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The essential oil of palo santo is responsible for the unique fragrance of this wood, and contains resins that are rich in the sesquiterpene class of compounds, most notably limonene. It also contains the fragrant compounds non-amine and germacrene. Aged heartwood is rich in terpenes such as limonene and α-terpineol.* widely used in folk medicine for stomach ache, as sudorific, and as liniment for rheumatism.* In one published Cuban medical study, components in the essential oil inhibited the growth of a specific type of breast cancer, MCF-7. * Palo santo essential oil is significantly anti-bacterial, which probably explains its traditional use as an incense wood for dispelling bad energy.