Iansã (Oyá) herbs for baths and rituals in Candomblé, Umbanda and more!

Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion, brought by the Yoruba during the black diaspora. From there they brought their deities – the Orixás – and their concept of the Sacred. Umbanda, on the other hand, comes from Brazil, being an adaptation of Candomblé – already so rich and diverse – to Christian and Spiritist culture.

While Candomblé is related to the laws of nature and its elements, with the Orixás being responsible for energy balance, Umbanda perceives them as evolved spirits, following Christian principles and seeking charity.

In both cases, plants associated with each of the Orixás are widely used as a work tool, whether to prepare baths, smoke, and many other rituals. Discover then the most powerful herbs of Iansã and how to use each one!

Warrior and fearless orixá, Iansã (Oyá) is the one who commands the winds – which take the souls of the dead to the heights -, lightning and storms. She is linked to change, impulsiveness, frankness, quick thinking and courage. Iansã is the preferred Iabá (female Orisha) to make requests for big changes, which require a lot of struggle, courage and urgency.

Like all orixás, Iansã has its qualities and defects – as well as its children. She has her affinities with some plants, and also her repulsions, like the pumpkin. Iansã herbs can be used in baths, foot baths and smoke.

To prepare a bath, it is essential to follow the guidance of someone with experience, to avoid problems. It must be prepared in advance and the application site must be quiet and ready. It’s interesting to have a net in the drain, to prevent the leaves from clogging your pipe. Afterwards, the remains must be thrown into running water or buried. Of course you can throw it in the trash too, but it’s not ideal.

Already smoking, can be done in a few ways. If you have a censer (or milk can with holes in it), you can light the charcoal in it and place the herbs. Of course you can use an old pot or cauldron reserved for this. Another option is to tie the herbs still fresh, well pressed and let them dry, burning when ready. The tighter they are, the faster the burn.

The foot bath should be used when the option of bathing is not feasible and the type of plants allows it. The water should be very hot, but so that it doesn’t burn your skin. Add the herbs, essential oils and whatever is indicated, dip your feet and add hot water until the indicated time is complete. Simple, do you agree? So get to know, here, the favorite Iansã herbs and how to use each one.

What is it:
Akoko or acoko, whose scientific name is Newbouldia laevis, is the sacred tree of Candomblé. Of African origin, it represents prosperity and fertility. It is considered a link between earth and heaven, as it does not have many branches and is present in many terreiros. Iansã is also called Alakòko or Lady of Akoko, as it is also considered a link between the material and the sublime.

How to use:
If you have access to this tree, always carry a piece of its branches with you, for protection, especially on long trips or difficult situations. For offerings, spells or sympathies, it is interesting to have the recommendation of someone connected to its tradition, but in general it can be used for baths or charms.

What is it:
Yes, it is exactly salad lettuce that is being discussed here, whose scientific name is Lactuca Sativa. It can be in any version and color, that is, smooth, curly, purple, American or green. She is one of Oyá’s favorites and is related to the wind element. Helps to calm down, improve sleep, clear negative energies and ward off evil spirits.

How to use:
You can ingest the plant, but there are also ritualistic uses, such as baths or shakes (heavier cleaning, which can only be done by someone with a lot of experience).

To sleep, you can take a head of lettuce – preferably freshly picked – and let it dry upside down, using it as a tassel in your bedroom. Lettuce will dehydrate, protecting your nights, which will be more peaceful, having calmed the mind and body.

What is it:
The white mauve, malvarisco or alteia, whose scientific name is Althaea officinalis, has beautiful flowering in pink tones and is recognized as a medicinal plant. Usually used to fight flu, contain inflammation or help heal wounds, it also has spiritual uses, being one of Iansã’s favorites.

How to use:
Alteia is mainly used to perform unloading baths – that is, to remove dense energies from the body and ward off evil spirits. It can also be used to clean orixá stones, which obviously include those of Iansã. Its main stones are citrine, rutilated quartz and fire agate.

