This 'Holy Wood' From South America May Cleanse Your Home Of Negative Energy

Starting the day right is quite a challenge when you see your to-do list, and you realize it has more items than the numbers on a clock face. You instinctively panic, usually just in your mind as you're expected to be the keeper of peace and voice of reason in your household.

Maybe you have tried taking a moment to find your balance and composure, or going into meditation, doing breathing exercises, and the like. Then you can also try following a ritual of cleansing your home of energy with the help of a seemingly ordinary wooden stick.

Palo santo, which literally means "holy wood" in Spanish, has long been used in South American countries for healing of the body, mind, and spirit. Its benefits are now acknowledged in the rest of the world.

In the Philippines, palo santo sticks and other products are available through online shopping sites. One trusted brand is Purism, owned by Dr. Jeanne Damian, a licensed physician based in New York City, and Becs Domingo. They initially partnered with The Retreat Spa of Okada Manila to exclusively offer the Palo Santo Wellness Line and Clean Beauty Line in the country.

At the recent launch of Purism in Quezon City, the business partners explained to Smart Parenting how to maximize experiencing the benefits of palo santo, particularly the wood sticks.

1. Get one stick and light it up.

2. Wait for 30 seconds for the lit stick to produce a considerable amount of smoke.

3. Aim the smoking stick to yourself (pausukan) from head to foot, in a ritual called smudging. This will supposedly lower your stress levels and improve your mood.

4. Smudge every corner of your room, or even your entire house.  This will not only make your space smelling good, but also supposedly fight off the negative vibes.

If you don't want to use a stick, Dr. Damian says you can opt for the palo santo mist. "Sometimes when you get into arguments with people, or you just have a bad mood, you know, just spray the spritz. You can also think of good intentions, positive thoughts, right?"

Becs also suggests using the palo santo massage and body oil, as well as the palo santo relief roll-on to help relieve body pains, muscle aches, soreness, headaches, stress, and even insect bites, with some boosts of positive energy, too.

The business partners proudly say that all ingredients used in Purism products are sourced from farmers that practice ethical and sustainable harvesting. These are 100% pure and natural essential oils formulated to be clean, safe, and effective. But they make it clear for those pregnant or breastfeeding to consult with doctors first before using their products.

Read here for a guide on the use of essential oils.