The Main Benefits of Sweet Grass and How to Use It
Understand the layered significance of sweet grass, from its role in cultural ceremony to its gentle, aromatic presence and traditional applications.
Sweet grass, known botanically as Hierochloe odorata, is a perennial grass recognized for its fragrant leaves. Native to cooler regions of North America and Europe, it grows in damp meadows and along stream banks. When its slender leaves are dried, they emit a distinct vanilla-like aroma, a characteristic that has made this plant a valued part of various cultural and personal practices for centuries.
Spiritual and Cultural Significance
Sweet grass holds a significant place in many Indigenous North American cultures as one of the four sacred medicines, alongside tobacco, cedar, and sage. Often called the “hair of Mother Earth,” it symbolizes kindness and harmony. The plant’s scientific name, Hierochloe, translates from Greek to “sacred grass,” reflecting its respected status across cultures. Its presence is considered gentle and is used to foster humility.
In spiritual ceremonies, the smoke from burning sweet grass is used to carry prayers to the creator. It is considered an attractant, meant to invite positive energies and a sense of peace into a space. This function contrasts with sage, which is used first to cleanse a space by clearing negative energies. After cleansing with sage, sweet grass is burned to welcome positive influences.
The grass is harvested with respect by cutting the blades rather than pulling the roots, ensuring the plant can regrow. It is then braided, with the three sections of the braid often representing concepts like mind, body, and spirit. The act of braiding itself can be a communal event, reinforcing the plant’s symbolism of unity.
Aromatic and Calming Properties
The fragrance of sweet grass offers benefits from a modern, non-ritualistic perspective. Its sweet, earthy scent, often likened to vanilla, is a result of its coumarin content. This aroma is recognized for its ability to create a calming atmosphere in a home.
The scent can have a soothing effect on the mind, helping to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. When a dried braid is burned, the smoke releases these aromatic compounds, acting as a natural air freshener. Many find the fragrance grounding, helping to foster a sense of tranquility.
This use aligns with the principles of aromatherapy, where scents are used to influence mood. The simple act of smelling the fragrance can be a form of sensory relaxation. For this reason, braids of sweet grass are sometimes hung in rooms or placed in drawers to impart their scent, offering a subtle source of calm.
Traditional and Craft Applications
The long, pliable, and durable blades of sweet grass make it an excellent material for basket weaving. This craft is prominent in the Gullah Geechee culture of the South Carolina Lowcountry, one of the oldest West African art forms in America. Enslaved Africans brought this skill with them, adapting their techniques to local grasses.
Historically, sweet grass was used in folk medicine traditions. Teas made from the leaves were used to treat ailments like coughs and sore throats. Women in some communities drank a sweet grass tea after childbirth, but it is important to view these uses in their historical context, as internal consumption of coumarin in large amounts can have adverse effects.
The grass was also used as a personal fragrance, braided into hair or kept with clothing to impart a pleasant scent. In some instances, it was used as a natural insect repellent, with dried leaves placed around the home to deter pests.
How to Use Sweet Grass for Its Benefits
The most common way to use sweet grass is by burning a dried braid to release its smoke in a practice known as smudging. You will need a dried braid and a heat-safe container, like an abalone shell or ceramic bowl, to catch falling embers. It is often recommended to start with a prayer or a clear intention.
Hold the end of the braid and light it, allowing it to catch fire for a few moments before gently blowing out the flame. The end should be left smoldering with embers, producing a steady stream of smoke. There should not be an active flame during the smudging process.
Using your hand or a feather, waft the smoke around the space you wish to affect. Move around a room, allowing the smoke to drift into all corners and doorways. To smudge a person, guide the smoke toward them, starting at their head and moving down to their feet. When finished, press the smoldering end of the braid firmly into your heat-safe container until it is extinguished.