Silver Wormwood

White sage or “man sage”
was perhaps the most important ceremonial plant of
the Cheyenne. The sage was spread
along the borders and on the altar in almost every
ceremonial lodge (including the stone peoples lodge
or sweat lodge) with the flowering end toward the
fire. The leaves were burned as an incense to cleanse
and drive away bad spirits, evil influences, bad
dreams, bad thoughts, and sickness. A small pinch of
baneberry (Actea rubra) was often mixed with it for
this purpose. The smoke was used to purify people,
spaces, implements, utensils, horses, and rifles in
various ceremonies. The Lakota also make bracelets
for the Sun Dance from white sage.
The Cheyenne use the white sage in their Sun Dance
and Standing Against Thunder ceremonies. Other tribes who used white sage include the
Arapaho, Comanche, Gros Ventre, Creek, Navaho,
Tewa, and Ute.