Our Yoruba religion starts from the hypothesis that everything that created Constitution y Olodumare it has energy and spirit.
Each of the elements of the universe has its own power and if we learn the mystery that these contain, like herbs, we will possess great wisdom and the Ashe that they provide.
Each of the plants in nature has a specific function, endless uses and properties, for example, they are medicinal and healing.
Plants in the Yoruba religion:
The Yoruba learned the importance of herbs and sticks and of everything green that exists on earth.
The ewes (herbs) are part of everything living and are indispensable in our religion, in the washing ceremony, for example, they are necessary and without them there would be no coronation of our Orishas.
In addition, herbs are used for cleansing, charging, amulets, protections, baths, and they have many other properties that are also used on the spiritual plane.
Herbs and their uses in Cuba:
In Cuba their use is sacred, they are used to heal the sick, for rituals, offerings, ceremonies, to purify, clean, dispose of and cross spaces. Their power is ancestral and they fulfill a fundamental role within our religion.
The herbs and sticks of the mountain are duly syncretized with our Orishas, each of these deities are owners of many of them, with which they provide protection and healing to humanity.
Herbs of Obatala:
- Scourer
- Acacia
- Cotton (mantle and cape of Obatala)
- Anon
- Sap
- Almendro
- Rice
- Azucena
- Vegetable brain
- Custard apple
- Soursop
- Tamarind
- Clover
- Tuna
- Vicar
- Yagruma
Herbs of Eleguá
- Seedling
- Guava
- Cress
- Yam
- siguaraya
- Tobacco
- Avocado
- Camphor
The siguaraya is used to clean the house and throw out everything that entangles and hinders development, it belongs to the little giant Elegúa and with his help this herb opens our paths.
Oggún herbs
- Avocado
- Jaguey
- majagua
- Pepper
- Tobacco
- Yerba Ten of the Day
- Yucca
Oshosi Herbs:
- corojo
- Basil
- Foot of chicken
- Caña holy
- Tobacco
- Partridge Vine
- Caguaso or Anduré
- Camelot
herbs of Oyá:
- Yagruma
- Cilantro
- Purple star apple
- Plum
- Framboyán
- Fruitbomb
- Wonderful
- wire grass
- Pimple
Shango herbs:
Rompesaragüey is a well-known plant in Cuba and much named by our elders, it belongs to the King of the fire Shango, it is used a lot to strip and ward off all kinds of curses within our house.
It is also common to see a cross made of Rompesaragüey behind the front door of the house to prevent witchcraft or evil spirits from entering.
- Corojo (belongs to all the Orishas except Oshún, Obbatalá and Yemayá)
- Okra
- Cedro
- Geranium
- Granada
- Laurel
- Mamey
- Pine
- Botija pinion (also belongs to Eleguá)
- Banana
- breaksaragüey
- Tomato
- Poplar
- Camphor
- Ruda
Rue is known mainly for its great power to ward off evil and dark spirits from our home. It is good to have this plant at home so that curses and witchcraft do not penetrate. It is also medicinal and is used in various home remedies to heal and calm afflictions.
Yemayá herbs:
Verbena belongs to the powerful mother of all, Yemayá and has multiple medicinal and religious uses, among them it is used as a talisman to ward off negative energies.
- Aloe Vera
- Verbena
- guasima
- Cockroach
- Indigo
- Water flower
- Freshness
- Lettuce, Red Lettuce
- Malanga
- Water melon
- Reseda
- Rosemary
- Sargasso
- Purslane
- Yerbabuena
Oshún Herbs:
- Cinnamon from the bush
- Orange
- Pumpkin
- Sunflower
- Spinach
- Currant
- River flax
- Mango
- Chamomile
- Castile melon
- Parsley
- Roses
- Yerba Louise
- Anise
Osain Herbs:
Sagebrush belongs to the owner of all the mountains, Osain. Its religious uses range from spiritual baths, offal, cleaning in the house, decoctions to drink, treatment of diseases, it is also anti-inflammatory and its roots are used as many as its branches.
- Ají Agujeta (variety of guaguao chili)
- Chili pepper from China
- Mugwort or Altamis
- Coast Hazel
- Bejuco from Cuba
- vine guaco
- Trunk
| Herbs of Ibeyis: | Baby Chicken shit (bunchosia nitida) Chicken shit Cat tail Sago sapote Tomato |
Plants of San Lázaro:
- Caisimon
- cundeamor
- Face bean
- Gandul
- Incense
- Peanut
- Millo
- Kratom
- Sesame
Orula herbs:
- Purple strenna
- Galán de noche (also belongs to Obatalá and is used for dispossession baths)
- Olive
- almorejo
- Almendro
- Altea
- Staff of Saint Francis
| Orishas | Herbs, fruits and flowers attributed to it: |
|---|---|
| Oké plants: | Candelilla |
| Osun plants: | Maroon basil daguilla |
| Olokún plants: | Sea flax Sea tomato Mount copalillo |
| Aggayú plants: | Arcediana or Acediana Ceibón de Arroyo or Drago |
| Oggué plants: | Mondonguera basil |
| Naná Burukú plants: | Caña Brava |
Herbs of Oddúa:
The plant called Galán by day is widely used to purify the home of bad influences and attract luck. To purify our home, the petals are spread throughout the house and this strips the environment of curses and witchcraft. It also belongs to the Orisha Obbatalá.
- Galán by day
- Horn tree
- Tree of Life
- Azucena
- Cross vine
- Copaiba or Copalba (oil stick)
| Orishas: | Herbs, fruits and flowers that belong to it: |
|---|---|
| Obba herbs: | Caleta grape Mahogany Chestnut (for invigorating baths) Plum Mahogany |
| Yewá herbs: | Wonderful Sensitive or shameful (I died-lived) Bibijagua or bell tree Candle |
| Herbs of Inlé: | Mangle malanguilla Open from Costa Thistle Alambrilla (rummages in the wells) |
| Orishaoko Herbs: | Yam Bibijagua or bell tree Conchita vine Milk vine Peeling vine Partridge Vine Sabanero Vine |
As we have seen in this post, plants, in addition to having healing and healing properties, have great religious significance, especially in the cult of the Yoruba religion where each of them has been associated with an Orisha.
Many plants belong to several Orishas, therefore they can be repeated, such as the loofah plant that is widely used for spiritual baths and it is attributed to both Santa Lázaro and Obatala.
