11 Benefits of Sage Burning That’ll Blow Your Mind!
I love sage! Sage burning (AKA Smudging) is a practice that I do almost on a daily basis.
And, before I tell you why, let me share with you the history behind burning sage.
Where did the practice originate?
The practice of burning sage has been used for a long time by many cultures around the globe.
It was mainly used during spiritual rituals and ceremonies.
However, as we evolved smudging has expanded to areas other than ceremonial use.
The Native American amongst many other cultures around the world used smudging or sage burning (or some variation of it) during shamanic ceremonies and other rituals.
The mere fact that different cultures across the 7 continents have used a form of sage burning lends to its importance as a practice.
Smudging has terrific physical and/or spiritual benefits.
Please keeping reading and learn more about the benefits of sage burning and how to use this ancient herb to improve your mind, body, and spirit.
11 Life Changing Benefits of Sage Burning (Smudging)
1. Purification Effect:
The # 1 most known uses of sage is for purification due to its antimicrobial properties.
Sage has been well documented for its effect on fighting bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
In 2007, a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacol confirmed sage burning sage effect on reducing airborne bacteria.
Research further explains how sage burning can purify the air and [eliminate] up to 94% of harmful bacteria for up to 24 hours, which in effect reduce the effect of infection.
2. Balancing Effect:
When sage burning, negative ions get released into the air.
The air we breath is heavily charged with positive ions that come from pollution, mold, pets, and other environmental factors.
This, in turn, may help relieve symptoms of some respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, and bronchitis.
Breathing balanced air after sage burning help with the conditions mentioned above.
However, inhaling the smoke during sage burning is not recommended if you have any respiratory condition that might get aggravated by smoke.
So it’s recommended that you light a bundle of sage in the space you want to balance.
Then, open all windows and let the breeze flow to give the smoke room to clear out of the space.
Only spend time in the space after the smoke clears.
Using sage spray works exactly the same and without the smoke!
3. Spiritual Effect:
Due to the sage’s ability to clear and balances any space, sage burning has been a practice used in most healing ceremonies and rituals.
I personally did a shamanic journey in the West of the United States, where the guide used sage to cleanse the space before we started journeying via deep state meditation.
4. Clearing Effect:
Sage burning is excellent for banishing negative energy that gets stuck in any space.
Light a bundle and walk in a space you want to cleanse. There are plenty of mantras for this out there, but I recommend looking up Jane Alexander’s book “The Smudging and Blessings Book: Inspirational Rituals to Cleanse and Heal”.
5. Cleansing Effect:
Because everything is energy and vibrations, that means even solid objects have their own vibrations that get influenced by the environment.
With sage burning, you can cleanse objects form any vibrations that might’ve got attached to the object.
I got in the habit of smudging every new item I buy and add to my life.
So no longer I am concerned with negative history or energy attached to an item I bring into my life “new or used”.
Sage burning brought peace of mind to my life for sure.
Here’s a Native Prayer you may want to use while smudging an object or any space:
Source of Prayer – The Medicine Wheel Garden, E. Barrie Kavasch
6. Mood Booster Affect:
Due to its ability to vanish negativity energy, sage burning helps uplift the mood and boost your ability to have a positive attitude.
Sage burning is excellent to aid with anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
7. Stress Release Affect:
An uplifted mood leads to a more optimistic view of life.
Due to sage burning benefits of boosting the mood, feeling relaxed is a side benefit of that.
The science behind that was confirmed in a research project by the University of Mississippi.
In 2016, the research established that white sage is rich in compounds that activate specific receptors in the brain. Sage burning releases those compounds in the air and interacts with brain receptors that are responsible for boosting mood levels, releasing stress, and even releasing pain.
8. Sleep Aid Affect:
Due to sage’s ability to balance, clear, and energize a space, sage burning is linked to aiding in improving the quality of your sleep.
The antibacterial and antimicrobial healing properties of sage are well established, so feel free to clear your sleeping space with some sage and go get some high quality zzz.
The sage plant belongs to the Salvia family.
Salvia comes from the root Latin word salvere, which means “to be well and in good health”
So heal as you sleep is a great added benefit 🙂
9. The Focus Effect
While releasing negative energy, clearing objects and space, and improving one’s mood are undeniable benefits to sage burning…
Yet, increasing one’s focus is still another benefit to be experienced with sage burning.
According to some research, white sage can help enhance cognition, which leads to increased focus and alertness.
10. Energy Booster Affect
Whenever you feel lethargic, or bleh, simply get a sage bundle and get smudging.
Ridding the body, different objects, furniture and spaces of negative energy can help boost your energy.
This aid’s in reducing fatigue and help aid long term recovery from daily stresses.
11. The Fragrance Affect:
This got to be my favorite of all benefits.
Sage burning is filled with a rich and divine smell.
An aroma that is so raw and unique that I prefer sage burning over chemical air freshener.
How to Practice Sage Burning (The Essential Must Haves)
To practice sage burning or smudging requires a few easy to find tools.
A basic smudging kit may include:
- A sage bundle (or smudge stick)
- A seashell preferably abalone shells for their flame resistant qualities
- Long matches or a lighter
- A smoking fan preferably made with feather
Watch this is a quick tutorial by the YouTube channel “Aura Shift Mind Body” to learn how to use sage for burning to purify your home from negative energies.
The Different Types of Sage:
White sage:
White sage, also known as Salvia apiana, is a hardy, fragrant herb.
It grows throughout North America in season from May through September.
It flourishes in climates where full sunlight is abundant.
Native Americans have used white sage for medicinal and ceremonial purposes for centuries.
Purple Sage:
The sister of white sage, purple sage is also known as desert sage is a bushy perennial plant native to the western desert regions of the United States.
This is a very low maintenance plant, making it perfect for easy upkeep landscape.
Purple sage is used for purification and clearing out negative energy similar to how white sage is used.
Bundles of purple sage can be found on etsy or other retailers.
Golden Sage:
Golden sage also is known as Salvia officinalis, is an aromatic herb that boasts lovely variegated leaves that are quite different from the grayish leaves of common garden white sage.
Golden sage has an extensive history of medicinal and culinary use.
Also, in our modern times, due to its colorful presence it’s been used as an ornamental garden plant.
So there you have it!
All you needed to know about sage and it’s uses and benefits.
I hope you TRULY enjoyed this article about how to use sage for burning and smudging!
With love, light,
Xoxo,
Zane
DISCLAIMER: For educational and informational purposes only.
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