Herbs and their traditional ceremonial use as burning and smoking blends.

History tells us that smoke has played a part in many well-known cultures and milestones. Frankincense and other herbs were burned in ancient Egypt as they made their bloody sacrifices to their stern gods. The Oracle at Delphi was said to be under the influence of smoky vapors that allowed her to foretell the future.

All ancient cultural traditions held smoke sacred, perhaps because smoke is a sort of in between area between spirit and matter; we see it, and yet we cannot truly touch it, and as it rises higher it gradually dissipates and suddenly it is no longer there. No wonder that in many ancient and modern religious traditions, it is seen as a perfect vehicle to carry our prayers from this reality to the other.

As a medicine: There are a variety of medicinal uses of smoking mixtures. One can use calming or tranquilizing herbs to relax physically or mentally. Some herbs can be smoked for calming the lungs or to aid in expectoration. The difference between poison and medicine is dosage; smoking a strong herb is one way to regulate its dosage.

In the Middle East, virtually every medical text from the golden age of Arab medicine describes treatments that involve smoking herbs wrapped in silk or paper (the pictures look remarkably like modern cigarettes).

Dioscordies, Doedens, Pliny, and a number of other pre-period and period authors all seem to agree. Maude Grieve's "Herbal,", has an excellent summary of the details for these authors.

She writes: The smoking of the leaves for a cough has the recommendation of Dioscorides, Galen, Pliny, Boyle, and other great authorities,both ancient and modern, Linnaeus stating that the Swedes of his time smoked it for that purpose. Pliny recommended the use of both roots and leaves. The leaves are the basis of the British Herb Tobacco, in which Coltsfoot predominates, the other ingredients being Buckbean, Eyebright, Betony,Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, and Chamomile flowers. This relieves asthma and also the difficult breathing of old bronchitis. Those suffering from asthma, catarrh and other lung troubles derive much benefit from smoking this Herbal Tobacco, the use of which does not entail any of the injurious effects of ordinary tobacco. (from the online copy at www.botanical.com)

Spiritual and Ceremonial Uses: Throughout history people have taken (and smoked) herbs to produce altered states of consciousness. Although some in modern times seek hallucinogens for pure recreation, many still use these plants respectfully on the journey for spiritual knowledge. Even the milder herbs are useful during meditation and vision quests.

Smoking is a ritual, and the more conscious we are of it, the more we will get from it. It is such a powerful mixture of fire and air.

Characteristics of Good Herbal Burning or Smoke Blends:
No two herbal smoking or burning blends are similar, because Nature has a magnificent array of divine plants. Over the millenniums, man has somewhat perfected the blending of these magical plants to get the perfect smoke from burning them. Ideally the herbs to be dried using shade drying. Even if the individual ingredients are dry, as a whole the mixture should be ever so slightly moist. Some of the most flavorful smoking ingredients need to dry slow, and cure, but the majority are best picked fresh and not dried completely.

Keeping all of the above in mind and faithfully following traditional remedies that were closely guarded secrets (obtained only by assuring keepers of ancient traditions that their ritual use would be honored completely) our resident chemist put in endless hours of hard work, before she was ready to present us these ‘perfect’ blends that were once used both as a medicine and for ritual ceremony to walk with the Gods!

GENERAL WARNING: Smoking By Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, And Low Weight. Cigarette smoking is hazardous to your health. You must be 18 years of age or older to order any of our herbal, tobacco-free products.