Smudging, also known as smoking or saging, refers to the burning of dried botanicals, such as herb and resins, which create smoke that is used for clearing and transforming negative energy, connecting heaven and earth, and healing.
A Brief History of Medicinal Smoke
Smoke offerings for medicinal and spiritual purpose are found in ancient Egypt and other African countries, Europe including Greece; France; the Celtic nations in Britain and Europe; far north traditions in Europe and in Ireland, in India; Nepal; Japan and Australia. Their use carries with it a rich and complex tradition done with reverence and intention.
In hr article, Smudging - Rekindling Ancient Traditions, Nikki Darrell writes that “in most cultures throughout the world smoke, smudge, and incense would have formed part of ritual and ritual was seen as part of the sacred ordinary and ordinary sacredness. Smoke was used as an offering to the deities and the sacred, for meditation and ritual, to cleanse animals (including the human ones) and make them healthy, for fumigation and space clearing, to preserve food and in some places squatting over smoke was used cleanse and repair the womb after childbirth."
Health Benefits of Medicinal Smoke
In addition to creating a fragrant and uplifting aroma, scientific research has shown that medicinal smoke may offer potential health benefits including:
Most types of sages have antimicrobial properties and can keep infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi at bay. In a 2007 study, “Medicinal Smoke Reduces Airborne Bacteria” published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology demonstrated that 60 minutes of medicinal smoke, a mixture of woods and medicinal herbs, reduced the airborne bacteria population in a room by 94% and this purified state persisted for 24 hours after the practice. This research concluded that by using medicinal smoke, it is possible to eliminate numerous pathogens from the air of any confined space. It is also important to bear in mind that smoke allows its medicinal components to be rapidly absorbed by the body and brain easily affecting the lungs, brain, and skin.
Burning sage and other sacred herbs may improve greater harmony, contentment, balance, and happiness health:
A 2013 study, “Air ions and mood outcomes: a review and meta-analysis” in BMS Psychiatry suggested a decreased severity of depressive symptom scores in subjects with exposures to high dose negative ionization. Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that, once reaching the bloodstream, are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase levels of the mood chemical serotonin, helping to alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost energy.
A 2014 study, “Medicinal plants for the treatment of “nervios”, anxiety, and depression in Mexican Traditional Medicine” published in Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia, documented the use of Artemisia ludoviciana as an important traditional remedy for treating anxiety, depression, and mood disorders in certain cultures.
A 2016 research project, “Terpenes and Flavonoids From Salvia apiana and Their Affinities to Cannabinoid and Opioid Receptors, for the University of Mississippi established that Salvia apiana is rich in compounds that activate certain receptors in the brain responsible for elevating mood levels, reducing stress, and even alleviating pain.
It may improve the quality of your sleep, concentration and focus. A 2016 article, A review study of therapeutic effects of Salvia officinalis L, suggests that sage contains compounds that could help ease insomnia and may affect neurological and cognitive function that may show promise in treating dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Sage Wisdom - Types of Sages
“On these hills many aromatic herbs are seen; resembling in taste, smel [ [ [sic]] ] and appearance, the sage, hysop, wormwood, southernwood and two other herbs which are strangers to me the one resembling the camphor in taste and smell, rising to the height of 2 or 3 feet; the other about the same size, has a long narrow, smo[o]th, soft leaf of an agreeable smel [ sic ] and flavor; of this last the A[n]telope is very fond; they feed on it, and perfume the hair of their foreheads and necks with it by rubing [ sic ] against it."
from Original Journals of Lewis and Clark, Artemisia cana was described informally by its collector, Meriwether Lewis (collected on October 1, 1804, in the vicinity of Centinel Creek in South Dakota, during the epic Lewis and Clark Expedition
Sage is the most common herb used for smudging. There are two types of “sages - Salvia and Artemisia, both commonly known as ‘white sage’. Sage offers courage, grounding, perseverance, protection and strength.
The key active chemical constituents of salvia and artemisia are 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), camphor, and thujone. Thujone is most present in the plant leaves and is mildly psychoactive.
The key therapeutic benefits include:
Salvia: Anti-bacterial, Anti-infectious, Anti-microbial, Anti-septic, Anti-viral, Decongestant, Energizing, Expectorant, Mucolytic, Stimulant.
