Yerba Santa

Yerba Santa, Eriodictyon Californicum, is a sacred herb & is traditionally used by Native American tribes for its medicinal & spiritual properties.

Due to its cultural & spiritual significance, the use of Yerba Santa should be approached with respect & understanding of its traditional contexts.

Here’s how it compares to sage;

✦ Usage: Yerba Santa is primarily used for respiratory health & as a general tonic in herbal medicine. It is often brewed into teas, used in herbal remedies or in a smudge stick.

✦ Spiritual Use: While both Yerba Santa & Sage are used spiritually for cleansing & purification, Sage, especially White Sage, is more commonly associated with smudging rituals for clearing negative energies from spaces, objects, or people. While Yerba is focused on medicinal & healing.

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✦ Prepare the Space: Choose a well-ventilated area & ensure flammable objects are removed or safely stored.

✦ Light the Yerba: Ignite one end of the Yerba bundle until it starts smoldering & producing smoke, usually about 30sec. Relight as often as needed. While lighting, focus on your intention.

✦ Start Smudging: Move the Yerba bundle around the space, object, or person in a clockwise direction, allowing the smoke to reach all areas.

✦ Extinguish Safely: When finished, gently press the smoldering end into a fireproof container until it extinguishes. Dispose of the ashes in a respectful manner, such as returning them to the earth.