White Sage is considered sacred by many Native Americans. White sage is believed to cleanse a space of any evil spirits or 'negative' energies that may be present.

This power is said to be released from the plant by the burning of the leaves, which are typically bundled into a wand or stick. Today many Native American tribes still use the stems and leaves for smudging as part of purification ceremonies.

~Lavender brings a positive energy, opens the heart chakra, calms the mind, protects, releases fear while being effective at soothing the nervous system. Lavender has powers of protection, calming and cleansing.

In addition to purifying the air you breathe, smudging can help you catch some zzz’s, according to Reshma Patel, PA-C, MMS, founder of Ananda Integrative Medicine. She too points to the antimicrobial and antibacterial healing properties of sage. In fact, Patel explains that sage belongs to the Salvia plant family, whose name derives from the Latin word salvere, which means “to heal.”