Mayan Protium Copal “Pom” essential oil 5ml • in-house distillation of Protium Copal • Belize
Mayan Protium Copal “Pom” essential oil 5ml • in-house distillation of Protium Copal • Belize
Small batch distillation by Pierre Black in Chiang Mai Thailand 2024.
This is essential oil improves with age, rounding and softening aromatically over time.
This oil was distilled from fresh resin wild harvested and fairly traded from the Maya people of Belize.
The essential oil distilled from Protium copal resin possesses a remarkably complex and highly praised aroma. Descriptions converge on a profile that is simultaneously deep yet delicate, lingering yet fresh. Keynotes include fresh green, fruity, and bright citrus (sometimes piney-lemony) elements layered over a warm, soft balsamic undertone, often with hints of amber. What appears to truly distinguish it is a pervasive, beautiful, soft musk note, sometimes described as an unusual "funky" musk, or an earthy quality. Some perceive floral nuances and even warm spice notes like pepper or cumin.
Its aroma is frequently compared to Elemi (Canarium spp.), another Burseraceae resin oil known for its fresh, citrusy, peppery, and balsamic facets. Like many complex resin essential oils, the aroma of Protium copal oil is noted to mature, deepen, and evolve over time with aging.
Modern Applications: Use in Perfumery and Aromatherapy
The unique and captivating aroma profile of Protium copal essential oil makes it a highly valued ingredient in modern applications, particularly perfumery and aromatherapy.
Its complex blend of fresh citrus and green top notes, floral and fruity heart notes, and warm balsamic, amber, and distinctive musky base notes provides depth, character, and lift to fragrance compositions. It can be used to create uplifting and sensual effects, often diluted in a carrier oil for direct application as a natural perfume.
In aromatherapy, while specific protocols are less documented than for more common oils, its traditional uses and known properties suggest significant potential. Its historical association with spiritual cleansing, purification, creating sacred space, and enhancing connection aligns well with aromatherapy applications aimed at energetic clearing and supporting meditation or spiritual practices. The scientifically validated anxiolytic properties of the inhaled resin smoke strongly suggest the essential oil could be beneficial in aromatherapy blends for stress reduction, anxiety relief, and promoting emotional balance. Its uplifting yet grounding aroma profile makes it suitable for enhancing focus, mental clarity, and creating a serene atmosphere conducive to meditation and mindfulness. Furthermore, its traditional use for skin conditions suggests potential applications in aromatherapy skincare preparations, always appropriately diluted in a carrier oil.
Protium Copal ("Pom"): Sacred Resin of Mesoamerica - Ethnobotany, Traditional Uses, and Essential Oil
Botanical Identity: Protium copal within the Burseraceae Family
The aromatic world of incense resins is rich and diverse, encompassing well-known materials like Frankincense and Myrrh. Within this botanical variety lies Protium copal (Schltdl. & Cham.) Engl., a species belonging to the Burseraceae family, often referred to as the incense tree family. This family, which also includes the genera Bursera, Boswellia (the source of Frankincense), and Commiphora (the source of Myrrh), comprises approximately 17 genera and 500-600 species. These trees and shrubs are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions, often dominating dry lowland ecosystems and characteristically yielding fragrant oleo-gum-resins or oleoresins when their bark is injured. The shared ancestry within Burseraceae hints at commonalities in resin production and aromatic profiles, such as the noted olfactory resemblance between Protium copal and Elemi resins (Canarium spp.), another member of the family.
Protium copal is one species within the Neotropically endemic genus Protium. Other species within this genus, such as Protium paniculatum from Peru, Protium heptaphyllum from Brazil, Protium amazonicum, Protium guianense, and Protium subserratum, also yield resins with traditional significance in their respective regions.
Protium Copal; The Resin
The resin of Protium copal is known by several names. While "Copal" is widely used, derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word "copalli" meaning simply "incense," the term "Pom" is prevalent in various Mayan languages. It is also referred to as True Copal or Mayan Copal. The generic nature of the term "Copal," which historically and commercially can refer to resins from entirely different plant families like Pinus (Pine) or Hymenaea (Leguminosae), underscores the critical importance of using precise botanical nomenclature, such as Protium copal, to avoid ambiguity in ethnobotanical research, traditional practice documentation, and trade. This precision is particularly vital when differentiating it from other resins also commonly called Copal, such as that from Bursera bipinnata (white Mayan copal)
Native Range and Habitat
Protium copal is endemic to the tropical regions of Mexico and Central America. Its known range includes southern Mexico (states of Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Yucatán), Guatemala (particularly the Petén and Alta Verapaz regions), Belize, and Honduras.
Physical Characteristics and Distinctive Aroma Profile
The resin harvested from Protium copal, commonly referred to as Pom Copal, is typically encountered in a fresh, sticky state. Traditional harvesting involves scraping the resin from the tree, and it is often packaged and sold wrapped in banana leaves, which helps maintain its pliable consistency. It is classified as a "soft copal," meaning it is an oleoresin – a natural mixture of resin and essential oil – rather than a harder, fossilized resin.
