As several health rituals embraced, the use of sage really has some pretty deep roots. If you used it personally—or even thought of using it—for physical or spiritual health reasons it is important to know the importance of enlightenment among Native American nations, as members of different Native cultures argue that there is a very thin line between appreciation and appropriation.

You’re possibly familiar with a few different uses of sage, the most prominent of which is “smudging,” a ritualistic burning of sage that has been popularized in the home by non-Natives in recent years. Yet evidence reveals that the traditional uses of sage are really so much more sacred, and that includes its medicinal use. Taté Walker, a two-spirit storyteller and resident of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, shares that in their particular culture, the herb is used as a cure for illnesses, including menstruation, constipation, and anxiety, among many others.

In addition, Ruth H. Hopkins, a researcher, indigenous spokesperson, and a member of the Dakota/Lakota Sioux Tribe, states that Prairie Sage is frequently used inher native culture to cure skin rashes, as a deodorant, and also as a blood sugar-reducing diabetic tea, although uses vary from Tribe to Tribe.

In fact, preservation is a major factor in the use of sage by Native Americans, as Walker states, that the appropriation of it by non-Natives has become an environmental concern. “Commodifying sage has led to poaching and overharvesting, which has a negative impact on how the plant is grown, harvested, and interacts with the environment,” they claim. “From the time it’s harvested to the time the ashes are disposed of must be purposeful, intentional, and sustainable.” Walker continues that the sage used for smudging/prayer purposes should not be purchased or sold, and that is why most natives who use the herb in this way are cultivating their own.

All of this poses a significant question: can non-Natives use sage? Well, according to Walker and Hopkins, it depends on that. First and foremost, you ought to look past the fashion appeal, which Walker claims is both reductive and dangerous. “My people fought and died to protect our medicinal and sacred knowledge, and your trendy use of it here on the occupied lands of hundreds of Native nations erases our struggles — and our resilience,” they claim. “More importantly, when you can burn sage and ignore the history of what sage means to Native people, it’s much easier for you to also ignore our modern struggles, such as bringing justice to missing and murdered Indigenous women and defending our lands from violently extractive industries.”

And while Hopkins shares that smudging can be undertaken solely with the consent and involvement of native people, Walker says that if you’re thoughtful and mindful of native communities and the past and sacred purposes of the sage, you’re on the right track. “Lots of non-Native cultures use sage, so I’d never police someone’s legitimate use of it, especially those seeking to understand their ancestry, better themselves, and selflessly serve others,” they explain. “It’s fun to chat with folks doing this kind of inner wellness work; their research often finds them relating better to other cleansing and smudgeable herbs, like rosemary and thyme, and they end up using sage a lot less in their spiritual and wellness rituals.”