Ghosts (a little late maybe)

[Guest guest]

More corroboration from Subhuti Dharmananda's article, " Borneol, Artemisia,

and Moxa. "

 

DEMON CHASING

Artemisia is a significant part of the tradition of preventing and treating

diseases by warding off demons (see Disorders caused by " demons " ). This

report was provided by Smith and Stuart:

 

As this plant [artemisia] is so frequently used as a charm, and is held in a

measure of superstitious veneration by the people, it is a little difficult

to determine just where its remedial use in native therapeutics begins. At

the time of the Dragon Festival (fifth day of the fifth moon), the Artemisia

is hung up to ward off noxious influences. This is done either together with

a Taoist charm, in which case it is called aifu and is hung at the head of

the principal room of the house, or together with the Acorus calamus

(changpu) at the door; the leaves of the latter being formed in the shape of

a sword (called puchien) and placed over the door, while the stalk of the

artemisia is hung on each door post. That this was efficacious in at least

one instance was attested by the fact that the famous rebel Huang Ch'ao gave

orders to his soldiers to spare any family that had Artemisia hung up at the

door. The moxa is employed by Buddhist priests in initiating neophytes;

three rows of three, four, or five scars each being burned on the crown of

the head with this substance. Many also use the moxa on a three day old

child, burning one or more scars on the face; this being supposed to insure

the child's living through infancy. The places of burning are between the

brows, on each cheek a little distance beneath the eyes, and at the root of

the nose on the upper lip.

 

The uses of artemisia by the Chinese find a remarkable parallel with that of

the Native Americans. Probably the most commonly used herb for dispelling

demons is the one we often refer to as " wild sage " but is actually

artemisia. The following descriptions come from Uses of Plants by the

Indians of the Missouri River Region (18), including mention of simple

herbal remedies with demon-dispelling approaches:

 

Artemisia gnaphalodes (wild sage): A decoction of the plant was taken for

stomach troubles and many other kinds of ailments. It was used also for

bathing. A person who had unwittingly broken some taboo or had touched any

sacred object must bathe with Artemisia. The immaterial essence or, to use

the Dakota word, the to, of Artemisia was believed to be effectual as a

protection against maleficent powers; therefore, it was always proper to

begin any ceremonial by using Artemisia in order to drive away any evil

influences. As an example of the use among the Omaha of Artemisia, to avert

calamity it is related that two horses ran wild in the camp, knocking down

the Sacred Tent. Two old men, having caught the horses, rubbed them all over

with wild sage, and said to the young son of the owner, " If you let them do

that again, the buffaloes shall gore them. " In the ceremonies of the

installation of a chief among the Omaha, wild sage was used as a bed for the

sacred pipes....It has already been mentioned that various species of

Artemisia were used in old times as incense for the purpose of exorcising

evil powers. It has also been stated that cedar twigs or sweet grass, either

one, were used as incense to attract good powers. Some Christian Indians

also still employ all these species as incense for these specific purposes,

in church services, especially at Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and on

occasion of funerals. The writer has seen the use of Artemisia as an incense

before a church door just before the body was carried into the church. A

small fire was made before the steps of the church, Artemisia tops being

used to raise a cloud of smoke.

 

Some species could be used for attracting good, not just repelling evil:

 

Artemisia dracunculoides (fuzzy-weed): Among the Winnebago the chewed root

was put on the clothes as a love charm and hunting charm. The effect was

supposed to be secured by getting to windward of the object of desire,

allowing the wind to waft the odor of the herb thither. The Omaha ascribed

the same powers to this species and used it in the same ways as they did the

gray species of this genus [see above]. It was used also in smoke treatment.

A Winnebago medicine-man said a handful of the tops of this species dipped

into warm water served as a sprinkler for the body to relieve fevers.

According to a Pawnee informant, a decoction made of the tops was used for

bathing as a remedy for rheumatism....

 

Sweetgrass, often used with wild sage, is described thus:

 

It was used for perfume and was burned as an incense in any ceremony or

ritual to induce the presence of good influences or benevolent powers, while

wild sage, a species of Artemisia, was burned to exorcise evil influences or

malevolent powers.

 

 

 

 

==============================

Peter L. Borten, L.Ac.

4004 SW Kelly Avenue, Ste 201

Portland, Oregon 97201

503.522.2613

http://www.whiteflowerhealing.com/

==============================

[Guest guest]

Hi Peter.

 

Is this your article, or Subhuti's? If it's yours, can I upload it to

acupuncture.com?

 

Thanks.

 

-al.