Protium Copal in Mesoamerican Ritual: Purification, Offerings, and Sacred Space
The primary and most widespread use of Protium copal throughout Mesoamerican history has been as a ceremonial incense. Its fragrant smoke permeated rituals held atop pyramids, within temples, in sacred caves, and in everyday homes. A core function of burning copal was, and remains, purification (limpia). The smoke is used to cleanse sacred spaces before ceremonies, purify ritual objects (including crystals), and clear individuals of negative energies, low vibrations, heavy emotions, fears, or spiritual contamination acquired through contact with illness or death. This cleansing prepares the environment and participants for sacred work and interaction with the divine.
Copal burning serves as a primary form of offering (ofrenda) to deities, nature spirits, and ancestors, signifying respect, gratitude, and supplication. The act of burning transforms the solid resin into fragrant smoke, a process central to its ritual power. The smoke itself carries profound symbolism. Often white and billowing, it was associated with benevolent spirits and deities.
Communicating with the Divine: Prayer, Divination, and Ancestral Connection
Central to the ritual use of Protium copal is its role as a medium for communication with the non-physical world. The fragrant smoke ascending from burning copal is widely believed to carry human prayers, intentions, and messages upwards to the deities and spirits residing in the heavens. It is the vehicle through which dialogue with the divine is initiated and sustained.
This communicative function extends powerfully to the realm of the ancestors. Copal is indispensable in Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) observances across Mexico and Central America. Burned on altars (ofrendas) and at gravesites, its distinctive aroma serves as an olfactory beacon, guiding the souls of the departed back to the world of the living for the annual celebration. The smoke not only guides but is also considered part of the spiritual essence consumed by the visiting souls.
Beyond prayer and ancestral connection, copal smoke has also been employed in divination practices. Certain groups, like the Otomi people of Mexico, traditionally interpreted the patterns formed by the rising smoke to diagnose illnesses or gain insight. The psychoactive properties suggested by its traditional use for calming and uplifting the mind, and potentially inducing trance-like states, further point to its role in opening channels for spiritual perception, receiving visions, and enhancing psychic abilities. Copal burning, therefore, acts as a crucial intermediary, facilitating the vital communication and relationship maintenance between humans, ancestors, and the divine that forms the bedrock of Mesoamerican spiritual traditions.
Specific Ritual Contexts
The integration of Protium copal into Mesoamerican spiritual life is evident in the wide array of ceremonies and practices where its use is considered essential:
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos): Perhaps its most widely recognized use today, copal is burned profusely on altars and graves to honor the dead and guide their spirits home.
Sweat Lodges (Temazcales): Burned for purification and spiritual cleansing during sweat lodge ceremonies.
Healing and Cleansing Rituals (Limpias): Employed by traditional healers (curanderos) and shamans to cleanse patients and spaces of negative energy, illness, or malevolent influences, and to perform exorcisms.
Sacred Plant Ceremonies: Used as incense during rituals involving other sacred plants, such as sacred mushrooms.
Rites of Passage: Burned to mark significant life transitions, including births, weddings, and funerals.
Agricultural Rites: Offered in planting ceremonies, like the Mam Maya pomixi ritual for maize, and burned to protect crops in the fields.
Divination: The smoke patterns are interpreted for diagnostic or divinatory purposes. Its psychoactive potential may also facilitate trance states for seeking visions.
Offerings at Sacred Sites: Burned extensively at temples, pyramids (like the Templo Mayor), sacred caves, lakes, wells (like the Sacred Cenote at Chichén Itzá), mountain tops ("Cerros"), and continues to be used in syncretic Christian churches (e.g., San Juan Chamula).
The sheer breadth of these applications underscores that copal was not merely an occasional ritual element but a pervasive and indispensable spiritual tool, woven into the fabric of daily life, healing practices, agricultural cycles, and cosmological understanding in traditional Mesoamerica.
Ethnomedicinal Applications: A Historical Overview
Beyond its profound spiritual significance, the resin of Protium copal has a rich history as a key component of traditional medicine systems throughout Mesoamerica. Its use by indigenous healers, shamans, and communities dates back to pre-Hispanic times, where it was valued for treating a variety of ailments alongside its ceremonial functions. Ethnobotanical records document its application by diverse groups, including the Maya and Aztecs. Some traditional herbal systems classify copal energetically, describing it as "hot and dry" which may rationalize its use for conditions like arthritis, often perceived as being aggravated by cold and dampness.
Topical Remedies: Skin Conditions, Wounds, and Pain Relief
One of the most prominent areas of traditional medicinal use for Protium copal resin is in topical applications for skin ailments and pain relief. It is widely reported as a treatment for various skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis, rashes, general itching, burns (including scalds), fungal infections (mycoses), and bacterial skin infections like impetigo. It is also applied to insect bites to soothe irritation.
Furthermore, the resin is valued as a vulnerary, an agent that promotes the healing of wounds and sores. Its application is believed to keep wounds clean, prevent infection (acting as an antiseptic), and accelerate the healing process. The Guarani people of the Amazon reportedly used it to treat wounds sustained in battle.
In addition to skin healing, Protium copal is frequently employed as a topical analgesic for musculoskeletal complaints. It is traditionally used to alleviate muscular aches and pains, and conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, and gout.
