you definitely did not know about this – UNIAN

Burning sage is far from a new fad, this practice is ancient: its roots go back to the Indian peoples, who traditionally used it to cleanse themselves of negative energy, writes IFLScience.

Sage is used not only in cooking, but also in medicine, and for a very long time. For example, the ancient Egyptians used this plant to treat various diseases. It is believed that its healing properties have been known for more than 4000 years.

According to spiritual leader Oglala Lakota, burning sage has been used for centuries by indigenous peoples for purification and healing: “In a sense, it’s not just a plant; it’s medicine.”

As the ethnobotanist Rosalyn Lapierre told, usually dried sage plants are burned over red-hot coals placed in a large sink or on the ground: “A person “takes” the smoke in his hands and, starting with his head, “washes” his whole body with smoke.”

This practice is still used in some tribes. Each tribe has its own sage rituals and uses different sage varieties.

Burning sage is also praised for a number of other benefits, including air purification and improved sleep, mood, stress relief, and cognitive enhancement.

In addition, it is believed that burning sage can scare away insects and relieve menstrual cramps.

As for research on this matter, they are at an early stage, so it is impossible to draw concrete conclusions about its medicinal properties. However, some studies hint at possible benefits that, at the very least, require further research.

As UNIAN previously wrote, the researchers named sage tea, which contains such compounds as apiol and myristicin, known for their properties to stimulate the uterus, potentially causing its contraction and the possibility of miscarriage, among the undesirable ones.

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