Healing with herbs is probably the oldest practice in the world.  Since time immemorial herbal rememdies have been a major part of group ceremonial events and personal healing and cleansing.  Herbs are used not only to heal the self or others, but to purify and cleanse your mind, body, soul, and your personal space that surrounds you, of all negative energies.  Native Americans have known this for centuries and have acquired a respect for the herbs and their powers.  Living in harmony with nature and respecting the gifts of Mother Earth are sacred with the Native American peoples. 
 
Keep in mind that herbal remedies can be very potent and should be used with respect and common sense.  If you are not certain of portions needed, which herbs can be used together, dosages or if you are on prescription medications, consult your doctor or practitioner before you take any herbal remedies. 

It is beneficial to gather herbs in nature, but you must know exactly what you are looking for, how to recognize and know how to harvest what you need.  To take more from the plants than what you need is not only wasteful and disrepectful but may hinder the plant from thriving and producing more growth for the next season. Many people have mistaken a poisonous plant for an herb with drastic and sometimes fatal results.  If you are not sure what you are looking for, take a trusted and knowledgeable friend with you.  You can buy dried herbs from herbal stores or natural food stores, but you have to be careful of what you are buying.  You want to make sure the herbs are no more than a year old if they are dried (but you should use them right away if they are close to a year old) and that they have no mildew or decay on them.  Buying from a reputable herbalist is always wise.  However, the best way to gather herbs is from your own garden.

A true Native American medicine man or woman, or spiritual healer, knows that in order to heal someone, you do not treat the disease, you treat the person.  Two people may have the same symptoms, but each may not benefit from the same remedy or treatment.  The individual must arrive at a place of harmony and balance in such a way that is going to work for them.  What works for one person does not always help another. 

One of the most common herbs, sage, is used for 'Smudging', a process of purification.  If you feel the need to rid your home of negative elements like a leftover illness still hanging around, you can "smudge" to purify, cleanse and promote health.  This is one of the first processes you should learn when using herbs for healing since it is a good idea to smudge yourself prior to performing any act of healing.  It is best to use plants that are in tune with the area you are in so they can perform better and provide you with the proper energy. You need to use dried sage for smudging. When you need to "smudge", place the sage in an abalone shell, pottery bowl or other fire proof shallow container. 

Light the sage and make sure you get the mixture burning then gently blow out the flames, leaving the sage to smoulder.  It is the smoke of the sacred sage that you want to work with.  Smudge yourself before working with your room.  If you do not have someone to do this for you, you can place the bowl on the floor in front of you, waft the smoke with your feather or hand and let the smoke cover you, turning around to get all sides of yourself bathed in the smoke.  You can also kneel with the bowl in front of you and use your feather to help the smoke immerse you in sacred cleansing. 

After you are "smudged" then purify your room or space.  First, hold the bowl up and out in front of your chest, offering humble gratitude to the Four Winds, each in turn, waving the smoke in each direction.  Using a feather, or just your hand, waft the smoke all around the areas you want to purify.  If you are purifying a room, open a window a little to let out the "bad influences".  

Sage, Artimisia tridentata, can be chewed to relieve indigestion or to sweeten the breath.  Sage was and still is used in sweat lodges, to throw on the hot stones, or to sit upon, like a carpet.  Along with prayers, the sage purifies the body, mind and soul in the sweat lodge.  Sage is also good when used as a rinse after shampooing your hair.  Both sage and nettles promote hair growth.  Rosemary is also an excellent hair rinse.  The Apaches used yucca root for a shampoo and soap. 

There are so many herbs and so very many uses for them that if you are really serious about trying herbal remedies, it is wise to get some good books and do a lot of studying, contact knowledgeable people, like Amelia Trucker at BellaOnline, who has the Herb site or consult herbalists or Native American healers.

Prior to using any herb, it's healing power needs to be awakened and asked to give you it's gift.  You do this by praying to the Great Spirit and asking for guidance. This is the Native American way of showing respect to the plant, to nature and to live in harmony with all creation.  

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