The practical preparation of these topical remedies often involves dissolving the Protium copal resin in warm vegetable oil to create ointments, salves, or cremes. This method is particularly effective because Pom Copal is understood to be a pure oleoresin, lacking the water-soluble gum component found in many other Burseraceae resins like Frankincense. This chemical nature allows it to dissolve readily in oil, making oil infusion a straightforward and efficient traditional technique for extracting its therapeutic compounds for skin application, compared to the more complex methods sometimes required for oleo-gum-resins.
Internal and Inhaled Uses: Respiratory Support and Other Ailments
Beyond topical applications, Protium copal has been traditionally used internally and via inhalation for other health concerns. Its use as an expectorant for respiratory conditions is documented, addressing ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, common colds, coughs, and nasal congestion. Administration for these issues often involved inhaling the smoke from the burning resin (fumigation).
There are also reports of its use internally for digestive complaints, potentially including diarrhea and stomach aches.
Oral health applications include using the resin to plug tooth cavities and treat mouth sores, and gingivitis, sometimes by chewing the resin directly like a gum.
Other recorded traditional uses include treatment for headache and fever (by the Huastec Maya). Interestingly, Mexican folk traditions also mention its ceremonial use in treating a "broken heart," suggesting applications extending into the psycho-emotional realm. The inhalation of its smoke is also traditionally associated with relieving anxiety, stress, and depression.
Preparation Methods in Traditional Healing
Traditional preparation methods for medicinal use of Protium copal vary depending on the intended application:
Direct Topical Application: Using the raw, unrefined resin, sometimes including bits of bark or leaves, directly on skin conditions or wounds.
Oil Infusion/Salve: Gently heating the resin in a vegetable oil (often using a water bath or double boiler to avoid burning the flammable resin) to create medicinal oils, ointments, pastes, salves, or cremes for topical use.
Fumigation/Inhalation: Burning the resin on charcoal and inhaling the smoke for respiratory conditions, spiritual cleansing, or mood alteration.
Chewing Gum: Chewing the raw resin for oral health issues.
Infusion (tea): Used for the treatment of digestive complaints, lung and respiratory conditions
Modern scientific investigation is beginning to validate some of the long-held traditional medicinal uses of Protium copal. Notably, research using animal models (rats) has demonstrated that inhaling the smoke from burning Protium copal resin produces significant anxiolytic-like effects, reducing learned fear behavior and increasing social interaction. These studies identified that the anti-anxiety effects are mediated through both the GABAergic system (specifically involving benzodiazepine receptors) and the endocannabinoid (eCB) system.
Phytochemical analysis revealed that the resin and its incense are rich in the pentacyclic triterpenes α-amyrin and β-amyrin. These compounds are known to possess various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects, and α-amyrin is known to interact with benzodiazepine receptors, providing a plausible mechanism for the observed anxiolytic activity. Furthermore, the research showed that copal and its constituent amyrins potently inhibit monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), a key enzyme that breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). By inhibiting MAGL, copal likely increases 2-AG levels, contributing to the activation of the eCB system and subsequent anxiety reduction. This scientifically validated anxiolytic effect, acting via pathways involved in mood and stress regulation, provides a compelling neurochemical basis for the traditional use of copal smoke for calming the mind, easing anxiety, enhancing meditation, and potentially inducing altered states of consciousness.
Additionally, the chemical profile of copal resin, containing isomeric tertiary and secondary cyclic terpene alcohols, supports its traditional use as an antiseptic and anti-rheumatic agent. Studies on other Protium species have also demonstrated antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal) and insect repellent activities in their essential oils, further aligning with traditional applications. The presence of known anti-inflammatory compounds like α- and β-amyrin provides a strong rationale for the widespread traditional use of Protium copal resin in topical preparations for treating wounds, skin infections, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and muscular pain.
Mayan Protium Copal “Pom” essential oil 5ml • in-house distillation of Protium Copal • Belize
Small batch distillation by Pierre Black in Chiang Mai Thailand 2024.
This is essential oil improves with age, rounding and softening aromatically over time.
This oil was distilled from fresh resin wild harvested and fairly traded from the Maya people of Belize.
The essential oil distilled from Protium copal resin possesses a remarkably complex and highly praised aroma. Descriptions converge on a profile that is simultaneously deep yet delicate, lingering yet fresh. Keynotes include fresh green, fruity, and bright citrus (sometimes piney-lemony) elements layered over a warm, soft balsamic undertone, often with hints of amber. What appears to truly distinguish it is a pervasive, beautiful, soft musk note, sometimes described as an unusual "funky" musk, or an earthy quality. Some perceive floral nuances and even warm spice notes like pepper or cumin.
Its aroma is frequently compared to Elemi (Canarium spp.), another Burseraceae resin oil known for its fresh, citrusy, peppery, and balsamic facets. Like many complex resin essential oils, the aroma of Protium copal oil is noted to mature, deepen, and evolve over time with aging.
Modern Applications: Use in Perfumery and Aromatherapy
The unique and captivating aroma profile of Protium copal essential oil makes it a highly valued ingredient in modern applications, particularly perfumery and aromatherapy.
Its complex blend of fresh citrus and green top notes, floral and fruity heart notes, and warm balsamic, amber, and distinctive musky base notes provides depth, character, and lift to fragrance compositions. It can be used to create uplifting and sensual effects, often diluted in a carrier oil for direct application as a natural perfume.
