Why Burn herbs?
Burning herbs dates back thousands of years and spans across cultures worldwide. The burning of herbs is an integral part of spiritual ceremonies, healing practices, and cultural rituals. Setting certain plants a flame to cleanse a space or an object to ward off negative energy or to protect a person against illness is an ancient ritual with scientific evidence to back it. Burning herbs can cleanse an environment of airborne pollutants with their anti bacterial and anti viral properties.
These days burning herbs has found a resurgence in everyday routines as a form of self care. The practice of burning herbs to promote relaxation, calm anxiety and aid in wellness is becoming popular. Creating rituals that include burning is as simple as brewing a cup of tea or lighting a candle.
Here are 6 herbs to burn along with their healing and cleansing benefits.
1.Bay Leaves
Recognized for centuries for their culinary and healing properties, the burning of dried bay leaves can help relieve stress, fatigue and anxiety while increasing mindfulness. Spiritually, bay leaves are burned to invite protection and cultivate success. In the Turkish culture burning bay leaves is used as a sleep aid to return back to sleep on a restless night and are said to bring tranquility until morning, a little something we learned while living there.
2. Lavender
Coined as "The Grandmother Herb" for its soothing and calming effect on the nerves and ability to relieve tension. Burning lavender can aid in the relief of migraines, depression and nervous exhaustion. It encourage a restful night’s sleep and is a known insect repellent. Spiritually lavender is burned to calm the mind for meditation and promote mental clarity.
🪴Did you know peppermint, rosemary and lavender are three of the many herbs also infused into our Sacred Leaf Tonic for their beneficial healing properties and innate ability to ward off pests? These potent herbs not only attract pollinators but they release botanical terpenes that protect themselves too. Hop on over to our Plant Aromas Blog post for more!
3. White Sage
4. Rosemary
Beyond its powerful insect repelling benefits, rosemary cleans and freshens the air with its antibacterial properties. During the plague, the burning of rosemary was practiced to prevent airborne infections and protect from disease. Feeling sluggish? Burning rosemary can help invigorate your mind aiding in mental focus. memory and overall clarity.
5. Peppermint
The mint family is often burned to protect and clear spaces of negative energy due to its anti inflammatory and anti viral properties. Peppermint in particular is a powerful respiratory and digestive aid and can ease the pain of migraine sufferers. Peppermint increases blood flow & oxygen to the brain which in turn raises mental alertness and a boost of energy.
6. Chamomile
Similar to lavender for its calming and soothing benefits, chamomile is a powerful anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, anti viral and anti oxidant herb and when burned can offer relief from stress and anxiety while promoting relaxation. Spiritually, chamomile is burned to ward off unwanted psychic energy and to prepare for a deep meditation practice.
Create your Own Ritual
All plants are sacred and each herb carries properties that benefits various aspects of our lives. Creating a burning ritual brings us closer to the healing and cleansing power of sacred fire to purify, calm, protect and heal. If you are drawn to a specific plant to burn, listen to your intuition. There is a reason and purpose your mind, body and spirit want to burn that particular plant, trust yourself and send gratitude to our incredible natural world each time you enjoy a burning ritual.