Sage Smudging has grown in popularity over recent years touted as a way to cleanse the air, purify negative energies, or unwanted behaviors. Is this another native tradition misappropriated into a mainstream fad? Or is this practice, founded in traditional ceremony, also hold greater benefits further supported by science? Let's clear the air on sage smudging.

What is Smudging?
Smudging is a practice of prayer and healing where the smoke of a sacred healing plant such as sage, tobacco, or sweetgrass is guided around a person by a feather. Some Native American tribes such as many Dakota and Ho-Chunk people practice smudging daily. Other sacred plants such as cedar wood and palo santo are also used in smudging ceremonies. Each of these plants hold particular intentions in smudging ceremonies. Sage for dispelling negative energy, tobacco for carrying prayers to the creator, sweetgrass for drawing in positive energy, cedar wood for blessing or cleansing spaces where there has been illness, and palo santo for purifying the spirit and cleansing negative energy. Over recent years, white sage has become increasingly endangered due to its overharvesting for commercial uses (California Native Plant Society).

Ceremony of Smudging
Before beginning a smudging ceremony, everyone involved centers themselves into mindful receptivity, ready to receive healing and any messages that may arise. Some traditions begin with evoking the Four Directions and giving thanks as they bear witness and aid in the healing process. The one performing the smudging ceremony will ask the recipient permission to smudge them before beginning. It is taught to never force anyone to receive smudging, but only to share it if one is open to the healing. It is also taught to only burn one herb at a time rather than combining several at once.
Ignite the herb so that embers continue to burn during the ceremony, but there is no flame. Using a feather (usually an eagle feather), the one performing the ceremony will guide the smoke over the recipient's head, then towards their eyes, ears, mouth, down the front of their body and back towards their heart, down to their feet including under the soles, and then up their backside. This cleanses the recipient's energy field, sweeping off negativity and low-serving intentions, purifying space for the recipient to receive love, joy, and that which elevates their highest good. During the ceremony, the smoke may be guided over the body with the blessing, “Bless my eyes to help me to see better, my ears to help me to hear others' prayers more clearly, my mouth to help me speak clearly, and my hands to aid my work.” The ceremony is then concluded with mindful gratitude and thanksgiving, some traditions will conclude with the phrase, "Aho, to all my relations."

Research
White sage traditionally has been used as medicine in parts of Asia, Latin America, and Europe to help treat seizures, ulcers, gout, inflammation, dizziness, paralysis, rheumatism, heartburn and bloating, age-related cognition, and throat and skin inflammation, among others. Over recent years, many studies have been performed which support the traditional uses of white sage, revealing pharmacological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antidementia, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic, effects. As the essential oil form of white sage (Salvia officinalis) was tested, the chemical components associated with these beneficial effects have been identified. These include:
Flavonoids - Helpful with regulating cellular activity and combatting free radicals in the body. The notable rosmarinic acid flavonoid in white sage has anticancer effects by inhibiting the growth of various human cancer cells including breast adenocarcinoma, colon carcinoma, chronic myeloid leukemia, prostate carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and small cell lung carcinoma.
Linalool - Helpful with relieving stress, boosting the mood, and reducing inflammation.
A-Pinene - A monoterpene compound which is helpful with many aspects including antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, anti-depressant, sleep aid, neuroprotective, among other benefits. (a-pinene is also found in pine and rosemary.)
Cineole - Aka 1,8-cineole, a monoterpene compound which is helpful as an anti-inflammatory, mild bronchodilator, pain relief, and also possesses both antioxidant and antimicrobial activity.
Bornyl Acetate - Helpful with anti-inflammatory and analgesic needs.
Camphene - A naturally occurring terpene with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Potentially aids in lowering cholesterol levels, pain relief, and mood boosting.
Camphor - A monoterpene compound which has a cooling sensation and seems helpful in relieving coughs, pain, and itching. (Ingredient used in Vicks VapoRub.)
Humulene - A terpene with potent anti-inflammatory properties which potentially aids in pain relief.
Limonene - A monoterpene compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Holds potential of anticancer effects and lowering blood sugar levels.
Thujone - A monoterpene compound associated with stimulating the immune system and potentially in mood boosting.
PARAPHRASE:
"Flavonoids and terpenes are the compounds that most likely contribute to the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions of the herb."
While the chemical levels of each white sage plant varies depending on environmental influences (climate, water, altitude, ect.), the highest levels of certain chemicals seemed to be located in specific parts of the plant. The stem of the white sage plant contained the highest levels of linalool, while the flowers contained the highest levels of a-pinene and cineole, and the leaves contained the highest levels of bornyl acetate, camphene, camphor, humulene, limonene, and thujone (Ghorbani).
Studies Show
Clinical studies of the pharmacological effects of S. officinalis. Table 1 from Ghorbari's article reveal improvement on cognition, mood, and memory, decreased throat pain, and a reduction in overall cholesterol levels and glucose levels in blood. Additionally, a randomized controlled trial by Akhondzadeh revealed findings of improved cognitive functions among patients with mild to moderate Alheimer's disease who participated in the 4-month treatment trial with white sage extract (Ghorbari). In 2007, a study published in the journal Ethnopharmacology shared that there was a 94 percent reduction in the bacterial count of a room that had been treated for one hour by smudging with medicinal herbs (Larkin).
CAUTIONS: While many clinical trials reported no adverse side effects to taking white sage extract, some trials have discovered that in prolonged or overdose usage, the white sage extract can yield unwanted effects including vomiting, salivation, tachycardia, vertigo, hot flushes, allergic reactions, tongue swallowing, cyanosis, and even convulsions.
While there's increasing research on white sage essential oil, there's still little research about the smudging practice among patients in a hospital setting. Despite this limitation, more and more medical facilities are integrating smudging into their healing spaces. Mayo Clinic conducted a case study to learn about the impact that smudging on the experience of patients who received both care and smudging between January 2021 and March 2023 (Faust). Their findings indicated that patients felt comforted by the availability of smudging at Mayo Clinic, accompanied with the feeling of peace and healing to the mind, body, and spirit.