In aromatherapy, while specific protocols are less documented than for more common oils, its traditional uses and known properties suggest significant potential. Its historical association with spiritual cleansing, purification, creating sacred space, and enhancing connection aligns well with aromatherapy applications aimed at energetic clearing and supporting meditation or spiritual practices. The scientifically validated anxiolytic properties of the inhaled resin smoke strongly suggest the essential oil could be beneficial in aromatherapy blends for stress reduction, anxiety relief, and promoting emotional balance. Its uplifting yet grounding aroma profile makes it suitable for enhancing focus, mental clarity, and creating a serene atmosphere conducive to meditation and mindfulness. Furthermore, its traditional use for skin conditions suggests potential applications in aromatherapy skincare preparations, always appropriately diluted in a carrier oil.
Protium Copal ("Pom"): Sacred Resin of Mesoamerica - Ethnobotany, Traditional Uses, and Essential Oil
Botanical Identity: Protium copal within the Burseraceae Family
The aromatic world of incense resins is rich and diverse, encompassing well-known materials like Frankincense and Myrrh. Within this botanical variety lies Protium copal (Schltdl. & Cham.) Engl., a species belonging to the Burseraceae family, often referred to as the incense tree family. This family, which also includes the genera Bursera, Boswellia (the source of Frankincense), and Commiphora (the source of Myrrh), comprises approximately 17 genera and 500-600 species. These trees and shrubs are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions, often dominating dry lowland ecosystems and characteristically yielding fragrant oleo-gum-resins or oleoresins when their bark is injured. The shared ancestry within Burseraceae hints at commonalities in resin production and aromatic profiles, such as the noted olfactory resemblance between Protium copal and Elemi resins (Canarium spp.), another member of the family.
Protium copal is one species within the Neotropically endemic genus Protium. Other species within this genus, such as Protium paniculatum from Peru, Protium heptaphyllum from Brazil, Protium amazonicum, Protium guianense, and Protium subserratum, also yield resins with traditional significance in their respective regions.
Protium Copal; The Resin
The resin of Protium copal is known by several names. While "Copal" is widely used, derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word "copalli" meaning simply "incense," the term "Pom" is prevalent in various Mayan languages. It is also referred to as True Copal or Mayan Copal. The generic nature of the term "Copal," which historically and commercially can refer to resins from entirely different plant families like Pinus (Pine) or Hymenaea (Leguminosae), underscores the critical importance of using precise botanical nomenclature, such as Protium copal, to avoid ambiguity in ethnobotanical research, traditional practice documentation, and trade. This precision is particularly vital when differentiating it from other resins also commonly called Copal, such as that from Bursera bipinnata (white Mayan copal)
Native Range and Habitat
Protium copal is endemic to the tropical regions of Mexico and Central America. Its known range includes southern Mexico (states of Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Yucatán), Guatemala (particularly the Petén and Alta Verapaz regions), Belize, and Honduras.
Physical Characteristics and Distinctive Aroma Profile
The resin harvested from Protium copal, commonly referred to as Pom Copal, is typically encountered in a fresh, sticky state. Traditional harvesting involves scraping the resin from the tree, and it is often packaged and sold wrapped in banana leaves, which helps maintain its pliable consistency. It is classified as a "soft copal," meaning it is an oleoresin – a natural mixture of resin and essential oil – rather than a harder, fossilized resin.
Protium Copal in Mesoamerican Ritual: Purification, Offerings, and Sacred Space
The primary and most widespread use of Protium copal throughout Mesoamerican history has been as a ceremonial incense. Its fragrant smoke permeated rituals held atop pyramids, within temples, in sacred caves, and in everyday homes. A core function of burning copal was, and remains, purification (limpia). The smoke is used to cleanse sacred spaces before ceremonies, purify ritual objects (including crystals), and clear individuals of negative energies, low vibrations, heavy emotions, fears, or spiritual contamination acquired through contact with illness or death. This cleansing prepares the environment and participants for sacred work and interaction with the divine.
Copal burning serves as a primary form of offering (ofrenda) to deities, nature spirits, and ancestors, signifying respect, gratitude, and supplication. The act of burning transforms the solid resin into fragrant smoke, a process central to its ritual power. The smoke itself carries profound symbolism. Often white and billowing, it was associated with benevolent spirits and deities.
Communicating with the Divine: Prayer, Divination, and Ancestral Connection
Central to the ritual use of Protium copal is its role as a medium for communication with the non-physical world. The fragrant smoke ascending from burning copal is widely believed to carry human prayers, intentions, and messages upwards to the deities and spirits residing in the heavens. It is the vehicle through which dialogue with the divine is initiated and sustained.
This communicative function extends powerfully to the realm of the ancestors. Copal is indispensable in Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) observances across Mexico and Central America. Burned on altars (ofrendas) and at gravesites, its distinctive aroma serves as an olfactory beacon, guiding the souls of the departed back to the world of the living for the annual celebration. The smoke not only guides but is also considered part of the spiritual essence consumed by the visiting souls.
Beyond prayer and ancestral connection, copal smoke has also been employed in divination practices. Certain groups, like the Otomi people of Mexico, traditionally interpreted the patterns formed by the rising smoke to diagnose illnesses or gain insight. The psychoactive properties suggested by its traditional use for calming and uplifting the mind, and potentially inducing trance-like states, further point to its role in opening channels for spiritual perception, receiving visions, and enhancing psychic abilities. Copal burning, therefore, acts as a crucial intermediary, facilitating the vital communication and relationship maintenance between humans, ancestors, and the divine that forms the bedrock of Mesoamerican spiritual traditions.
