Smudge Sticks ***

Smudge Sticks
Definition of Smudge Sticks: What are Smudge Sticks? Smudge Sticks are portable bundles of dry, sacred herbs used in Smudging rituals by Native American. The burning of the sacred herbs in Smudge Sticks produce a smoke cloud which is used in various cleansing or prayer ceremonies and purification or healing rituals. The Shaman, Medicine Man or healer wafted the smoke produced by burning the herbs contained in the Smudge Sticks by using his hand, feathers or a Smudge fan. Originally the herbs were placed in special herb bowls and burned. The dried, sacred herbs were later tied into easily portable bundles called 'Smudge sticks' and were included in the contents of Medicine Bags. The above picture depicts a Medicine Man holding his smudging fans and carrying his medicine bag tied around his waist. The following picture shows a bundle of herbs collectively called Smudge Sticks. Smudge Sticks with hot coals underneath can provide a lot of smoke for many hours or days and are used to repel mosquitoes and other insects.


Feather used for Smudging	Herb Bowl	Smudge Stick

Herbs used in Smudge Sticks
The herbs used in Native American Smudge Sticks included herbs Indian tobacco, Sweetgrass, Sage, White Sage, Sagebrush, Sweet Gale, Cow Parsnip and Cedar (often referred to as Juniper). The following chart provides facts and information about the herbs used in Smudge sticks.

Herbs used in Smudge Sticks
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks White Sage & Sage	White Sage (Salvia apiana) & Sage (Salvia officinalis) are used in Smudge Sticks and as healing herbs and in Herbal Remedies. The word 'Salvia' derives from the Latin term "salvare" which means "to feel well and healthy, health, heal" referring to the herb's healing properties. Sage was used for Smudging sacred space.
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks Sagebrush	Sagebrush: Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is an aromatic herb used in Smudge Sticks to treat wounds in healing. Sagebrush was also used to treat headache and colds by burning sagebrush and inhaling the smoke
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks Cedar Juniper	Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a cleansing and purifying herb used in Smudge Sticks. Cedar was frequently used to line the floor of a Sweat lodge and can also used for Smudging. It was used by the Medicine Man to exorcise evil spirits and to purify sacred objects
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks Sweetgrass	Sweetgrass: Sweetgrass (Hierochloe oderata), aka Sweet Grass or Holy Grass, is traditionally used for smudge sticks and blessings and in some healing ceremonies and Smudge Sticks Rituals. Sweetgrass does not produce an open flame when burned but produces a sweet-scented smoke similar to some incenses
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks Yarrow	Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) an aromatic herb used in Smudge Sticks and intensifies the medicinal action of other herbs taken with it. Yarrow helps eliminate toxins from the body during the Smudging process
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks Tobacco	Nicotiana (Tobacco - N. tobacum and N. rustica) The earliest form of tobacco was called kinnikinnick and consisted of the inner bark of red dogwood referred to as 'red willow. Indian Tobacco (Lobelia inflata) and Rabbit tobacco (Pseudognaphalium californicum) and Basswood roots were also used in Smudge Sticks
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks Sweet Gale	Sweet Gale: Leaves of the Sweet Gale (Myrica Gale L.) and Sweet Fern (Myrica asplenifolia L.) Used as Smudge Sticks by some tribes to throw on the fire to make a smudge to keep away mosquitoes
	Herbs used in Smudge Sticks Cow Parsnip	Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum) was used as a smudge stick in the hunting rituals of some tribes
Herbs used in Smudge Sticks