09/04/2026
Many traditions both in the West and worldwide have utilised the burning of herbs medicinally and spiritually. For example, Native Americans incorporated the smoking of to***co into scared rituals and ceremonies. They also used Lobelia infalata (a herb used for lungs today) to promote open airways and soothe respiratory issues and it was often burned and the smoke inhaled or smoked directly. In the late 19th and early 20th century, literature details the use of "anti-asthma" ci******es (containing lung supportive herbs) used to positive effect; although the sale of these disappeared under the weight of anxieties around this method of ingestion as well as the rise in pharmaceutical treatments being promoted. Interestingly the anticholinergic bronchodilators used in inhaler form were derived from synthesised datura stramonium, which was one of the key herbs used in these herbal ci******es. Apart from lung support, the burning of herbs was often also used traditionally to cleanse spaces and contemporary studies support the traditional use of burning herbs for reducing airborne bacteria. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17913417/. Whilst noone is advocating people take up smoking, from a harm reduction/minimisation perspective, herbs can be usefully applied as a smoking cessation tool; as well as being used for specific complaints. At Wight Herbal Medicine we have a range of smoking blends for sale at just £8 per tin.
This study represents a comprehensive analysis and scientific validation of our ancient knowledge about the effect of ethnopharmacological aspects of natural products' smoke for therapy and health care on airborne bacterial composition and dynamics, using the Biolog microplate panels and Microlog da...
