Juniper

August 10, 2025, 11:26 AM

From page 126:

"Bathing in cedar (Thujus occidentalis) smoke is so common that many Native people speak of 'cedaring' rather than smudging. In the Dakota language, cedar has the distinction of having the holy word sha (red) the symbol of life, as part of its name: hante sha."

"Because the Thunderbird nests in cedar boughs, cedar attached to tipi poles acts as a spiritual lightning rod, protecting the tipi."

From page 127:

"The Pawnee and Leni-LLenape both use cedar twig smoke to avert bad dreams."

"The plant commonly called 'cedar' by the Montana Cree is botanically the alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), the needles of which are burned on a hollowed rock or brick."

"In the American Southwest, Native people commonly apply the term cedar to the plant that is actually juniper (Juniprus, various species). Juniper may be used as a smudge or carried in a medicine bag for spiritual protection....The cautions for using juniper internally are similar to those for other fragrant herbs. Juniper's volatile oils can irritate the urinary tract and may have a vasodilating effect on the uterine lining. Therefore juniper tea and berries should be avoided by patients with kidney disease and during pregnancy (see endnote #17 on page 361)."

From page 361:

Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West (Santa Fe: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1979, page 94).