Sage, Sweetgrass and Herbs- A guide to their uses
Sage |
| Used by Native Americans for thousands of years in spiritual ceremonies & for physical, spiritual, & mental healing. USES: Burning- used to purify people, places & things; takes away negative energy. External Use: (Physical Healing) stops bleeding, heals and cleans sores, hair tonic, hair growth, washing of hair and feet; removes body toxins. Internal Use: (as a tea) soothes stomach pain, gas & bowel troubles, expels worms, good for liver & kidneys, nervous disorders, fevers, pneumonia, head aches, gives strong circulation, increases sexual desire. Other Uses: (spiritual & mental) removes curses as used by spiritual mentors, can be put under ones pillow at night to take away bad dreams. Take some sage to your home to purify and take away negative and old energies. Sage is important in the Sun Dance because dancers use it to alleviate their thirst. Sage is often included in medicine bags or pouches. |
Sweetgrass |
Sweetgrass grows in the plains area of the US and in Alberta, Canada. It smells sweet when dried. Many Native American tribes used sweetgrass in prayer, smudging or purifying ceremonies and consider it a sacred plant. It is usually braided, dried and burned. Sweetgrass braids smolder and don't produce an open flame when burned. Just as the sweet scent of this natural grass is attractive and pleasing to people, so is it attractive to good spirits. Sweetgrass is often burned at the beginning of a prayer or ceremony to attract positive energies. Bad spirits also enjoy the smoke so sage must be burned first to make them sick. Sweetgrass clippings are placed on hot rocks during a sweat in sweat lodges. |
Lavender |
Sometimes called 'Breath of the Spirit World' Lavender soothes and calms the nerves and stimulates the healing process. The fragrance of lavender imparts a feeling of inner freedom that allows one to let go of compulsions, anger and other bad habits of the mind. Sometimes the lavender buds are burned to induce sleep and rest. They can be scattered around the home to maintain a feeling of peacefulness. |
The information listed above comes from some of the Native American and First Nation companies and artists we buy from. Please note that different tribes practice different beliefs and ceremonies or may have different versions of legends. We have listed the version most commonly communicated to us.