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Sweetgrass



Sweetgrass, also called northern sweetgrass, vanilla grass, holy grass, Seneca grass, and alpine sweetgrass, is burnt after smudging with sage to welcome the good spirits of peace and love after the bad spirits have been driven out. It is one of the “four sacred medicines”, for the north American indigenous people, the other three being cedar, sage, and tobacco. Sweetgrass is considered by the Natives as the sacred hair of Mother Earth and its pleasant fragrance serves as a reminder of the gentleness, love and kindness she has for us. This is also why the Natives braid it in three strands representing love, kindness and gentleness. It is burned as a special offering during sacred prayers, used for many healing rituals including sweat lodge ceremonies, for protection of spirits, and keeping out evil and harm. Sweetgrass tea also has healing effect – it is used to help relieve coughing, vomiting, sore throats and bleeding.