White Sage

the seeds are edible. ground into a meal called chia (same name as Salvia hispanica chia).

food preservative properties.

it's a critical pollinator plant for California native bee species, including several specialist bees (Diadasia, Anthophorula) that visit almost exclusively white sage flowers.

burning the leaves releases the essential oil compounds and pyrolysis products into the air. multiple studies have shown that smudging reduces airborne bacterial counts in enclosed spaces.

the vaporized carnosic acid and pinene compounds have genuine air-antimicrobial activity. the CB1/GABA receptor activity of the inhaled volatiles contributes to the calming, altered state traditionally associated with smudging ceremonies.

aqueous ethanolic extract showed moderate CB1 cannabinoid receptor activity at 58.3% displacement.

influence of white sage constituents on the nervous system including GABA, opioid, and cannabinoid receptors.

inhibits NF-κB and Akt signaling, and has documented activity against prostate, breast, colon, and skin cancer cell lines.