what is sweetgrass

Sweetgrass is an aromatic herb native to northern Eurasia and North America. It is considered sacred by many Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States and is used as a smudge, in herbal medicine, and in ceremonies. Sweetgrass is also known as the "Hair of Mother Earth" and is widely used by Indigenous peoples from many different Nations in North America. The plant is usually braided, and the braiding is a group event that brings communities together and connects each member. Sweetgrass is much more than a nice-smelling plant that can be burned. It represents the connection of humans to earth and sky and is used in many ceremonies and prayers. Two chemicals found in sweetgrass, phytol and coumarin, repel mosquitoes. Sweetgrass is a cool-season grass that spreads easily by rhizome to form a patch and requires a rich moist soil and at least 6 hours of sun a day. The plant is used to "smudge"; the smoke from burning sweetgrass is fanned on people, objects, or areas, and individuals smudge themselves with the smoke, washing away negative thoughts and feelings. Sweetgrass is also used to attract good spirits and is burned ceremonially in North American indigenous cultures. The vanilla-like fragrance of sweetgrass is produced by an aromatic compound known as coumarin, which is even more evident when the leaves are dried. Sweetgrass is strewn on floors as a room freshener, used to stuff pillows and mattresses, woven into baskets and hats, and burned as a purifying smudge or incense.