Smoking ceremony is an ancient and contemporary custom among some Aboriginal Australians that involves smouldering native plants to produce smoke. This herbal smoke is believed to have both spiritual and physical cleansing properties, as well as the ability to ward off bad spirits.[1] In traditional, spiritual culture, smoking ceremonies have been performed following either childbirth or initiation rites involving circumcision.[2][3] In contemporary culture, elements of smoking ceremonies have been incorporated into Welcome to Country performances and other spiritual events held for the general public.
Research has shown that heating the leaves of Eremophila longifolia (commonly known as the berrigan emu bush), one of the plants used in smoking ceremony, produces a smoke with significant antimicrobial effects. These effects are not observed in the leaves prior to heating. Fumigating a newborn infant, a mother who has just given birth, or a boy who has just been circumcised, is considered to assist in preventing infection.[4]
- ^ Kelly, Glen (1999). "Karla Wongi Fire Talk: A Nyungar perspective on forest burning". Landscope. 14: 11.
- ^ Flood, Josephine (2006). The Original Australians: Story of the Aboriginal People. Allen & Unwin. p. 149. ISBN 9781741159622.
- ^ "Northern Territory Natives". Observer. 3 November 1906.
- ^ Sadgrove, Nicholas John; Jones, Graham Lloyd; Greatrex, Ben William (2014). "Isolation and characterisation of (−)-genifuranal: The principal antimicrobial component in traditional smoking applications of Eremophila longifolia (Scrophulariaceae) by Australian aboriginal peoples". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 154 (3): 758–766. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.05.003. PMID 24837304.