Smudging and White Sage: Cultural Context, Conservation and Air Quality

Start with respect

Smudging means different things to different peoples. The California State University, Long Beach article on white sage describes it as a sacred Indigenous ritual that consists of burning plant herbs, and says each element has deeply spiritual ties. [1] Practices, plants and meanings differ by nation, and some are restricted. This site does not explain how to smudge or any ceremony. It covers three public matters: the cultural context, concerns about white sage supply, and smoke and air quality.

Cultural context and commercialization

Native nations have raised concerns about unwanted and uninvited smudging, which the article ties to colonial history and forced assimilation. [1] It notes that before the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, many aspects of Native religions were prohibited by law. [1] Students at Barona Indian Charter School, quoted by the San Diego Natural History Museum, say Kumeyaay people believe white sage is a gift from their Creator, and that it should not be used outside its ceremonial use by Native people. [2] That is their view, shared publicly. Others may differ, so listen to the community whose land and plant you are dealing with.

Researchers at Utrecht University report that smudge sticks were adopted relatively recently by New Age practitioners. [3] In their Dutch survey, 10 of 29 bundles examined were or contained white sage. [3] Their paper concludes that the rise of the New Age movement made North American ritual plants easily available in shops. [4]

White sage conservation

White sage (Salvia apiana) grows naturally only in Southern California and northern Baja. [1] The article reports that, although picking plants on public lands is illegal in California, Native people have reported finding hillsides of white sage stripped. [1] The San Diego Natural History Museum says white sage is often poached to meet high demand. [2] The article cites the California Native Plant Society as reporting that 50% of white sage populations were lost to urbanization. [1]

Evidence label: these are reports from a university article, a museum and community voices, plus a peer-reviewed survey. The Dutch study states that there is no data on pressure on wild populations of the species used in bundles. [4] Proper evidence not found for a measured national or global harvest figure in the sources we could read.

If you want to support Native-led conservation, the article reports that CNPS suggests growing native plants and checking local sources. [1] Utrecht researchers note that people can also use plants native to their own region, such as common mugwort, common sage and chamomile in the Netherlands. [3] See also sustainability and commercialization.

Smoke and air quality

Proper evidence not found on the health effects of smudging itself. We searched Europe PMC for smudging with smoke or air, and for Salvia apiana, and found qualitative studies and plant-chemistry work, not exposure or outcome studies of smudging.

The nearest evidence is for incense. A review in Clinical and Molecular Allergy reported that incense burning produces more than 45 mg of particles per gram burned, compared with 10 mg per gram for cigarettes. [5] It lists eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, dizziness and asthma exacerbation as acute symptoms of exposure to volatile organic compounds. [5] It also describes studies linking incense burning at home with childhood asthma. [5] Incense is not the same as plant bundles, and the quantities and ventilation differ, so these findings do not show how smudging affects you. They do show that burning plant material releases smoke, which can bother people with asthma or other lung or heart conditions. A reasonable precaution is to ask whether anyone present has such a condition. For similar smoke concerns see moxibustion and cupping risks.

Smudging in health care

Smudging matters to many Native patients. A small qualitative study of nine hospitalized American Indian patients found themes of access, the role of chaplains and staff, the experience of the ritual and cultural connection, and concluded that smudging contributes to patient well-being and satisfaction. [6] Alberta Health Services (Canada) developed a policy to support Indigenous patients to practice ceremonies on premises, and the authors report it had to address open flames and ceremonial smoke. [7] Hospital rules vary; ask the facility.

Related pages

Read Native American and First Nations healing overview and cultural appropriation and traditional healing products.