Bearberry is the great ceremonial smoking herb of the Americas. The small, leathery leaves of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, long known as kinnikinnick, have been dried and smoked in sacred blends by Indigenous peoples of North America for prayer and ceremony, carrying words and intentions skyward on the smoke. These whole leaves bring that quiet, reverent power. This 2 oz size of whole leaves sits between the 1 oz and the working pound, enough for several smoking and purification blends. Reach for bearberry when the smoke is the prayer. Key Features of Bearberry A ceremonial smoke. Known as kinnikinnick, bearberry is the classic base of sacred smoking blends, carrying prayer and intention on its smoke. Psychic and spirit connection. The smoke is worked to open the mind, aid vision, and deepen contact with spirit. Purification. Bearberry smoke cleanses and blesses a space, person, or working. Product Details Botanical name: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry, uva ursi, kinnikinnick) Source: Mexican-sourced Tradition: a ceremonial smoking herb of Indigenous North American practice Form: whole dried leaf Weight: 2 oz For spiritual use only; not a food, drug, or supplement, and not for ingestion Storage: keep sealed in a cool, dark place The Spiritual Significance Bearberry is best known by the name kinnikinnick, a word from Indigenous North American languages meaning roughly a mixture, because its leaves are the traditional foundation of sacred smoking blends among many First Nations and Native American peoples. In those traditions the smoke is prayer made visible, carrying words, gratitude, and intention upward, and bearberry is the patient, grounding base into which other plants are blended. We attribute this use honestly to the Indigenous traditions it comes from, rather than folding it into the Western grimoire canon where it does not belong. In wider practice bearberry smoke is worked for psychic opening and spirit connection, deepening vision and contact with the unseen, and for purification, cleansing and blessing a space. It is a quiet, reverent, smoke-borne herb. Bearberry, or uva ursi, is also a well-known urinary medicinal, which is not what we offer it for; Plentiful Earth sells these leaves strictly for ritual and spiritual use, not as a remedy, and they are not for ingestion. How To Use Bearberry Blend a ceremonial smoke. Add bearberry as the base of a respectful smoking blend, or burn a little over charcoal in a fire-safe dish in a ventilated room, within sight and away from anything flammable. Carry a prayer. Burn it mindfully to send intention and gratitude on the smoke. Open the sight. Use the smoke in psychic and spirit-contact work. Purify a space. Pass the smoke through a room to cleanse and bless it. Store it sealed, in a cool, dark place between workings. Pairs Well With Mugwort Cut, 1 oz: a visionary herb to deepen psychic and spirit work in a blend. Lemongrass Cut, 1 oz: a bright, clearing herb for purification smoke. Star Anise Whole, 1 oz: a psychic-power herb for the divination blend. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews by Scott Cunningham: build your own smoking and incense blends. Frequently Asked Questions What is bearberry used for? It is the classic ceremonial smoking herb known as kinnikinnick, the base of sacred smoking blends that carry prayer on their smoke, and it is also worked for psychic opening, spirit connection, and purification. A quiet, reverent, smoke-borne plant. What is kinnikinnick? Kinnikinnick is an Indigenous North American word meaning roughly a mixture, used for traditional smoking blends built on bearberry leaf. We name this Indigenous origin honestly rather than reassigning the herb to other traditions. Can I take uva ursi as a remedy? No. Uva ursi is a well-known urinary medicinal, but Plentiful Earth sells these leaves strictly for ritual and spiritual use, not as a remedy, and they are not for ingestion. Consult a qualified practitioner for any medicinal use. How do I burn it respectfully? Burn a little over charcoal in a fire-safe dish in a ventilated room, or blend it into a smoking mixture, working mindfully and with gratitude. Approaching the smoke as prayer honors the traditions the plant comes from. How should I store it? Keep the whole leaves sealed in a cool, dark place, away from heat and moisture. Stored dry, a sealed jar will carry you through many ceremonial and purification workings.
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