from areas near houses, as it is felt to attract mosquitos.
"The anthelmintic remedy ojé, prepared latex of Ficus insipida, is still used by indigenous and local people in the Amazonian regions."(1)

Contents

Phyllosanthine, beta-amyrin or lupeol; lavandulol, phyllanthol, and eloxanthine.

Synergic Combinations

Oje is included among the following plants, which are considered to "teach medicine" if the proper diet is kept, and can be added to the Ayahuasca beverage: Tobacco (a variety called Mapacho in the area), Toe (Brugmansia suaveolens), Uchu-Sanango (Tabernaemontana sp.), Ayahuma (Couroupita guianensis), Caupuri (Virola surinamensis), Tangarana (Triplaris surinamensis), Chuchuhuasi (Maytenus ebenifolia), Hiporuru (Alchornea castaneifolia), Mucura (Petiveria alliacea), Lupuna (Ceiba pentandra), Clavohuasca (Tynanthus panurensis), Bellaco Caspi (Himantanthus sucuuba), Huairacaspi (Cedrelinga catanaeformis), Huacapu (Vouacapoua americana), Chullachaqui Caspi (Tovomita sp.), Cumala (Virola sp.), Catahua (Hura crepitans), Abuta (Abuta grandifolia), Amasisa (Erythrinaglauca), Nuc-Nuc Pichana (Scoparia dulcis), Bobinsana (Calliandra angustifolia), Chiric sanango (Brunfelsia grandiflora), Remo-Caspi (Pithecolobium laetum), Renaco (Ficus sp.), Tahuari (Tabebuia sp.), Capirona Negra (Capirona decorticans), and Cumaseba Negra, Tamshi, Puca Lupuna, Garabato, Millo Renaquilla, Murure, Palisangre, of which at this point I have only the common names. Some of these plants (Tobacco, Toé, Catahua, Mucura, Chiric Sanango and others) may be taken alone. This is also the case for Suelda con Suelda (Phtirusa pyrifolia), Raya Balsa (Montrichardia arborecens), Ajos Sacha (Mansoa alliacea) and Oje (Ficus insipida)

Historical

The latex was processed into powder in Iquitos and exported to many countries, especially for use by military forces. Many preparation methods exist. The latex is often fermented with sugar cane, orange juice or aguardiente, and then taken orally. If the latex is not fermented it will "burn" the insides of a person. The latex is toxic, and overdoses are dangerous. Despite its efficacy if correctly used, bad experiences make many people fear it and seek other methods to control parasites. Education programs have promoted ojé use in Peru. A common belief is that ojé trees attract mosquitos.(3)

Plant Description

A large tree with big plank buttresses. The trunk is smooth and gray brown, and the buttresses have rounded tops that are characteristic. Leaves are bright, shiny green, with yellow veins. The tip of a branch has a long, yellow, pointed stipule, which falls as the branch grows past it; this leaves a circular scar on the branch at the base of each leaf. Broken leaves drip white latex rapidly. On the ground beneath large trees are typically bright yellow fallen leaves.(2)

References

(1) Reevaluation of risks with the use of Ficus insipida latex as a traditional anthelmintic remedy in the Amazon, Anders Hansson, Julio C.Zelada and Hugo P.Noriega
(2) Ficus isipida Willd., Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
(3) Ficus insipida, Rainforest Conservation Fund

Chenopodium ambrosioides / Paico / Chenopodiaceae (Goosefoot family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Paico, Epazote, Erva-de-Santa Maria, Wormseed, Apasote, Chenopode, Meksika Cayi, Pazote, Simon Contegras, Mexican Tea, American Wormseed, Jesuit’s Tea, Payco, Paiku, Amush, Camatai, Cashua, Amasamas, Anserina, Mastruco, Mastruz, Sie-Sie, Jerusalem Tea, Spanish Tea, Ambroisie du Mexique, Wurmsamen, Hierba Hormiguera.

Bursera graveolens / Palo Santo / Burseraceae (Copal Family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Palo de la vida o Santo, Sacred Wood, Holy wood, St. Anthony`s wood, Palosanto, Mallka Waki.

Description

Palo Santo, or "Holy Wood" or "Sacred tree" is a natural aromatic incense wood, used for centuries by the Incas as a spiritual remedy for purifying and cleansing and to get rid of evil spirits, misfortune and calamity. Burning Palo Santo helps to create an overall peaceful and purifying effect. It has a wonderfully calming, soothing fragrance, with a powerful energy. Palo Santo is harvested under government supervision by the native peoples of the Amazonian region of South America. These are protected, one thousand year old trees from which the windfall is collected from the ground and considered sacred by the indigenous peoples for many generations.

