There has been a lot of talk lately on the web about white sage and palo santo.
These herbs were used by the Indigenous tribes of North and South America for purification purposes, such as cleansing the atmosphere or dispelling spirits, but it was also popular due to it’s bright and musky aroma.
Nowadays it is very common to find white sage smudge sticks sold in various shops.
Many people online have been arguing with each-other about whether or not white sage is endangered or not.
The truth is that white sage is not endangered. Salvia Apiana (white sage) is not listened as threatened, nor endangered by state or federal governments.
White sage is also not listed under the California Desert Native Plants Act.
I assume the reason why these discussions have been brought up is because is because there are indeed some areas where the wild populations of white sage are becoming threatened. Dishonest people sometimes go to where the white sage grows, and harvest all that they can, for resale. This is not ethical, nor sustainable.
However, a lot of white sage also comes from sustainable farms, where it is grown in private, and not taken from nature.
So, although white sage is not endangered, it is still important to make sure that your white sage comes from an ethical supplier. This will help ensure the survival of wild white sage.
It’s also worth noting that the most common type of palo santo (Bursera Graveolens) which is sold on the market is not endangered either.
