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Amber's Organics LLC Medical Herb Seed A-Z > Sage, Prairie.
Sage, Prairie.

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Price: $2.95
Availability: in stock


Asteraceae Family - "Prairie Sage, Cudweed, Mugwort, Sagebrush, Dark-leaved Mugwort, Sagewort, Western Mugwort, Western Sage, White Sage, Wormwood" 

Named in memory of Artemisia. wife of Mausolus, ancient king of Caria and ludoviciana from the latin form meaning "of Louisiana" (most likely "St. Louis" in this particular case).  

Found throughout the Tallgrass Prairie Region and well throughout North America. Can grow to 40 inches in height and prefers disturbed areas along roads and railways, dry areas on rocky, sandy or gravelly loams; blooms from August through September. Thrives in mesic to dry soils and does best with a little bit of shade, though it does tolerate full sunlight well. Very aggressive in any plot.

Another one of the more widely used native prairie plants, Native Americans used Prairie Sage for both medicinal and ceremonial purposes. The Dakota Sioux liked using it to begin most of their ceremonies as they believed it drove away evil spirits. Some tribes believed that by bathing in Prairie Sage water, you could restore yourself to a normal status after breaking a taboo or touching a sacred object. Other Central Plains cultures used it as a bed for storing their pipes. Early settlers used it by burning it before the body of a deceased person was carried into the church for the funeral. It served as an incense in the days before embalming.

An infusion of Prairie Sage was taken by Arikara women to stop profuse menstruation and relieve the associated pains. Other tribes used an infusion to help ease stomach pains and a tea made from this species was used by many other tribes to treat tonsillitis and sore throat. Still others used it in a poultice to treat open sores. 

Another use of burning prairie sage was to drive off mosquitoes and other pesky flying insects.

Ironically, the sage we use today is not derived from this species or even this plant family. Our modern herb is a member of the Mint Family.

50 seeds