Scent

Palo Santo has both a deep enjoyable wooden aroma as well as a nice warming middle range and a wonderful sweet top range to it. Palo Santos wide range of enjoyable aromatic 'notes' seems to be uniquely uncharacteristic to any single aromatic component. Burning a small piece of wood gives a peaceful warm atmosphere and leads you into a pleasant relaxed state of mind.

Contents

Aged heartwood is rich in essential oils such as limonene and alpha-pinene.

Preparation

Light the end of a Palo Santo stick, allow the flame to burn for a moment, and blow out the flame. Alternatively you can burn the powdered or shredded wood on Charcoal Disks.

Synergic Combinations

For those who love to experiment with the alchemy of combined scents, Palo Santo goes very well with the following incenses: Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), White Sage (Salvia apiana) and Copal (Dacryoides peruviana).

Historical

Palo Santo has been used by the Incas for generations. Shamans in the Andean mountains still use Palo Santo as part of their curing rituals. It is often used in Ayahuasca ceremonies. Its sacred properties and distinctly enjoyable aroma have only very recently been rediscovered by modern man. Nowadays Palo Santo can be found in the streets of Quito at Christmas, where the salesmen shout "Palo Santo, to clean your house of bad energy", "Palo Santo for good luck". The essential oil of the Palo Santo tree has many applications in aromatherapy.

Plant Description

Bursera graveolens inhabits the South American Gran Chaco region (northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and the Brazilian Mato Grosso). It is also common on the coast of Ecuador. It is related to the Frankincense tree (genus Boswellia). The Palo Santo tree has no branches on the lower part of the trunk, and within a radius of several yards not a leaf or a blade of grass will grow. It is a soft, light wood, usually found near the river banks, and is the favorite haunt of colonies of the Brazilian fire ant, a vicious insect with an extremely painful bite. Touch the tree, and armies of these ants rush out from holes in the trunk eager to attack, even dropping from branches above on to the trespasser.

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Alpha-pinene
Limonene

Related Products

Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi)
Charcoal disks (Charcoal disks)
Copal (Dacryoides peruviana)
Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)
Natural Scented Waters (Natural Scented Waters)
Chacruna (Psychotria viridis)
White Sage (Salvia apiana)

Bursera graveolens / Palo Santo / Burseraceae (Copal Family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Palo de la vida o Santo, Sacred Wood, Holy wood, St. Anthony`s wood, Palosanto, Mallka Waki.

Description

Palo Santo, or "Holy Wood" or "Sacred tree" is a natural aromatic incense wood, used for centuries by the Incas as a spiritual remedy for purifying and cleansing and to get rid of evil spirits, misfortune and calamity. Burning Palo Santo helps to create an overall peaceful and purifying effect. It has a wonderfully calming, soothing fragrance, with a powerful energy. Palo Santo is harvested under government supervision by the native peoples of the Amazonian region of South America. These are protected, one thousand year old trees from which the windfall is collected from the ground and considered sacred by the indigenous peoples for many generations.

Scent

Palo Santo has both a deep enjoyable wooden aroma as well as a nice warming middle range and a wonderful sweet top range to it. Palo Santos wide range of enjoyable aromatic 'notes' seems to be uniquely uncharacteristic to any single aromatic component. Burning a small piece of wood gives a peaceful warm atmosphere and leads you into a pleasant relaxed state of mind.

Contents

Aged heartwood is rich in essential oils such as limonene and alpha-pinene.

Preparation

Light the end of a Palo Santo stick, allow the flame to burn for a moment, and blow out the flame. Alternatively you can burn the powdered or shredded wood on Charcoal Disks.

Synergic Combinations

For those who love to experiment with the alchemy of combined scents, Palo Santo goes very well with the following incenses: Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), White Sage (Salvia apiana) and Copal (Dacryoides peruviana).

Historical

Palo Santo has been used by the Incas for generations. Shamans in the Andean mountains still use Palo Santo as part of their curing rituals. It is often used in Ayahuasca ceremonies. Its sacred properties and distinctly enjoyable aroma have only very recently been rediscovered by modern man. Nowadays Palo Santo can be found in the streets of Quito at Christmas, where the salesmen shout "Palo Santo, to clean your house of bad energy", "Palo Santo for good luck". The essential oil of the Palo Santo tree has many applications in aromatherapy.