Specific Ritual Contexts
The integration of Protium copal into Mesoamerican spiritual life is evident in the wide array of ceremonies and practices where its use is considered essential:
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos): Perhaps its most widely recognized use today, copal is burned profusely on altars and graves to honor the dead and guide their spirits home.
Sweat Lodges (Temazcales): Burned for purification and spiritual cleansing during sweat lodge ceremonies.
Healing and Cleansing Rituals (Limpias): Employed by traditional healers (curanderos) and shamans to cleanse patients and spaces of negative energy, illness, or malevolent influences, and to perform exorcisms.
Sacred Plant Ceremonies: Used as incense during rituals involving other sacred plants, such as sacred mushrooms.
Rites of Passage: Burned to mark significant life transitions, including births, weddings, and funerals.
Agricultural Rites: Offered in planting ceremonies, like the Mam Maya pomixi ritual for maize, and burned to protect crops in the fields.
Divination: The smoke patterns are interpreted for diagnostic or divinatory purposes. Its psychoactive potential may also facilitate trance states for seeking visions.
Offerings at Sacred Sites: Burned extensively at temples, pyramids (like the Templo Mayor), sacred caves, lakes, wells (like the Sacred Cenote at Chichén Itzá), mountain tops ("Cerros"), and continues to be used in syncretic Christian churches (e.g., San Juan Chamula).
The sheer breadth of these applications underscores that copal was not merely an occasional ritual element but a pervasive and indispensable spiritual tool, woven into the fabric of daily life, healing practices, agricultural cycles, and cosmological understanding in traditional Mesoamerica.
Ethnomedicinal Applications: A Historical Overview
Beyond its profound spiritual significance, the resin of Protium copal has a rich history as a key component of traditional medicine systems throughout Mesoamerica. Its use by indigenous healers, shamans, and communities dates back to pre-Hispanic times, where it was valued for treating a variety of ailments alongside its ceremonial functions. Ethnobotanical records document its application by diverse groups, including the Maya and Aztecs. Some traditional herbal systems classify copal energetically, describing it as "hot and dry" which may rationalize its use for conditions like arthritis, often perceived as being aggravated by cold and dampness.
Topical Remedies: Skin Conditions, Wounds, and Pain Relief
One of the most prominent areas of traditional medicinal use for Protium copal resin is in topical applications for skin ailments and pain relief. It is widely reported as a treatment for various skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis, rashes, general itching, burns (including scalds), fungal infections (mycoses), and bacterial skin infections like impetigo. It is also applied to insect bites to soothe irritation.
Furthermore, the resin is valued as a vulnerary, an agent that promotes the healing of wounds and sores. Its application is believed to keep wounds clean, prevent infection (acting as an antiseptic), and accelerate the healing process. The Guarani people of the Amazon reportedly used it to treat wounds sustained in battle.
In addition to skin healing, Protium copal is frequently employed as a topical analgesic for musculoskeletal complaints. It is traditionally used to alleviate muscular aches and pains, and conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, and gout.
The practical preparation of these topical remedies often involves dissolving the Protium copal resin in warm vegetable oil to create ointments, salves, or cremes. This method is particularly effective because Pom Copal is understood to be a pure oleoresin, lacking the water-soluble gum component found in many other Burseraceae resins like Frankincense. This chemical nature allows it to dissolve readily in oil, making oil infusion a straightforward and efficient traditional technique for extracting its therapeutic compounds for skin application, compared to the more complex methods sometimes required for oleo-gum-resins.
Internal and Inhaled Uses: Respiratory Support and Other Ailments
Beyond topical applications, Protium copal has been traditionally used internally and via inhalation for other health concerns. Its use as an expectorant for respiratory conditions is documented, addressing ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, common colds, coughs, and nasal congestion. Administration for these issues often involved inhaling the smoke from the burning resin (fumigation).
There are also reports of its use internally for digestive complaints, potentially including diarrhea and stomach aches.
Oral health applications include using the resin to plug tooth cavities and treat mouth sores, and gingivitis, sometimes by chewing the resin directly like a gum.
Other recorded traditional uses include treatment for headache and fever (by the Huastec Maya). Interestingly, Mexican folk traditions also mention its ceremonial use in treating a "broken heart," suggesting applications extending into the psycho-emotional realm. The inhalation of its smoke is also traditionally associated with relieving anxiety, stress, and depression.
Preparation Methods in Traditional Healing
Traditional preparation methods for medicinal use of Protium copal vary depending on the intended application:
Direct Topical Application: Using the raw, unrefined resin, sometimes including bits of bark or leaves, directly on skin conditions or wounds.
Oil Infusion/Salve: Gently heating the resin in a vegetable oil (often using a water bath or double boiler to avoid burning the flammable resin) to create medicinal oils, ointments, pastes, salves, or cremes for topical use.
Fumigation/Inhalation: Burning the resin on charcoal and inhaling the smoke for respiratory conditions, spiritual cleansing, or mood alteration.
Chewing Gum: Chewing the raw resin for oral health issues.
