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The dried leaves of white sage are typically used in smoking blends to improve mood. White sage promotes feelings of relaxation and also boosts memory. When smoked alone the flavor can be intense, so it is often mixed with mullein. White sage also helps to clear the throat, lungs, and sinuses of congestion.
Did you know you could purify a room with white sage?
Overview
White sage (Salvia apiana) is a herb native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It has silvery- green leaves with a fuzzy coat. The united states Department of Agriculture believe that white sage was used by the Native Americans in tightly-bound or smudge sticks of stems and leaves. In some other tribes, like the Cheyenne Indians, it was used to clear negative energy in sacred spaces by burning smudge sticks around the border of ceremonial altars. The leaves were scattered around alters and sweat lodges to keep away evil spirits.
The natives used it in many ways. The leaves were used to flavor foods and were also eaten and smoked. They also made straighteners, shampoos, and dyes by crushing the leaves and mixing them with water. Also, it was used to clean the eye by rolling its seeds under the eyelids.
Medical Benefits
Its medical applications are quite numerous. According to USDA, white sage decrease sweating, salivation, milk secretions, and mucous secretions of the sinuses, throat, and lungs.
- In women, it reduces heavy menstruation when the leaves are made into a uterine hemostatic tea and drank. Breastfeeding women are advised to take the tea as it reduces lactation.
- The Native Americans used it to treat a cold by drinking tea made from smoked leaves in sweat lodges. The tea relieves mucous secretions of the lungs, throat, and sinuses that accompany colds.
- The Kiowas are believed to have used the plant in the treatment of respiratory problems and also to loose phlegm in the throat and lungs. The tea is drunk to soothe digestion problems.
- Its roots were used by the Native American women to bolster internal bleeding and to expel afterbirth after they had given birth. This has made the United State Department of Agriculture consider the tea to be effective in reducing lactation when a baby is being weaned from breastfeeding.
- The herb may be used in treating wounds in order to prevent inflammation and infection as they possess antiseptic properties. It may be used in the treatment of fungal infections and candida, and may be useful for lung infections and staph.
Effects of smoking white sage
Several types of research have shown that this herb enhances mental function. These researches showed that it lifts the moods of people, improves memory and reduces anxiety.
I smoked a bowl of dried white sage about 10 mins ago, and I definitely have some sensations of the effects. My extremeties are tingling with a sort of vibrate-y feel, and I have some sensitivity to light (no pain, but a sense of wonder over it). No haziness, but sort of a cloudy feeling.
Al Quimica experience report on Erowid.
My personal experience with White Sage was also positive. It’s a herb that can cool you down and help induce a feeling of relaxation. You might be interested in this article about 15 flavorful herbs you can smoke featuring white sage and providing a crash course about how to craft an herbal blend.
Legality
The use of white sage is legal in all states.
Where to buy White Sage
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Nicolas ‘Axel’ Duval is the founder and content editor of this website. He launched Smokable Herbs in 2011. He later created the Smokably herb online store, which sells herbs and blends worldwide.
As an herbalist and marketing enthusiast, he used Smokable Herbs as a sandbox to test ideas and deploy content.
Do you have links to the websites you got the research from? I wouldn’t mind reading the articles myself. 🙂
Not sure if I want to try it really… From what I read what makes it psychoactive is Thujone, the same thing from Absinthe, which has the potential to be toxic. I really hope Im wrong about this
Can we smoke it with weed
Yes, it can be used as an herbal base, although there are probably better options like Damiana, Mullein, Marshmallow Roots, Catnip etc.
Some of your information is quite erroneous, and your language problematic. Sage exists in a variety of species found natively in most parts of the world. While some varieties may have been introduced into North America, common White Sage, or Salvia apiana, is native to the south west of North America (including northern Mexico).
Furthermore, and something likely more problematic, is the way you describe how the Indigenous people of this land “used” this medicine in various ways. “Used” in the past tense, suggesting that these people either no longer use this medicine, or that they no longer exist–both of which would be incredibly incorrect. Please think about the narrative you are inforcing. The words you use matter.
I agree! I will review each articles with this in mind.
Words do matter. It’s “enforcing.”
Sage is not “from the mediterranean”, there are several distinct species of sage that grow natively on several continents, which very easily suggests its evolutionary history in the same way that fruit bearing trees can relate to the rapid spread of small mammals and birds. Sage was not introduced from other continents, its been sourced natively as long as there have been people smart enough to use it, such as the natives of north america
I have been using white sage in my home for a while now. Today I really smoked up my house and started feeling a little high, LOL. It’s very lovely! I’m guessing the high would be stronger felt if I had actually smoked it, would it be as strong as cannabis?
How do you know if you have the right kind of sage? Should it be specified as white sage or does ground sage work the same?
Ground sage will yield similar results, minus the actual scent, whether or not its the right kind is up to your personal taste.
is smoking sage anything like smoking weed or salvia? because it seems that sage is a form of salvia but ive heard people having pretty dark and scary experiences smoking salvia, but it seems like people talk highly about sage’s calming effects. can anyone shed some light on the matter?
thanks!
Salvia being a strong hallucinogen and sage being a mild depressant, smoking sage is completely different from smoking salvia.
okay, i think i understand. i did a little more research too and it seems they are different strains of a fairly similar plant. do you still smoke sage the same way you smoke weed or salvia? (i dont know if you have experience with either). and if you do, what is the typical amount to inhale before you start feeling effects? sorry for all the questions, im just interested. thanx! 🙂
Thanks for asking. 1 to 2 standard bowl is enough to relax me. You can’t overdose from smoking it. The effects are usually as fast to set in as marijuana or tobacco for comparison.
Are the effects of White Sage still noticeable if used in a tea?
Yes they are!
I smoked it today for the first time and its not that harsh when rolled with tobacco. The effects are calming and positive how I needed it to be.
Great, I too enjoy white sage once in a while. Thanks for the feedback and take care.