Cleansing the Spirit with 7 Bitter and 7 Sweet Herbs: A Latin American Healing Ritual

One of the great gifts I've received in life is to have many friends and family from Latin America. They have a closeness to the earth and it's healing gifts and I've learned a lot from them about how to connect with Mother Earth and make use of her ability to heal us.

One technique I've been using is the ritual of cleansing with seven bitter herbs (“hierbas amargas”) followed by seven sweet herbs (“hierbas dulces”) as an effective way to release negative energies and invite positive ones into my life.

Rooted in Indigenous, African, and Spanish influences, this two-part spiritual bath is still practiced today in many parts of Central and South America and the Caribbean. It’s often used for protection, healing, and aligning oneself with higher vibrations.

This ritual is a vital part of any shaman's spiritual toolkit. I've used this where you do just one day with the bitter herbs and the next day with the sweet herbs as well as 7 days with one and then 7 days with the other. Trust your intuition and trust the process.

✨ Benefits #

This is a spiritual practice that while focused on the physical body connects with the soul for deep cleansing providing:

• Clarity
• Better sleep
• Improved mood
• Release of anxiety, fear, or spiritual heaviness
• Increased sense of peace, confidence, and vitality
• Attracting love, money, opportunities, and harmony

Even if you're skeptical give it a try, you might be surprised!

The practice is deeply symbolic:

Bitter herbs are used to remove, cleanse, and purify—they draw out negativity, illness, envy, and spiritual blockages.

Sweet herbs are used to restore, sweeten, and attract—they invite harmony, abundance, love, and peace.

When to Perform the Ritual #

The ritual can be done anytime but especially :

• At the start of a new cycle (new moon, new year, birthday)
• After a difficult emotional experience
• During times of spiritual stagnation or confusion
• When moving into a new home or job
• After ending toxic relationships
• Regularly, as spiritual maintenance

Many perform it during the waning moon for the bitter bath (to remove), and the waxing or full moon for the sweet bath (to attract).

How to Do It: Step-by-Step #

What You’ll Need:

7 Hierbas Amargas (Common choices, follow your intuition and availability): #

• Rue (ruda)
• Mugwort (ajenjo)
• Wormwood (altamisa)
• Sage (salvia)
• Eucalyptus
• Tobacco leaves (tabaco)
• Rosemary (romero)
• Oregano

These are antimicrobial and spiritually protective herbs known for their ability to “cut” dense energy. If you're unable to find some of these use what's available and don't go crazy worrying about "doing it right" - the intention is the most important ingredient. You can even ask that another plant assume the energy of another as a favor.

7 Hierbas Dulces (Common choices): #

• Spearmint (hierbabuena)
• Chamomile (manzanilla)
• Basil (albahaca)
• Cinnamon (canela)
• Lemon balm (toronjil)
• Rose petals (rosas)
• Orange blossom (azahar)
• Jasmine or lavender

These herbs tend to be aromatic, floral, and uplifting—perfect for invoking sweetness and harmony.

Preparation #

Clean and bless the herbs. Wash gently and, if desired, pray over them or set an intention.

Boil the herbs in a pot of water for at least 10-15 minutes. Strain and cool.

Shower first, to physically cleanse the body.

Part One: The Bitter Bath #

Pour the bitter herb infusion slowly over your body from the neck down, ideally while praying, meditating, or speaking your intentions aloud. You can wash your face as well. Washing your hair with the herbs isn't recommended.

Visualize all negative energies being washed away.

Let your body air-dry, if possible.

Dispose of the used herbs in nature (a tree, flowing river, or earth if accessible).

Part Two: The Sweet Bath #

Pour the sweet herb bath the same way, again from the neck down.

Visualize light, blessings, love, and prosperity flowing in.

Let yourself dry naturally and wear clean, light-colored clothes afterward.

Traditional Medicine Comparisons #

This Latin American ritual parallels many other global healing traditions:

• Ayurveda (India): Panchakarma cleansing is used to detoxify and realign the body's energies. Herbs like neem (bitter) are used to cleanse, followed by rose, tulsi, or sandalwood (sweet/aromatic) to restore.
• African Traditional Medicine: Uses herbal spiritual baths to remove curses, bad luck, and invite blessings. Water rituals and herbal infusions are key in Yoruba and Congo spiritual systems.
• Pagan and Wiccan Traditions: Ritual baths are used before spellwork to cleanse the aura and raise vibration, often with essential oils, herbs, and salts.

The universal pattern is clear: first we clear, then we bless via a sacred sequence of emptying and filling, of letting go and receiving.

I Was a Skeptic Until I Tried This, You May Be Surprised If You Try It! #

If you'd asked me a few years ago I would have laughed at doing these sorts of rituals, but I find them to be extremely cleansing for reasons I don't entirely understand. Whether you believe in the spiritual properties or are just curious, this is a beautiful way to reconnect with yourself, the Earth, and the cycles of renewal. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.