Sweet Grass - Benefits, Uses and Side Effects

Botanical Name of Sweet Grass: Hierochloe odorata, Anthoxanthum nitens.

Other Common Names:
Holy grass, myskgräs, festgræs, reyrgresi, buffalo grass, vanilla grass, vanilla-scented grass, manna grass, Russian buffalo grass, seneca grass, zebrovka, zubrowski, duftendes mariengras, mariengras, hierochloé odorant, hierba de la virgen.

Habitat:
Sweet grass has a cirkumboreal distribution, meaning that the species is found in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is usually found growing in nutrition rich and moist soil.

Description:
Sweet grass is a perennial plant of the grass family (Poaceae). The stems of the grass are upright, hairless and hollow. It can grow to about 60 cm or two feet in height. The plant blooms in May to June.

Plant Parts Used:
The leaves.

Sweet Grass Leaves
(Hierochloe odorata)
(Click on image to enlarge)
Attribution:Hans Hillewaert

Sweet Grass Braids

Wild Crafted Sweetgrass Braid by Starwest Botanicals

Therapeutic Uses, Benefits and Claims of Sweet Grass

• The leaves of the sweet grass are collected during the summer months and dried by natural or artificial means. The dried leaves are then used to form braids made for burning and used as incense. The vanilla scented smoke is important in many sacred ceremonies, both among Native North Americans and some indigenous groups in Europe. The dried leaves are also used medicinally in herbal teas and essential oil can be distilled from the plant which is then used as seasoning in foods and alcoholic beverages.

Sweet Grass
(Hierochloe odorata)
• Sweet grass contains coumarin, which gives the plant its characteristic scent. Coumarin has blood-thinning properties and some research has shown that coumarin and related compounds can be effective in reducing high-protein edemas, especially lymphodema. Coumarins are toxic substances that are known to be carcinogenic in larger doses.
• In Europe, sweet grass has been used to flavor tobacco, sweets and alcoholic beverages like the Polish vodka Zubrowka.
• It is especially among the native tribes of North American that there are traditions of using sweet grass not only for religious ceremonies, but also to a certain extent as a medicinal herb. The smoke of burning sweet grass was inhaled to treat colds, and also used to keep insects at bay. Herbal tea made from the leaves has been used to treat cough, sore throat, fever, and venereal diseases. The herb has also been used to stop uterine bleeding and to shed the afterbirth after childbirth.
• Extraction or decoction of sweet grass was used for body and hair wash, and it was also rubbed on the body or woven into the hair due to the agreeable smell of the plant.
• This fragrant grass was also used as a filling in pillows and mattresses and the dried leaves were woven into fabrics to give them a good smell. Additionally the Native Americans used to weave baskets and mats from the long leaves. These baskets and mats would retain the special vanilla like scent for several years.
• Sweet grass was and still is considered a sacred plant by many native tribes of North America and is traditionally used as incense in many sacred ceremonies, purification processes, healing rituals, peace ceremonies and initiations. It is said that the sweet smelling smoke cleanses the spirit and brings sacred messages to the higher planes of existence. The Native Americans believed that "Wakan Tanka" (The Nature) better understood the messages delivered by smoke than those said with words.

Dosage and Administration

This herb is usually not recommended for internal use. Please contact a trained herbalist if you intend to use this plant as an herbal medicine.

Potential Side Effects and Interactions of Sweet Grass

Coumarin is a substance found in sweet grass. It is a natural anticoagulant that gives the plant its characteristic pleasant smell. Coumarin, if ingested in large doses or over a long time, can cause liver damage and hemorrhages. Coumarins are also known to be carcinogenic. There are no known dangers associated with the ceremonial use of sweet grass in the form of incense.

Supporting References

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"Plants cry their gratitude for the sun in green joy."
Terri Guillemets