Artemisia: Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-asthmatic, Anti-depressant, Anti-infectious, Anti-parasitic, Anti-rheumatic, Anti-spasmodic, Anti-viral, Cephalic, Disinfectant, Energizing, Mucolytic
Salvia (Sage)
Salvia is the largest genus in the Lamiaceae (mint) family with over 750 species. The name Salvia comes from the Latin salvere or salvere meaning save, cure, preserve or redeem. Pliny the Elder (Roman, AD 23/24–79), author, naturalist, philosopher, and military commander, was the first author known to describe a plant called Salvia.
With their pungent, vivifying aromas, square sturdy stems, and strong relationship to the elements of earth and fire; the Lamiaceae always speak to the integration of the earthly body of substance to higher realms of Light and Warmth.
Patricia Kaminsky
Salvia is associated with clearing, cleansing, fertility, healing, wisdom, mental clarity and longevity. It is associated with Jupiter and Zesus, the Roman and Greek gods of the sky and thunder; the sun, the planet Jupiter, the zodiac sign of Sagittarius, and the element of air.
Salvia apiana
Common Names: Bee Sage, California Sage, Grandfather Sage, Sacred Sage, White Sage
Native Region: Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico
Salvia azurea
Common Names: Azure Sage, Blue Sage, Prairie Sage
Native Region: Central and Eastern North America
Salvia clevelandii
Common Names: Cleveland Sage, Desert Sage, Fragrant Sage, Grandmother Sage, New Mexico Sage
Native Region: Southern California and northern Baja California
Other Uses: Abundance, inner strength
Salvia leucophylla
Common Name: Gray Sage, Lavender Sage, Purple Sage, San Luis Purple Sage, Wild Lavender, Lavender Sage
Native Region: Southern coastal California
Other Uses: Calming, Relaxing, Sedating
Salvia mellifera
Common Names: Black Sage, California Black Sage and Honey Sage
Native Region: California and Baja California
Other Uses: Dream work, Introspection, Visioning
Salvia officinalis
Common Names: Common Sage, Dalmatian Sage, Green Sage, Kitchen Sage
Native Region: Europe
Salvia leucantha
Common Name: Mexican Sage, Mexican Bush Sage
Native Region: Central and eastern Mexico
Artemisia
Artemisia (Sagebrush) belongs to the Asteraceae (Aster, Sunflower, Daisy) family and is one of the largest genus including about 400 species. The name Artemisia comes from the Greek, ‘wormwood’, named after the Greek goddess Artemis (Roman, Diana), goddess of the moon, the hunt, and chastity. Artemisia is associated with the moon, plants of Mars, Mercury and Venus, and the element of air.
Artemisia californica
Common Names: California Sagebrush
Native Region: Central and Southern California
Artemisia cana
Common Names: Coaltown Sagebrush, Dwarf Sagebrush, Hoary Sagebrush, Silver Sagebrush, Silver Sagebrush, Sticky Sagebrush
Native Region: northern plains area of the United States and Canada
Artemisia frigidaare
Common Names: Fringed Sage, Pasture Sagewort, Prairie Sage, Silver Chicken Sage
Native Region: Southwest
Artemisia ludoviciana
Common Names: Badlands Sage, Cudweed Sagewort, Dakota White Sage, Grandfather Sage, Lakota Sage, Gray Sagewort, Louisiana Artemisia, Louisiana Sage, Louisiana Sagewort, Louisiana Wormwood, Old Man Sage. Silver King, Silver Sage, Silver Wormwood, Western Mugwort, White Prairie Sage, White Sagebrush
Native Region: Badlands of South Dakota in Louisiana and New Mexico
Artemisia tridentada
Common Names: Big Sagebrush, Blue Sage. Sagebrush, Desert Sage, Desert Sagebrush, Desert Magic, Mountain Sage, Great Basin Sage, New Mexico Sage, Sagebrush
Native Region: Great Basic (Utah, and sections of Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, and California.
Other Uses: Divination, Dream work, Strength
Artemisia vulgaris
Common Name: Black Sage, Chrysanthemum Weed, Cronewort, Felon Herb, Mugwort, Riverside Wormwood, Sailor's Tobacco, Wild Wormwood
Native Region: Asia, Europe, Western North America, Alaska
Other Uses: Dream work, Visioning
I release all that no longer serves my Highest Good. I purify my Self of all that is no longer serving me. I remain True to the heart of who I am.
In the next post, we'll continue our survey of plants used in smudging.
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