Quick Reference Guide to Native American and Other Ceremonial Herbs & Resins
Desert Sage Artemisia Tridentata
Dessert Sage Artemisia TridentataUses: Purification
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object.
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh herb in bucket of water for the sweat lodge
Drink dry or fresh herb as an herbal tea
Use fresh as a poultice on wound
Place dry or fresh leaves in hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
White Sage Salvia Apiana
White Sage Salvia ApianaUses: Purification
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object.
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh herb in bucket of water for the sweat lodge
Drink dry or fresh herb as an herbal tea
Use fresh as a poultice on wound
Place dry or fresh leaves in hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Lakota Sage Artemisia Vulgaris
Uses: Purification
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object.
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh herb in bucket of water for the sweat lodge
Drink dry or fresh herb as an herbal tea
Use fresh as a poultice on wound
Place dry or fresh leaves in hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Sweetgrass Heirochloe Odorata
Sweetgrass Heirochloe OdorataUses: Blessing
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh grass in tub of hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Cedar or Juniper Cedrus Atlantica or Juniperus Communis
Uses: Blessing & Strength
How:
Fan smoke of burning dry needles over person, place, or object
Place dry needles on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry needles in home or on altar
Place dry or fresh needles in bath tub and soak
Can be burned during any body work session.
Bear Root or Osha Ligisticum porteri
Uses: Protection, Spiritual and Physical
How:
Burn dry roots on hot rocks in sweat lodge
Chew dry root to soothe sore throat.
Singers chew dry root to keep throat from getting sore during ceremony.
Boil dry root to make a tea for bronchial infection, colds, indigestion.
Willow Bark Salix
Uses: As a natural herbal smoke in the pipe
How:
The dry inner bark can be used in a mixture of herbs for the sacred pipe or smoked alone.
Tobacco Nicotiana Tabacum
Uses: Prayer, Offering, Honoring
How:
Offer dry tobacco to Mother Earth before removing anything or before harvesting.
Offer dry tobacco to the 6 directions
Offer dry tobacco to the ceremonial leader before the ceremony as a sign of respect.
The smoke of the tobacco is blown over people or objects to bless
The smoke of the tobacco is blown to the directions during the pipe ceremony, which carries the prayers to the Creator.
The smoke of the tobacco is used to purify our words so that only the truth comes forth during prayer or council meetings.
Corn Zea Mays blue, white, red, or yellow
Uses: Blessings, Offerings
How:
The dry corn kernels and the pure corn pollen is offered to Mother Earth during prayers.
A touch of corn pollen to the tongue is eaten as a blessing.
Used by the Navajos & Apaches during religious ceremonies by applying it to the body.
Star Anise Illicium Verum
Uses: Blessing
How:
The dry seed pods are added to smoke mixtures for its spicy taste.
The dry seed pods are burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Pinon Resin Pinus Edulis
Uses: Purification
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
Dried sap or resin is placed on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Can be burned during any body work session.
Copal Resin Bursera Microphylla black, golden, or white Mexico
Copal Resin Bursera MicrophyllaUses: Purification; to sustain the departed ones on their journey in the spirit realm; trance- work
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
Can be burned during any body work session.
Frankincense Resin Boswellia Carteri North Africa
Uses: Purification; meditation; uplifts the mind, body, spirit
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
The resin can be burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Can be burned during any body work session.
Myrrh Resin Commiphora Myrrh North Africa
Uses: Purification; strengthen the soul; anointing the dead
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
The resin can be burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Dragon's Blood Resin Croton Lechleri South American rain forest
Dragon's Blood Resin Croton LechleriUses: Purification
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
The resin can be burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge
Palo Santo Bursera Graveolens Peru
Palo Santo Bursera GraveolensUses: Purification
How:
The wood sticks are burned and the smoke is used to clear the area of negative energies in ceremonies.
Can be burned inside the sweat lodge
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Desert Sage Artemisia Tridentata
Dessert Sage Artemisia TridentataUses: Purification
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object.
