INSIDE: Discover how to smudge with sage and palo santo to bring balance to your personal energy and the space around you. Learn the benefits of smudging and the steps for how to use a smudge stick.
Smudging is one of the best ways to perform smoke cleansing. Its benefits reach into the soul but certainly don’t skip over the body and mind.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about smudging, starting with the history of smudging, moving on to the many benefits of smudging, when to smudge, and finally walking you through step-by-step directions for how to smudge with sage and palo santo.
History of Smudging
Smudging dates back thousands of years and spans every inch of the globe. It’s probably best known as a Native American tradition, but it was also widely used in ancient spiritual rituals performed by the Incas, Buddhists, and by indigenous peoples around the world.
It is one of the oldest ways to cleanse the energy in spaces and people. Medicine men use it to enhance their mental state so that they can more intuitively treat illness.
Herbs have been used since the dawn of time, and before modern medicine, they were prized and treasured. For example, the three wise men brought frankincense and myrrh to baby Jesus because it was one of the most valuable gifts they could give.
3 Main Benefits of Smudging
There are so many wonderful benefits of smudging, and they are pretty much the same whether you are using sage or palo santo.
In a study called Medicinal Smokes, many advantages were found as a result of smoke-based remedies, including:
- Rapid delivery to the brain
- More efficient absorption by the body
- Lower costs of production
That’s what allow the medicinal benefits of smudging to be so powerful. Here are the three main reasons why people smudge…
Smudging Releases Negative Energy
The main benefit of smudging is that it removes negative energy. This is true whether that negative energy is in the environment around you or within your body, mind, or spirit.
That means that it can help with all of the following:
- Releasing past traumas or negative experiences
- Cleansing objects and crystals
- Making your space more positive
- Boosting your mood and making you feel more uplifted
- Reducing stress, anxiety, and depression
- Cleansing your aura or personal energy
Cleanses & Purifies
Smudging with sage or palo santo produces a medicinal smoke that has antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antibacterial properties. This means that when it is burned, it can help purify and rid the air of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
In fact, a study published by Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that burning sage removes 94% of airborne bacteria. Therefore, it can be used to disinfect the air in your home when people are sick.
These effects were maintained for up to 24 hours afterwards and some bacteria were even eradicated from the air for as much as 30 days!
Smudging is also effective at removing allergens. This is because burning sage has been scientifically proven to release negative ions which neutralize the positive ions that cause allergies (pet dander, pollution, dust, mold).
While all of this shows that smudging can help with asthma, bronchitis, and allergies, you should never inhale the smoke directly because that can have reverse effects.
Improves Spiritual Connection
One of the main reasons why smudging has been used in so many ancient ceremonies and rituals is because of its ability to heighten our state of consciousness.
There is science behind why this is true. For example, sage contains thujone, which is a mild psychoactive that has been shown to enhance intuition.
It has the ability to increase intuitive powers and put your mind in a more receptive state. This can have tremendous effects on one’s ability to heal others, connect with spirit, and enhance your spiritual practices.
If nothing else, smudging can help to make the space around you and your mind more conducive to meditation and spiritual rituals. Consider using it at your spiritual altar.
Other Lesser-Known Benefits of Smudging
While removing negative energy, cleansing, and spirituality are the three main reasons for smudging, there are many other benefits of smudging that you might not be aware of…
Improves Mood
A thesis paper by Taylor Hayes called Terpenes and Flavonoids From Salvia apiana and Their Affinities to Cannabinoid and Opioid Receptors explains that white sage contains compounds that activate the receptors in the brain that are responsible for positive mood and reduced stress and pain.
This is why smudging is a great way to bring positive energy into your life.
Improves Memory & Focus
A study titled, Salvia (Sage): A Review of its Potential Cognitive-Enhancing and Protective Effects, found that sage contains numerous compounds that can enhance cognitive activity, including memory, attention, and learning. In addition, it showed that sage also protects against neurodegenerative…
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