In Conclusion
Sage and other forms of smudging are rooted in native healing practices. This practice, or rather, ceremony, is approached with the same reverence and sacredness as many other traditions and daily practices of Native American tribes. The healing benefits of sage smudging is supplemented by scientific researched regarding white sage's chemical composition and their associated benefits in trials and personal experiences. Through anecdotal and empirical evidence, we see that sage, while rooted in spiritual traditions, also holds scientific evidence of its many medicinal benefits where both the power of belief as well as chemical composition play a role. In short, sage smudging is both spiritual and scientific in nature and healing effect.
References:
California Native Plant Society (2025). [website]. Retrieved from https://www.cnps.org/conservation/white-sage
Florio, E. (2024 November, 21). Native American Heritage Month: Four Sacred Medicines [blog post]. Retrieved from https://galter.northwestern.edu/News/native-american-heritage-four-sacred-medicines
Furst, J. (2023 August, 9). Smudging brings comfort to Native American patients at Mayo Clinic [blog post]. Retrieved from https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/smudging-brings-comfort-to-native-american-patients-at-mayo-clinic/
Ghorbani, A. and Esmaeilizadeh, M. (2017 October). Pharmacological properties of Salvia officinalis and its components [blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411017300056#:~:text=It%20also%20decreased%20body%20weight,on%20non%2Ddiabetic%20healthy%20volunteers.&text=Because%20hyperlipidemia%20is%20a%20common,The%20beneficial%20action%20of%20S.
In the Loop (2022 July, 14). Smudging ceremonies help Native American patients heal [blog post]. Retrieved from https://intheloop.mayoclinic.org/2022/07/14/smudging-ceremonies-help-native-american-patients-heal/
Larkin, M. (2024). The Sacred Art of Smudging [blog post]. Retrieved from https://kripalu.org/resources/sacred-art-smudging
Palo Santo Supply Co. (2017 June, 13). An In-Depth Look At Smudging With Palo Santo Wood [blog post]. Retrieved from https://palosantosupply.co/blogs/palo-santo/an-in-depth-look-at-smudging-with-palo-santo-wood#:~:text=Purifying%20the%20spirit%20and%20clearing,and%20aid%20in%20physical%20healing.
Grace the Heart Follower (2024). [experiential sharing]. Home webpage is www.heartfollowers.fun
Telus World of Science Edmonton (2021 June, 21). National Indigenous History Month: Smudging [blog post]. Retrieved from https://telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca/learn/indigenous-history-month-smudging/
Additional Sources:
Flowers, F. & Wylde, B. (2014). Power Plants. Ontario, Canada: Harper Collins. p. 275-281
Nautiyal, C. S., Chauhan, P. S., & Nene, Y. L. (2007). Medicinal smoke reduces airborne bacteria. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 114(3), 446–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.08.038
Hamidpour, M., Hamidpour, R., Hamidpour, S., & Shahlari, M. (2014). Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Property of Sage (Salvia) to Prevent and Cure Illnesses such as Obesity, Diabetes, Depression, Dementia, Lupus, Autism, Heart Disease, and Cancer. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 4(2), 82–88. https://doi.org/10.4103/2225-4110.130373
Krol, A.,Kokotkiewicz, A., and Luczkiewicz, M. (2021 April, 22). White Sage (Salvia apiana)–a Ritual and Medicinal Plant of the Chaparral: Plant Characteristics in Comparison with Other Salvia Species [article]. Retrieved from https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/a-1453-0964.pdf
The Preservation Project (2017 February, 8). Why Do You Smudge? [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq97QxrYBZ4
Sky, T. (2016 July). A Ceremony Called Life [book].
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