Prairie Sage

Prairie sage (artemesia ludoviciana) growing in midsummer. This herb has been used externally for skin care because of its cleansing and antiseptic properties. Plus I think it simply smells divine! One of the more widely used native prairie plants, Native Americans used Prairie Sage for both medicinal and ceremonial purposes. It was used to begin some of their ceremonies as they believed it drove away evil spirits. Some tribes believed that by bathing in Prairie Sage water, you could restore yourself to a normal status after breaking a taboo or touching a sacred object. Early settlers used it by burning it before the body of a deceased person was carried into the church for the funeral, using it as an incense in the days before embalming.