 

Peter Borten wrote:

>

> More corroboration from Subhuti Dharmananda's article, " Borneol, Artemisia,

> and Moxa. "

>

> DEMON CHASING

> Artemisia is a significant part of the tradition of preventing and treating

> diseases by warding off demons (see Disorders caused by " demons " ). This

> report was provided by Smith and Stuart:

>

> As this plant [artemisia] is so frequently used as a charm, and is held in a

> measure of superstitious veneration by the people, it is a little difficult

> to determine just where its remedial use in native therapeutics begins. At

> the time of the Dragon Festival (fifth day of the fifth moon), the Artemisia

> is hung up to ward off noxious influences. This is done either together with

> a Taoist charm, in which case it is called aifu and is hung at the head of

> the principal room of the house, or together with the Acorus calamus

> (changpu) at the door; the leaves of the latter being formed in the shape of

> a sword (called puchien) and placed over the door, while the stalk of the

> artemisia is hung on each door post. That this was efficacious in at least

> one instance was attested by the fact that the famous rebel Huang Ch'ao gave

> orders to his soldiers to spare any family that had Artemisia hung up at the

> door. The moxa is employed by Buddhist priests in initiating neophytes;

> three rows of three, four, or five scars each being burned on the crown of

> the head with this substance. Many also use the moxa on a three day old

> child, burning one or more scars on the face; this being supposed to insure

> the child's living through infancy. The places of burning are between the

> brows, on each cheek a little distance beneath the eyes, and at the root of

> the nose on the upper lip.

>

> The uses of artemisia by the Chinese find a remarkable parallel with that of

> the Native Americans. Probably the most commonly used herb for dispelling

> demons is the one we often refer to as " wild sage " but is actually

> artemisia. The following descriptions come from Uses of Plants by the

> Indians of the Missouri River Region (18), including mention of simple

> herbal remedies with demon-dispelling approaches:

>

> Artemisia gnaphalodes (wild sage): A decoction of the plant was taken for

> stomach troubles and many other kinds of ailments. It was used also for

> bathing. A person who had unwittingly broken some taboo or had touched any

> sacred object must bathe with Artemisia. The immaterial essence or, to use

> the Dakota word, the to, of Artemisia was believed to be effectual as a

> protection against maleficent powers; therefore, it was always proper to

> begin any ceremonial by using Artemisia in order to drive away any evil

> influences. As an example of the use among the Omaha of Artemisia, to avert

> calamity it is related that two horses ran wild in the camp, knocking down

> the Sacred Tent. Two old men, having caught the horses, rubbed them all over

> with wild sage, and said to the young son of the owner, " If you let them do

> that again, the buffaloes shall gore them. " In the ceremonies of the

> installation of a chief among the Omaha, wild sage was used as a bed for the

> sacred pipes....It has already been mentioned that various species of

> Artemisia were used in old times as incense for the purpose of exorcising

> evil powers. It has also been stated that cedar twigs or sweet grass, either

> one, were used as incense to attract good powers. Some Christian Indians

> also still employ all these species as incense for these specific purposes,

> in church services, especially at Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and on

> occasion of funerals. The writer has seen the use of Artemisia as an incense

> before a church door just before the body was carried into the church. A

> small fire was made before the steps of the church, Artemisia tops being

> used to raise a cloud of smoke.

>

> Some species could be used for attracting good, not just repelling evil:

>

> Artemisia dracunculoides (fuzzy-weed): Among the Winnebago the chewed root

> was put on the clothes as a love charm and hunting charm. The effect was

> supposed to be secured by getting to windward of the object of desire,

> allowing the wind to waft the odor of the herb thither. The Omaha ascribed

> the same powers to this species and used it in the same ways as they did the

> gray species of this genus [see above]. It was used also in smoke treatment.

> A Winnebago medicine-man said a handful of the tops of this species dipped

> into warm water served as a sprinkler for the body to relieve fevers.

> According to a Pawnee informant, a decoction made of the tops was used for

> bathing as a remedy for rheumatism....

>

> Sweetgrass, often used with wild sage, is described thus:

>

> It was used for perfume and was burned as an incense in any ceremony or

> ritual to induce the presence of good influences or benevolent powers, while

> wild sage, a species of Artemisia, was burned to exorcise evil influences or

> malevolent powers.

>

> ==============================

> Peter L. Borten, L.Ac.

> 4004 SW Kelly Avenue, Ste 201

> Portland, Oregon 97201

> 503.522.2613

> http://www.whiteflowerhealing.com/

> ==============================

>

>

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practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in

Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including

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>

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