Desert sage is the name of a herb that possesses extensive medicinal qualities. It can be put to variety of uses be it antiseptic or analgesic, digestive or sedative, as a disinfectant or as emollient. It is surprising how a small plant has the potential to cure so many physical as well as psychological problems.

Desert sage was primarily used for its spiritual enhancement properties and put to treat problems with the diaphragm and for the therapeutic value. Desert sage was used an aborigines of America in the religious ceremonies inside a sweat lodge to treat sinuses and the purification of the souls of the ‘sweaters’ performed mainly at the places of worship. Desert sage has lost its popularity in the recent times but it is quite peculiar that how an herb with such varied and extensive significance having ritualistic significance could loose value.

Desert sage had been also put in use of some smudge healing performances so as to drive away the evil spirits or after the birth of a child to purify the environment. Even today, in the modern times, the sage sticks are very often put to use while smudging in the form of smudge sticks.

Desert Sage is a widely used herb in colds and fever for the American Indians.  The leaf of the herb an used to prepare some sort of tea that helps to treat stomach upsets and induces vomit. The branches on the other hand can be burnt to obtain fumes that can help in colds when inhaled. The green leaves can be simply placed on the gums to relieve of toothaches. Even pneumonia can be healed by giving the patients small doses of the mixture of boiled leaves with some salt each timed the patient coughed. After a baby is born or one needs to purify the environment of a patient’s room, or for some general purification of air for aromatherapy, smudging and meditation, the branches of desert sage can be burnt on a stove to fumigate the air around.  The tea preparation from the branches of desert sage yields a medicinal value which if used in washing the head can give miraculous results in relieving pain.  Such tea, if drunk can benefit in cases of diarrhea, stomach cramps and pains, tuberculosis and laryngitis. The tea can also be used as an antiseptic treatment to sore throats by gargle or as an antiseptic for wounds and cuts and even pimples. These leaves are very beneficial and skin friendly to even babies as they can be dried and powdered to form baby powder. So we now see the rheumatic benefits of desert sage both for the external and the internal body parts. Some tribes chewed and swallowed the leaves for coughs, indigestion, and gas.”

And after all these innumerable uses, modern day use of desert sage plant is primarily done for colds and indigestions. The aroma therapists use it to purify and sanctify the air around. These are often found in religious places and at treatment centres as of therapeutic use.