Infusion (tea): Used for the treatment of digestive complaints, lung and respiratory conditions
Modern scientific investigation is beginning to validate some of the long-held traditional medicinal uses of Protium copal. Notably, research using animal models (rats) has demonstrated that inhaling the smoke from burning Protium copal resin produces significant anxiolytic-like effects, reducing learned fear behavior and increasing social interaction. These studies identified that the anti-anxiety effects are mediated through both the GABAergic system (specifically involving benzodiazepine receptors) and the endocannabinoid (eCB) system.
Phytochemical analysis revealed that the resin and its incense are rich in the pentacyclic triterpenes α-amyrin and β-amyrin. These compounds are known to possess various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects, and α-amyrin is known to interact with benzodiazepine receptors, providing a plausible mechanism for the observed anxiolytic activity. Furthermore, the research showed that copal and its constituent amyrins potently inhibit monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), a key enzyme that breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). By inhibiting MAGL, copal likely increases 2-AG levels, contributing to the activation of the eCB system and subsequent anxiety reduction. This scientifically validated anxiolytic effect, acting via pathways involved in mood and stress regulation, provides a compelling neurochemical basis for the traditional use of copal smoke for calming the mind, easing anxiety, enhancing meditation, and potentially inducing altered states of consciousness.
Additionally, the chemical profile of copal resin, containing isomeric tertiary and secondary cyclic terpene alcohols, supports its traditional use as an antiseptic and anti-rheumatic agent. Studies on other Protium species have also demonstrated antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal) and insect repellent activities in their essential oils, further aligning with traditional applications. The presence of known anti-inflammatory compounds like α- and β-amyrin provides a strong rationale for the widespread traditional use of Protium copal resin in topical preparations for treating wounds, skin infections, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and muscular pain.
Mayan Protium Copal “Pom” essential oil 5ml • in-house distillation of Protium Copal • Belize
Small batch distillation by Pierre Black in Chiang Mai Thailand 2024.
This is essential oil improves with age, rounding and softening aromatically over time.
This oil was distilled from fresh resin wild harvested and fairly traded from the Maya people of Belize.
The essential oil distilled from Protium copal resin possesses a remarkably complex and highly praised aroma. Descriptions converge on a profile that is simultaneously deep yet delicate, lingering yet fresh. Keynotes include fresh green, fruity, and bright citrus (sometimes piney-lemony) elements layered over a warm, soft balsamic undertone, often with hints of amber. What appears to truly distinguish it is a pervasive, beautiful, soft musk note, sometimes described as an unusual "funky" musk, or an earthy quality. Some perceive floral nuances and even warm spice notes like pepper or cumin.
Its aroma is frequently compared to Elemi (Canarium spp.), another Burseraceae resin oil known for its fresh, citrusy, peppery, and balsamic facets. Like many complex resin essential oils, the aroma of Protium copal oil is noted to mature, deepen, and evolve over time with aging.
Modern Applications: Use in Perfumery and Aromatherapy
The unique and captivating aroma profile of Protium copal essential oil makes it a highly valued ingredient in modern applications, particularly perfumery and aromatherapy.
Its complex blend of fresh citrus and green top notes, floral and fruity heart notes, and warm balsamic, amber, and distinctive musky base notes provides depth, character, and lift to fragrance compositions. It can be used to create uplifting and sensual effects, often diluted in a carrier oil for direct application as a natural perfume.
In aromatherapy, while specific protocols are less documented than for more common oils, its traditional uses and known properties suggest significant potential. Its historical association with spiritual cleansing, purification, creating sacred space, and enhancing connection aligns well with aromatherapy applications aimed at energetic clearing and supporting meditation or spiritual practices. The scientifically validated anxiolytic properties of the inhaled resin smoke strongly suggest the essential oil could be beneficial in aromatherapy blends for stress reduction, anxiety relief, and promoting emotional balance. Its uplifting yet grounding aroma profile makes it suitable for enhancing focus, mental clarity, and creating a serene atmosphere conducive to meditation and mindfulness. Furthermore, its traditional use for skin conditions suggests potential applications in aromatherapy skincare preparations, always appropriately diluted in a carrier oil.
Protium Copal ("Pom"): Sacred Resin of Mesoamerica - Ethnobotany, Traditional Uses, and Essential Oil
Botanical Identity: Protium copal within the Burseraceae Family
The aromatic world of incense resins is rich and diverse, encompassing well-known materials like Frankincense and Myrrh. Within this botanical variety lies Protium copal (Schltdl. & Cham.) Engl., a species belonging to the Burseraceae family, often referred to as the incense tree family. This family, which also includes the genera Bursera, Boswellia (the source of Frankincense), and Commiphora (the source of Myrrh), comprises approximately 17 genera and 500-600 species. These trees and shrubs are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions, often dominating dry lowland ecosystems and characteristically yielding fragrant oleo-gum-resins or oleoresins when their bark is injured. The shared ancestry within Burseraceae hints at commonalities in resin production and aromatic profiles, such as the noted olfactory resemblance between Protium copal and Elemi resins (Canarium spp.), another member of the family.
Protium copal is one species within the Neotropically endemic genus Protium. Other species within this genus, such as Protium paniculatum from Peru, Protium heptaphyllum from Brazil, Protium amazonicum, Protium guianense, and Protium subserratum, also yield resins with traditional significance in their respective regions.