Plant Description

Bursera graveolens inhabits the South American Gran Chaco region (northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and the Brazilian Mato Grosso). It is also common on the coast of Ecuador. It is related to the Frankincense tree (genus Boswellia). The Palo Santo tree has no branches on the lower part of the trunk, and within a radius of several yards not a leaf or a blade of grass will grow. It is a soft, light wood, usually found near the river banks, and is the favorite haunt of colonies of the Brazilian fire ant, a vicious insect with an extremely painful bite. Touch the tree, and armies of these ants rush out from holes in the trunk eager to attack, even dropping from branches above on to the trespasser.

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Alpha-pinene
Limonene

Related Products

Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi)
Charcoal disks (Charcoal disks)
Copal (Dacryoides peruviana)
Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)
Natural Scented Waters (Natural Scented Waters)
Chacruna (Psychotria viridis)
White Sage (Salvia apiana)

Bursera graveolens / Palo Santo / Burseraceae (Copal Family)

Information

This product is not sold or intended for the purpose of human consumption or cosmetic use. Any information provided about this product on this website, including any links to external websites, are solely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and must not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the product. The statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease." The use and application of this product, based on the historical and scientific context provided in the product descriptions and articles, is solely at the customer's risk. This product is a botanical specimen of ethnographic value and interest only and is delivered with no express or implied fitness for any purpose. The product descriptions are compiled from sources we deemed to be reliable up to the date it was written but may contain omissions or errors in fact, or become outdated. It outlines the documented history of uses but should no way be construed to make any medical claims about the ability or efficacy of any of these plants to treat, prevent or mitigate any disease or condition. Although a plant may have a long history of being used for a particular purpose, scientific evidence proving its efficacy for that purpose may be lacking.

Other Names

Palo de la vida o Santo, Sacred Wood, Holy wood, St. Anthony`s wood, Palosanto, Mallka Waki.

Description

Palo Santo, or "Holy Wood" or "Sacred tree" is a natural aromatic incense wood, used for centuries by the Incas as a spiritual remedy for purifying and cleansing and to get rid of evil spirits, misfortune and calamity. Burning Palo Santo helps to create an overall peaceful and purifying effect. It has a wonderfully calming, soothing fragrance, with a powerful energy. Palo Santo is harvested under government supervision by the native peoples of the Amazonian region of South America. These are protected, one thousand year old trees from which the windfall is collected from the ground and considered sacred by the indigenous peoples for many generations.

Scent

Palo Santo has both a deep enjoyable wooden aroma as well as a nice warming middle range and a wonderful sweet top range to it. Palo Santos wide range of enjoyable aromatic 'notes' seems to be uniquely uncharacteristic to any single aromatic component. Burning a small piece of wood gives a peaceful warm atmosphere and leads you into a pleasant relaxed state of mind.

Contents

Aged heartwood is rich in essential oils such as limonene and alpha-pinene.

Preparation

Light the end of a Palo Santo stick, allow the flame to burn for a moment, and blow out the flame. Alternatively you can burn the powdered or shredded wood on Charcoal Disks.

Synergic Combinations

For those who love to experiment with the alchemy of combined scents, Palo Santo goes very well with the following incenses: Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), White Sage (Salvia apiana) and Copal (Dacryoides peruviana).

Historical

Palo Santo has been used by the Incas for generations. Shamans in the Andean mountains still use Palo Santo as part of their curing rituals. It is often used in Ayahuasca ceremonies. Its sacred properties and distinctly enjoyable aroma have only very recently been rediscovered by modern man. Nowadays Palo Santo can be found in the streets of Quito at Christmas, where the salesmen shout "Palo Santo, to clean your house of bad energy", "Palo Santo for good luck". The essential oil of the Palo Santo tree has many applications in aromatherapy.

Plant Description

Bursera graveolens inhabits the South American Gran Chaco region (northern Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and the Brazilian Mato Grosso). It is also common on the coast of Ecuador. It is related to the Frankincense tree (genus Boswellia). The Palo Santo tree has no branches on the lower part of the trunk, and within a radius of several yards not a leaf or a blade of grass will grow. It is a soft, light wood, usually found near the river banks, and is the favorite haunt of colonies of the Brazilian fire ant, a vicious insect with an extremely painful bite. Touch the tree, and armies of these ants rush out from holes in the trunk eager to attack, even dropping from branches above on to the trespasser.

Articles

Any information provided about products on this website, including any links to external websites, is purely intended for historical, scientific and educational purposes and should never be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific use of the products.

Alpha-pinene
Limonene

Related Products

Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi)
Charcoal disks (Charcoal disks)
Copal (Dacryoides peruviana)
Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)
Natural Scented Waters (Natural Scented Waters)
Chacruna (Psychotria viridis)
White Sage (Salvia apiana)