Recordium Regenerati

White sage. A big name for a lot of hot topics within and around the Native American community.

White sage is located within California, growing in the southern mountains and towards the borders of Baja California, Mexico. The plant takes quite a lot to grow in its native habitat within the deserts, and thus in these specific areas it is slow growing. Outside of native lands, the plant tends to grow rapidly, however this is where legal issues rise and the illegal outsourcing and poaching of the plant comes into focus.

Is the plant massively poached from national parks and reservations? Yes. Many of the seeds and plants that get put for sale that aren’t actively sourced from licensed farms tend to be poached. This follows the same set as trilliums in Oregon, which led to the trillium being listed as endangered in that state. Because of this, the plant tends to be illegally obtained and sold. Knowing where your metaphysical shop sources their sage is important, and if the item in question is ‘wildcrafted’, it is illegally poached from the native land it grows on.

Will it go extinct anytime soon? With current conservation efforts, farms and home growth outside of California, no. Many of those practicing with white sage tend to grow their own, with many reporting the plant grows quickly and rapidly. Harvesting the seeds from these locally grown plants can help to conserve it for future generations and keep the plant propagated in the right locations, helping to curb the decline.

Now, within native lands? The plant is considered rare to find and therefore classified on a public level as endangered. Because of the outsourcing and commercial farm growth, white sage is not federally classified as endangered, yet it is still highly illegal to take the plant outside of California (in fact, all plants are protected from foraging in California.(1))

If you don’t know where the bundle was sourced, don’t buy it at all. There are, from my understanding, two farms with the licenses and proper paperwork to truly grow white sage and sell WITHIN California (I.E, ethical sources). These farms proactively protect the native lands from poachers as well with the funds they receive from purchases. Outside of that, it is most likely illegally poached.(2)

However, I’d like to focus on the more important part of the plant: the use, meanings and medicinal values.

Medicinal Value

It can be made into a tea, which decreases sweating, salivation, and mucous secretions in the sinuses, throat, and lungs. Cold tea can be a good stomach tonic, while a lukewarm tea is good for treating sore throats. The leaves can also be used as a uterine hemostatic tea for heavy menstruation; however, since it can also decrease lactation, nursing mothers are advised not to use it. (3)

The seeds were commonly ground and the leaves used within cooking, smoking and used within a sweat house to provide relief from colds. The salvia species are well known for their flavor additions to dishes such as meat and fresh bread.

Burning white sage is also a great repellant against insects, as it is anti-microbial.

Magical Uses/ Meanings

White sage is well known for its cleansing properties and for the removal of negative energy. However, this concept and practice is drawn from media presentations. Movies, shows, anything to do with occult in a dramatized format is generally going to use white sage in this context. There are much more intensive rituals that are protected by Native cultures surrounding this plant, and even specific rules where the bundles are to be stored, handled and used.

– Purification

– Wisdom

– Cleansing

– Protection

These are the recorded meanings behind white sage besides the deep set rooted background within Indigenous cultures.

With any herb, it is important to do your research instead of following the masses. White sage is one of those learning curves (even for me!) and therefore one should not be shamed for misunderstanding the cultural purpose of the plants they work with.

In short, do your best to educate those who do not understand the plant and the significant cultural impacts these poaching practices are having on it. Education is the most important tool we have on hand for the betterment of all.

If you are truly looking to use white sage, despite the warnings and legality, I recommend other options: sagebrush, mugwort, or even frankincense. There are many other options out there as long as you research them ahead of time.

Resources

– (1) California Department of Game and Fishing. Focus: CDNPA. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/Laws

– (2) SageWinds Farm. https://sagewinds.us/white-sage/

– (3) Tryon Life Community Farm. ‘Sage, White. (Salvia apiana)’. https://tryonfarm.org/share/node/372#:~:text=Medicinal%20uses%3A%20It%20can%20be,sinuses%2C%20throat%2C%20and%20lungs.