Protium Copal; The Resin
The resin of Protium copal is known by several names. While "Copal" is widely used, derived from the Nahuatl (Aztec) word "copalli" meaning simply "incense," the term "Pom" is prevalent in various Mayan languages. It is also referred to as True Copal or Mayan Copal. The generic nature of the term "Copal," which historically and commercially can refer to resins from entirely different plant families like Pinus (Pine) or Hymenaea (Leguminosae), underscores the critical importance of using precise botanical nomenclature, such as Protium copal, to avoid ambiguity in ethnobotanical research, traditional practice documentation, and trade. This precision is particularly vital when differentiating it from other resins also commonly called Copal, such as that from Bursera bipinnata (white Mayan copal)
Native Range and Habitat
Protium copal is endemic to the tropical regions of Mexico and Central America. Its known range includes southern Mexico (states of Chiapas, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Yucatán), Guatemala (particularly the Petén and Alta Verapaz regions), Belize, and Honduras.
Physical Characteristics and Distinctive Aroma Profile
The resin harvested from Protium copal, commonly referred to as Pom Copal, is typically encountered in a fresh, sticky state. Traditional harvesting involves scraping the resin from the tree, and it is often packaged and sold wrapped in banana leaves, which helps maintain its pliable consistency. It is classified as a "soft copal," meaning it is an oleoresin – a natural mixture of resin and essential oil – rather than a harder, fossilized resin.
Protium Copal in Mesoamerican Ritual: Purification, Offerings, and Sacred Space
The primary and most widespread use of Protium copal throughout Mesoamerican history has been as a ceremonial incense. Its fragrant smoke permeated rituals held atop pyramids, within temples, in sacred caves, and in everyday homes. A core function of burning copal was, and remains, purification (limpia). The smoke is used to cleanse sacred spaces before ceremonies, purify ritual objects (including crystals), and clear individuals of negative energies, low vibrations, heavy emotions, fears, or spiritual contamination acquired through contact with illness or death. This cleansing prepares the environment and participants for sacred work and interaction with the divine.
Copal burning serves as a primary form of offering (ofrenda) to deities, nature spirits, and ancestors, signifying respect, gratitude, and supplication. The act of burning transforms the solid resin into fragrant smoke, a process central to its ritual power. The smoke itself carries profound symbolism. Often white and billowing, it was associated with benevolent spirits and deities.
Communicating with the Divine: Prayer, Divination, and Ancestral Connection
Central to the ritual use of Protium copal is its role as a medium for communication with the non-physical world. The fragrant smoke ascending from burning copal is widely believed to carry human prayers, intentions, and messages upwards to the deities and spirits residing in the heavens. It is the vehicle through which dialogue with the divine is initiated and sustained.
This communicative function extends powerfully to the realm of the ancestors. Copal is indispensable in Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) observances across Mexico and Central America. Burned on altars (ofrendas) and at gravesites, its distinctive aroma serves as an olfactory beacon, guiding the souls of the departed back to the world of the living for the annual celebration. The smoke not only guides but is also considered part of the spiritual essence consumed by the visiting souls.
Beyond prayer and ancestral connection, copal smoke has also been employed in divination practices. Certain groups, like the Otomi people of Mexico, traditionally interpreted the patterns formed by the rising smoke to diagnose illnesses or gain insight. The psychoactive properties suggested by its traditional use for calming and uplifting the mind, and potentially inducing trance-like states, further point to its role in opening channels for spiritual perception, receiving visions, and enhancing psychic abilities. Copal burning, therefore, acts as a crucial intermediary, facilitating the vital communication and relationship maintenance between humans, ancestors, and the divine that forms the bedrock of Mesoamerican spiritual traditions.
Specific Ritual Contexts
The integration of Protium copal into Mesoamerican spiritual life is evident in the wide array of ceremonies and practices where its use is considered essential:
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos): Perhaps its most widely recognized use today, copal is burned profusely on altars and graves to honor the dead and guide their spirits home.
Sweat Lodges (Temazcales): Burned for purification and spiritual cleansing during sweat lodge ceremonies.
Healing and Cleansing Rituals (Limpias): Employed by traditional healers (curanderos) and shamans to cleanse patients and spaces of negative energy, illness, or malevolent influences, and to perform exorcisms.
Sacred Plant Ceremonies: Used as incense during rituals involving other sacred plants, such as sacred mushrooms.
Rites of Passage: Burned to mark significant life transitions, including births, weddings, and funerals.
Agricultural Rites: Offered in planting ceremonies, like the Mam Maya pomixi ritual for maize, and burned to protect crops in the fields.
Divination: The smoke patterns are interpreted for diagnostic or divinatory purposes. Its psychoactive potential may also facilitate trance states for seeking visions.
Offerings at Sacred Sites: Burned extensively at temples, pyramids (like the Templo Mayor), sacred caves, lakes, wells (like the Sacred Cenote at Chichén Itzá), mountain tops ("Cerros"), and continues to be used in syncretic Christian churches (e.g., San Juan Chamula).
The sheer breadth of these applications underscores that copal was not merely an occasional ritual element but a pervasive and indispensable spiritual tool, woven into the fabric of daily life, healing practices, agricultural cycles, and cosmological understanding in traditional Mesoamerica.