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh herb in bucket of water for the sweat lodge
Drink dry or fresh herb as an herbal tea
Use fresh as a poultice on wound
Place dry or fresh leaves in hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
White Sage Salvia Apiana
White Sage Salvia ApianaUses: Purification
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object.
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh herb in bucket of water for the sweat lodge
Drink dry or fresh herb as an herbal tea
Use fresh as a poultice on wound
Place dry or fresh leaves in hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Lakota Sage Artemisia Vulgaris
Uses: Purification
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object.
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh herb in bucket of water for the sweat lodge
Drink dry or fresh herb as an herbal tea
Use fresh as a poultice on wound
Place dry or fresh leaves in hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Sweetgrass Heirochloe Odorata
Sweetgrass Heirochloe OdorataUses: Blessing
How:
Fan smoke from burning dry herb over person, place, or object
Place dry herb on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry or fresh grass in tub of hot water and soak.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Cedar or Juniper Cedrus Atlantica or Juniperus Communis
Uses: Blessing & Strength
How:
Fan smoke of burning dry needles over person, place, or object
Place dry needles on hot rocks of sweat lodge
Place dry needles in home or on altar
Place dry or fresh needles in bath tub and soak
Can be burned during any body work session.
Bear Root or Osha Ligisticum porteri
Uses: Protection, Spiritual and Physical
How:
Burn dry roots on hot rocks in sweat lodge
Chew dry root to soothe sore throat.
Singers chew dry root to keep throat from getting sore during ceremony.
Boil dry root to make a tea for bronchial infection, colds, indigestion.
Willow Bark Salix
Uses: As a natural herbal smoke in the pipe
How:
The dry inner bark can be used in a mixture of herbs for the sacred pipe or smoked alone.
Tobacco Nicotiana Tabacum
Uses: Prayer, Offering, Honoring
How:
Offer dry tobacco to Mother Earth before removing anything or before harvesting.
Offer dry tobacco to the 6 directions
Offer dry tobacco to the ceremonial leader before the ceremony as a sign of respect.
The smoke of the tobacco is blown over people or objects to bless
The smoke of the tobacco is blown to the directions during the pipe ceremony, which carries the prayers to the Creator.
The smoke of the tobacco is used to purify our words so that only the truth comes forth during prayer or council meetings.
Corn Zea Mays blue, white, red, or yellow
Uses: Blessings, Offerings
How:
The dry corn kernels and the pure corn pollen is offered to Mother Earth during prayers.
A touch of corn pollen to the tongue is eaten as a blessing.
Used by the Navajos & Apaches during religious ceremonies by applying it to the body.
Star Anise Illicium Verum
Uses: Blessing
How:
The dry seed pods are added to smoke mixtures for its spicy taste.
The dry seed pods are burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Pinon Resin Pinus Edulis
Uses: Purification
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
Dried sap or resin is placed on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Can be burned during any body work session.
Copal Resin Bursera Microphylla black, golden, or white Mexico
Copal Resin Bursera MicrophyllaUses: Purification; to sustain the departed ones on their journey in the spirit realm; trance- work
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
Can be burned during any body work session.
Frankincense Resin Boswellia Carteri North Africa
Uses: Purification; meditation; uplifts the mind, body, spirit
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
The resin can be burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Can be burned during any body work session.
Myrrh Resin Commiphora Myrrh North Africa
Uses: Purification; strengthen the soul; anointing the dead
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
The resin can be burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge.
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
Dragon's Blood Resin Croton Lechleri South American rain forest
Dragon's Blood Resin Croton LechleriUses: Purification
How:
The dry sap is burnt on charcoals and the smoke is allowed to waft through the area.
The resin can be burnt on the hot rocks of the sweat lodge
Palo Santo Bursera Graveolens Peru
Palo Santo Bursera GraveolensUses: Purification
How:
The wood sticks are burned and the smoke is used to clear the area of negative energies in ceremonies.
Can be burned inside the sweat lodge
Can be burned during any bodywork session.
