Smudging really does clear the air...of Pathogens.



Some of you may have heard of smudging, which is the burning of herbs to clear the air for spiritual or medicinal purposes.  This practice has been adopted by many people and has become increasingly popular across diverse cultural backgrounds.  It is believed to wash away bad spirits, or to bring needed balance, or to simply purify the air.  Here is the truth: medicinally, this is for real.  Studies have been done to indicate that it actually can purify the air and eliminate pathogens. 

There are many combinations of herbs that have been burned traditionally, and there are a few that have been studied.  Some that have been shown to have antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal or anti-viral properties include African wormwood (Artemisia afra), lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis), resurrection plant (Myrothamnus flabellifolius), hard fern (Pellaea calomelanos), camphor bush (Tarchonanthus camphorates) and white sage (Salvia apiana). 1,2

 

The combustion process can create an extract that has a superior antimicrobial activity. 1  One study showed that smudging can reduce the bacterial populations in the air by 94% in one hour in a closed room.  Thirty days later, seven of the pathogens were still undetectable. 3   

The process of burning the herbs can be rewarding spiritually and help to feel as if you are clearing negativity from your home or from your space.  The thing is, you probably are.  When one of my kids brings home a cold, I burn white sage.  When I clean the house, I burn white sage. 

Even if you don’t subscribe to the idea that it can bring balance, clear negativity or wash away evil spirits, it absolutely can help to clear the air of pathogens in a natural, holistic way. 



References

1.Braithwaite, M., Vuuren, V., & Viljoen, A. (2008). Validation of smoke inhalation therapy to treat microbial infections. Journal of ethnopharmacology., 119(3), 501–6. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18778765
2.Córdova-Guerrero, I., Aragon-Martinez, O., Díaz-Rubio, L., Franco-Cabrera, S., Serafín-Higuera, N., Pozos-Guillén, A., … Isiordia-Espinoza, M. (2016). [Antibacterial and antifungal activity of Salvia apiana against clinically important microorganisms]. Revista Argentina de microbiologia., 48(3), 217–221. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27595508
3.Mohagheghzadeh, A., Faridi, P., Shams-Ardakani, M., & Ghasemi, Y. (2006). Medicinal smokes. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 108(2), 161–184. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.005

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