Ethnomedicinal Applications: A Historical Overview
Beyond its profound spiritual significance, the resin of Protium copal has a rich history as a key component of traditional medicine systems throughout Mesoamerica. Its use by indigenous healers, shamans, and communities dates back to pre-Hispanic times, where it was valued for treating a variety of ailments alongside its ceremonial functions. Ethnobotanical records document its application by diverse groups, including the Maya and Aztecs. Some traditional herbal systems classify copal energetically, describing it as "hot and dry" which may rationalize its use for conditions like arthritis, often perceived as being aggravated by cold and dampness.
Topical Remedies: Skin Conditions, Wounds, and Pain Relief
One of the most prominent areas of traditional medicinal use for Protium copal resin is in topical applications for skin ailments and pain relief. It is widely reported as a treatment for various skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis, rashes, general itching, burns (including scalds), fungal infections (mycoses), and bacterial skin infections like impetigo. It is also applied to insect bites to soothe irritation.
Furthermore, the resin is valued as a vulnerary, an agent that promotes the healing of wounds and sores. Its application is believed to keep wounds clean, prevent infection (acting as an antiseptic), and accelerate the healing process. The Guarani people of the Amazon reportedly used it to treat wounds sustained in battle.
In addition to skin healing, Protium copal is frequently employed as a topical analgesic for musculoskeletal complaints. It is traditionally used to alleviate muscular aches and pains, and conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, and gout.
The practical preparation of these topical remedies often involves dissolving the Protium copal resin in warm vegetable oil to create ointments, salves, or cremes. This method is particularly effective because Pom Copal is understood to be a pure oleoresin, lacking the water-soluble gum component found in many other Burseraceae resins like Frankincense. This chemical nature allows it to dissolve readily in oil, making oil infusion a straightforward and efficient traditional technique for extracting its therapeutic compounds for skin application, compared to the more complex methods sometimes required for oleo-gum-resins.
Internal and Inhaled Uses: Respiratory Support and Other Ailments
Beyond topical applications, Protium copal has been traditionally used internally and via inhalation for other health concerns. Its use as an expectorant for respiratory conditions is documented, addressing ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, common colds, coughs, and nasal congestion. Administration for these issues often involved inhaling the smoke from the burning resin (fumigation).
There are also reports of its use internally for digestive complaints, potentially including diarrhea and stomach aches.
Oral health applications include using the resin to plug tooth cavities and treat mouth sores, and gingivitis, sometimes by chewing the resin directly like a gum.
Other recorded traditional uses include treatment for headache and fever (by the Huastec Maya). Interestingly, Mexican folk traditions also mention its ceremonial use in treating a "broken heart," suggesting applications extending into the psycho-emotional realm. The inhalation of its smoke is also traditionally associated with relieving anxiety, stress, and depression.
Preparation Methods in Traditional Healing
Traditional preparation methods for medicinal use of Protium copal vary depending on the intended application:
Direct Topical Application: Using the raw, unrefined resin, sometimes including bits of bark or leaves, directly on skin conditions or wounds.
Oil Infusion/Salve: Gently heating the resin in a vegetable oil (often using a water bath or double boiler to avoid burning the flammable resin) to create medicinal oils, ointments, pastes, salves, or cremes for topical use.
Fumigation/Inhalation: Burning the resin on charcoal and inhaling the smoke for respiratory conditions, spiritual cleansing, or mood alteration.
Chewing Gum: Chewing the raw resin for oral health issues.
Infusion (tea): Used for the treatment of digestive complaints, lung and respiratory conditions
Modern scientific investigation is beginning to validate some of the long-held traditional medicinal uses of Protium copal. Notably, research using animal models (rats) has demonstrated that inhaling the smoke from burning Protium copal resin produces significant anxiolytic-like effects, reducing learned fear behavior and increasing social interaction. These studies identified that the anti-anxiety effects are mediated through both the GABAergic system (specifically involving benzodiazepine receptors) and the endocannabinoid (eCB) system.
Phytochemical analysis revealed that the resin and its incense are rich in the pentacyclic triterpenes α-amyrin and β-amyrin. These compounds are known to possess various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects, and α-amyrin is known to interact with benzodiazepine receptors, providing a plausible mechanism for the observed anxiolytic activity. Furthermore, the research showed that copal and its constituent amyrins potently inhibit monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), a key enzyme that breaks down the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). By inhibiting MAGL, copal likely increases 2-AG levels, contributing to the activation of the eCB system and subsequent anxiety reduction. This scientifically validated anxiolytic effect, acting via pathways involved in mood and stress regulation, provides a compelling neurochemical basis for the traditional use of copal smoke for calming the mind, easing anxiety, enhancing meditation, and potentially inducing altered states of consciousness.
Additionally, the chemical profile of copal resin, containing isomeric tertiary and secondary cyclic terpene alcohols, supports its traditional use as an antiseptic and anti-rheumatic agent. Studies on other Protium species have also demonstrated antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal) and insect repellent activities in their essential oils, further aligning with traditional applications. The presence of known anti-inflammatory compounds like α- and β-amyrin provides a strong rationale for the widespread traditional use of Protium copal resin in topical preparations for treating wounds, skin infections, and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and muscular pain.