White sage has a variety of historical uses.
White sage plants, also called wormwood, white sagebrush, Louisiana sage, darkleaf mugwort, white mugwort, western mugwort, Mexican sagewort, wild sage and prairie sage, grow indigenously in North America. The plant produces leaves and flowers that many humans and animals use for various dietary, medicinal and spiritual purposes.
Plant Basics
White sage is native to southern California and the northern region of Baja, Mexico, according to Kansas State University. The plant grows to a height between 12 and 24 inches and is an herb. It grows relatively easily in warm climates, has cultural significance in North American history and has a variety of uses. People often use the plant for its fragrant leaves, but it also blooms with small blue or purple flowers in late summer.
History
Many Native American tribes used white sage for a variety of purposes, and it was a large part of some Native American cultures. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), some tribes used white sage smoke to purify people, places or animals. The Cheyenne used it for ceremonies by spreading it around ceremonial altars, sweat lodges and areas. The Dakota, Cheyenne, Crow, Kiowa-Apaches and Kiowa tribes used white sage to treat a variety of physical ailments, including headaches, salves for sores, sinus problems and menstrual cramps.
Modern Uses
Nowadays, people use white sage plants as an insect repellent and incense. They often pick shoots of white sage plants and bundle them together into "smudge sticks". As an incense or smudge stick, people burn it to purify or bless spaces, according to the USDA and Kansas State University.
Growing White Sage Plants
White sage plants grow well in soils with good drainage and with full sun, according to Kansas State University . The USDA explains that it often grows in sandy or rocky soils. The plant does not require very much water, although its seeds need regular moisture to start growing. It survives hot and dry climates, like those in USDA hardiness zones eight and higher.
Problems
Since white sage is very popular for ceremonial and medicinal uses, people have harvested it so much over the years that the plant is in danger going extinct. According to Kansas State University, growers need to continue growing white sage plants to keep them around.
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