The Four Sacred Medicines

The Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America) commonly utilize four sacred plant medicines which are most typically used when smudging, in ceremonies and as gifts. They are:

  • Semaa (Tobacco)
  • Zhgob (Cedar)
  • Mshkwoodewashk (Sage)
  • Wingushk (Sweetgrass)

Semaa (Tobacco)

While teachings around Semaa vary within Indigenous culture, it is most commonly used in ceremonies. The sacred medicine of tobacco is said to have been given to Indigenous Peoples, so that they can communicate with the spirit world.

Semaa is often gifted to Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers as a means of demonstrating one’s intentions. The Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers receive information from the spirit world and the tobacco acts as a pathway to deliver those messages.

Indigenous people also use tobacco:

  • To set one’s intentions prior to foraging other traditional medicines and/or plants;
  • When requesting help or advice from an Elder, Medicine Person or Healer; and,
  • To express gratitude to the spirit world by delivering one’s message and intentions.

Additionally, tobacco acts as a communicator with other plant life by relaying the intentions of other living beings.

Zhgob (Cedar)

Zhgob is used in many ways, however most Indigenous Peoples use Zhgob for its restorative ability and to purify physical spaces including the mind, body, spirit, and/or home.

Ways you may see Indigenous Peoples use Cedar, include:

  • Cedar baths to relieve sore muscles and joints;
  • Adding Cedar to a fire to create a crackling sound, which calls attention to the spirit world and lets it be known that an offering is being made; and,
  • For its protective qualities. Cedar is often placed at entrance ways to homes, and on the ground around the perimeter of a sweat lodge as Cedar ensures that bad energies are not able to enter.

Mshkwoodewashk (Sage)

Mshkwoodewashk is commonly used to prepare people for ceremonies and teachings. Sage is used as a cleansing medicine as it releases and removes any negative energy that may be troubling you.

Ways you may see Indigenous People use Sage:

  • For cleansing homes, spaces, and sacred items;
  • To clear the senses from seeing, hearing, speaking, or feeling negative thoughts and energies; and,
  • White buffalo sage is commonly used in Anishinaabe cultures and is known to have antimicrobial properties to fend off infectious bacteria, viruses, and molds.

Wingushk (Sweetgrass)

Sweetgrass is used in prayer, smudging and purifying ceremonies. Known to represent Mother Earth’s hair, it is usually braided, and the scent reminds us of the kindness and of the love She has for all people and their non-human relations. Wingushk is usually burned at the beginning of a prayer or ceremony to attract positive energies.

Ways you may see Indigenous People use Sweetgrass:

  • Burning it at the beginning of a ceremony to attract positive energies;
  • Using it in healing circles as it has a calming effect;
  • To sooth sore throats, chafing and infections; and,

To aid in the care and healing process for women experiencing a loss of pregnancy.

We encourage you to learn more about Sacred Medicines by visiting the First Peoples Indigenous Centre to speak with an Elder or Traditional Knowledge Keeper. For more information, please contact indigenous@durhamcollege.ca.