What is it:
Blackberry is the fruit of the mulberry tree, whose scientific name is Rubus or Morus. In addition to its natural consumption and in recipes, all its parts are used in natural medicine, given the healing power of this plant. It helps regulate hormones, reduce headaches, improves libido, helps you sleep better, and much more.

How to use:
In addition to its physical body healing power, the mulberry tree can also be used to eliminate negative fluids from your energy field, which can be done by burning its leaves. To do this, just use hot coals in a container that supports heat, such as a pot or cauldron, and place the leaves to smoke the house, a person or an object. It can also be used for flushing baths.

What is it:
Bamboo, or Bambusoideae, is a plant used for millennia for the most diverse purposes. It can be used to manufacture furniture, floors, decorative elements and even paper. Its shoots are appreciated in gastronomy and perfect for medicinal teas, used against nervous problems, gastrointestinal tract, and even as an aphrodisiac.

How to use:
Bamboo can be used as a smoker to remove obsessors – spirits with bad intentions – from your home and renew energy. In addition, it is also possible to prepare cleaning and unloading baths, mainly with its leaves. They can also be used in charms and spells, as well as offerings to Iansã, to attract money.

What is it:
Known as soft fire, Iansã leaf or fire leaf, this plant has the scientific name Melastomataceae. In natural medicine, it is commonly used for urinary and genital tract problems, as well as skin conditions, allergies, rashes, and itchiness.

How to use:
To use the soft fire in unloading and shaking baths, it must be harvested in the morning – the time when it is facing Iansã and cleaning work. It is good to avoid harvesting it around midday, as its energy is more focused on other types of work and is not recommended for cleaning.

What is it:
Camboatá, Gravatã, Miguel Pintado or, in its scientific name, Cupania Vernalis – no matter what you call it, this tree is widely used in landscaping, not only for its flowering, but also for the exotic fruits, sought after by birds and bees. It is also used against asthma and cough, improving breathing.

How to use:
Camboatá can also be used as an ingredient in cleaning and purifying baths, nothing too deep – being perfect for more delicate people. It is also used a lot in spells, rituals and, mainly, in the consecration of ritualistic objects.

What is it:
The yellow Cambuí, with the scientific name Myrciaria delicatula, is a fruit tree, with sweet and exotic fruits. The fruit is normally used in food and in the manufacture of sweets, but its tea can be used to contain intestinal problems.

How to use:
Its use is limited, in general, to flushing baths, usually done at home, without much need for follow-up. Because it is one of the herbs of Iansã, it can also be used on altars or offerings to the Orisha.

What is it:
St. Mark’s wort, also known as flyweed or palminha, has the scientific name Tanacetum vulgare. Commonly used in the form of a poultice (application on the skin), it is indicated to treat rheumatism. It is also popular in fighting intestinal worms and treating gout.

How to use:
Usually, St. Mark’s Herb is used for cleaning baths of denser energies, in a discharge. It can also be an ingredient for the production of scented water, useful in the environment and in rituals, as well as for smoking – burning the leaf to clean the environment.

What is it:
Also known as San Francisco cord, lion’s tail or monk’s cord, Leonotis nepetaefolia Benth has a red flowering circle, reminiscent of the cord used by the monks in their garments. It is used against asthma, gastrointestinal and kidney problems.

How to use:
Both its leaves and flowers can be used dehydrated, to smoke the environment and remove bad energies from the place. In addition, it can be used for the densest flushing bath, for days when things need to work out.

What is it:
Famous as a spice, cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) are also a powerful natural remedy. It fights bacteria in the mouth when ingested and acts against inflammation in the body, healing and even analgesic. It can be used as a poultice, tea or added to food.

How to use:
In addition to preparing cleaning baths, carnation can also be used in requests for prosperity and abundance. In addition to being useful for smoking or incense, it can be used as a foot bath, to give more energy. If used in a talisman, it helps to ward off bad energy and attract good luck and prosperity, and is also suitable for spells for that purpose.

What is it:
The plant called caruru, small caruru or thornless bredo (Amaranthus viridis) is edible and very rich in vitamins, also widely used as a medicine or nutritional supplement. Very careful to…