In the past, certain herbs such as sage and rosemary were burned to cleanse sick rooms. A fragrant wood, Cedar is known to have expectorant, antifungal, antiviral and lymphatic cleansing properties. The needles from Pine, Spruce and Fir trees contain the main ingredient in Tamiflu (a medicine used to treat the bird flu) called shikimic acid. Frankincense is also a known to be very effective incense in the treatment of respiratory ailments. Mullein and Eucalyptus leaves are also beneficial herbs that can be used in this manner.

When herbs and fragrant woods are burned slowly, their essential oils are released and carried by the smoke into the lungs of those that are near the smoke. Using this method, inflamed bronchial tissues can be relieved as they are coated with the beneficial herbal properties.

I know of one instance of a woman that was left struggling for air, choking and vomiting from a strong cytokine response during the flu. The man of the house closed the damper on the wood stove and placed cedar in the fire box, which produced a cleansing smoke. The relief from the cytokine storm was immediate. The mucus and flu symptoms disappeared within 20 minutes. Since that time, they have used this same remedy on other family members to good effect (of course, they air the house out afterwards).

American Indian tribes regularly used Cedar to smoke and cleanse their homes. In rustic conditions, smoke can be used to cleanse a person, clothing, bedding or shelter of vermin, molds, etc. The last part of Leviticus 14 records that priests were instructed to cleanse a house of the plague using Cedar.

HOW TO USE HERBS FOR INCENSE

Carefully place a hot ember or coal from a hardwood fire (use tongs) onto a heat resistant surface. To create incense, place your herbs onto the hot coal. Gently breathe the smoke that results. Be careful that the plant material does not burst into flames but only smokes. Two ways to accomplish this are to tie your woody material and/or herbs into tight bundles and to use hot coals rather than an open flame.

Herbs tightly bundled for incense are called smudge sticks. In some cases, leaves and stems can be tightly braided. Dried leaves can be secured with twine and unbleached paper. To use smudge sticks, light one of the ends. Then the flame is gently blown out leaving the plant material to smolder and smoke. Smudge sticks are handy as it is easy to direct the smoke, and they will tend to burn for a longer period of time.

BE SAFE

Do not inhale the smoke of any herb or plant material to which you have known allergies. This article is only for the information of the reader. People that try these methods assume all liability should follow standard safety precautions. None of this information is a substitute for professional health care.