Description
*Híišen is an upright and aromatic plant. This plant is known for its calming properties and sage-like scent. It grows to be kaphan (three) to kenéetiš (seven) feet tall and has small flowers that form terminal clusters.
Traditional Native Uses
*Medicinal: Híišen has been traditionally used both medicinally and ceremonially. Inhaling the káar (smoke) from its’ burning leaves, helped with ’eete (sleep), sacred dreams, and warding off bad spirits. The káar (smoke) was also used to treat flu, colds and fevers. Híišen, taken as a tea, brought relief from asthma, rheumatism, gastric ailments, stomach aches and urinary problems. Tea was also used to treat women’s ailments such as premenstrual syndrome, painful menstruation, difficult hiswi (childbirth) and menopause. Tikka (chewing) the leaves helped relieve kaayi síit (tooth aches) and gum pain. Fresh leaves have been used to treat and prevent poison oak inflammation. Híišen contains a compound called thujone which is known to cause hallucinations and convulsions. Repellent: Dried, fresh or burned leaves were used as an insect repellent. Leaves were also placed in ’amham (food) storage containers to deter insects, hirehikma (rats), yoššokma (mice), etc...