Energy Cleansing: Traditions, Rituals and What the Evidence Shows

Energy cleansing is the practice of clearing a person or space of unwanted or “negative” energy, using smoke, sound, water, scent or intention. This article explains where these rituals come from and what each tradition teaches. It also covers what research can and cannot show, and how to practice safely and respectfully.

What energy cleansing means across traditions

Many cultures share an idea that people, homes and objects can carry an invisible residue. It might be called stale energy, bad spirits, mala energía, or simply a heavy atmosphere. Cleansing rituals aim to clear that residue and mark a fresh start.

The methods differ widely. Some Indigenous nations of North America burn sacred plants. Parts of South America use the smoke of palo santo wood. In Hindu practice, a lamp is waved before a deity in aarti and offerings are made with incense. Buddhist temples ring bells, and many households sweep, wash and open windows before a new year.

What links them is intention. A cleansing ritual is a deliberate pause that says: this space, or this moment, is being renewed. That shared purpose is worth understanding on its own terms, before asking whether any measurable energy is involved.

Does energy cleansing work? What research can and cannot show

It helps to separate two questions. The first is whether the “energy” these traditions describe exists as a physical force. The second is whether the practices themselves change how people feel.

The energy itself

Science has not detected the energy field described in these traditions. Writing about Reiki, an energy-healing practice, the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is direct. It says there is no scientific evidence that such an energy field exists. It also says Reiki has not been clearly shown to work for any health purpose.

So this article describes auras, chakras and negative energy as beliefs. They are meaningful parts of spiritual and cultural traditions. They are not established physical facts.

The practices and how people feel

Several activities folded into cleansing rituals have been studied in their own right. Results are mixed, and the evidence is often weak.

You will often see claims that a frequency such as 528 Hz repairs DNA, or that a crystal emits healing vibrations. No reliable research supports these claims. Treat them as marketing unless a credible source shows otherwise.

The fair conclusion is modest. A calm ritual that slows your breathing and focuses your attention may help you feel settled. That effect likely comes from the pause, the attention and the meaning, not from removing an invisible substance.

Smudging: a sacred Indigenous ceremony, not a trend

Smudging is the energy cleansing practice most people picture first. It is also the one that needs the most care. For many First Nations and Native American communities, it is a sacred ceremony with protocols, teachings and Elders who guide it.

What the tradition teaches

Teachings published in an Indigenous health course from eCampusOntario describe four sacred medicines. Each has its own role:

The same teachings describe the purpose of smudging plainly. It helps people stop, slow down and become centered, and release negative thoughts and feelings. Practices vary between nations, and these teachings belong to the communities that keep them.

Why respect and sourcing matter

For much of US history, Native religious ceremonies were suppressed. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 was passed to protect them. Against that history, some Native nations object to their ceremonies being sold and copied by people outside the culture.

White sage (Salvia apiana) adds an ecological problem. It grows wild only in Southern California and northern Baja California. A California State University Long Beach legal resource reports that poaching for the smudge-stick market has stripped hillsides on traditional lands. It cites the California Native Plant Society’s estimate that half of white sage populations have been lost to urban development.

The California Native Plant Society suggests avoiding wild-harvested sage, researching sources, and growing native plants yourself. It also recommends learning the cultural history of the land where you live.

Palo santo

Palo santo, or “holy wood”, is Bursera graveolens, a tree of dry tropical forests from Mexico to Peru. In parts of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, its smoke is traditionally used against mala energía, or bad energy. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Peru allows only naturally fallen wood to be collected, yet illegal logging still occurs. Buy from sellers who can show their wood was legally collected from fallen trees. Our oils and scents articles cover palo santo oil in more detail.

Energy cleansing practices from around the world

Each practice below is described as its tradition teaches it, followed by what is known about it and how to do it safely.

Sound: bells, bowls and chanting

Buddhist temples ring bells and strike singing bowls to mark the start of meditation and clear the mind. Hindu and Buddhist traditions chant mantras, sacred syllables such as Om. Folk traditions in many places clap, drum or ring bells in corners to “break up” stagnant energy.

A 2020 systematic review by Stanhope and Weinstein found only four studies on singing bowls. They reported less tension, anxiety and fatigue, but the methods were weak. The authors said they could not yet recommend singing bowl therapy. If sound appeals to you, our guide to mantras covers their meanings and origins.

Breath: the oldest cleansing tool

In yoga, prana is the life force believed to move with the breath. Pranayama, the yogic breathing practices, are taught partly as a way to purify the body’s energy channels. Slow, steady breathing is also a common part of meditation programs studied by researchers. Our article on pranayama covers how the classic techniques are practiced.

Breathing practices that involve holding the breath or breathing very fast can cause dizziness. Skip those if you are pregnant or have heart or lung disease. The same applies if you have a history of fainting or seizures.

Water and salt

Ritual bathing is found worldwide, from bathing in sacred rivers in India to the Japanese practice of misogi, purification under running water. Many folk traditions hold that salt absorbs negative energy. Bowls of salt are placed in corners, salt is sprinkled at thresholds, and salt is added to baths.

There is no evidence that salt absorbs anything invisible. A warm bath can simply be relaxing. Keep baths warm rather than very hot, especially in pregnancy or with heart conditions. Rinse well if salt irritates your skin.

Scent: essential oils and incense

Frankincense and myrrh resins have been burned in temples, churches and homes for thousands of years. Today many people diffuse essential oils such as lavender, cedarwood or citrus to “lift” a room. The National Cancer Institute’s review of aromatherapy describes mixed results. Some studies showed small benefits for anxiety or sleep, and others showed none.

Essential oils are highly concentrated, so safety comes first. The National Cancer Institute notes that prolonged skin contact can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Citrus oils on skin before sun exposure can cause burns. Lavender and tea tree oils have shown hormone-like effects, including breast growth in some prepubertal boys after long-term skin use. Never swallow essential oils.

Crystals

Crystal traditions teach that stones such as black tourmaline, selenite and amethyst absorb, block or transform energy. Practitioners place them in rooms, carry them, or “recharge” them in moonlight or salt. No controlled research shows that crystals have any physical effect on people or spaces.

If you enjoy crystals as objects of beauty or focus, a few cautions apply. Some minerals contain toxic elements, so never add stones to drinking water unless you know exactly what they are. Selenite dissolves and degrades in water. Keep small stones away from young children and pets, who may swallow them.

Clearing and cleaning the space

Nearly every tradition starts with physical cleaning. Spring cleaning, sweeping before Lunar New Year, and Feng Shui’s emphasis on clutter-free entrances all share this step. In Feng Shui, clutter is believed to block the flow of qi, or life energy.

Research here is thin but interesting. In a 2010 study of 30 dual-income couples, Saxbe and Repetti analyzed how people described their homes. Women who described their homes as cluttered or unfinished showed a less healthy daily pattern of the stress hormone cortisol. They also reported more depressed mood. The study was small and shows an association, not cause and effect.

Visualization and intention

Many modern practices finish with visualization, such as imagining white or golden light filling a room or surrounding the body. Others use a spoken intention, prayer or blessing. These are the most portable cleansing tools. They need no smoke, products or special materials, and they carry no physical risk.

Religious traditions offer their own versions. Catholic and Orthodox households may have a priest bless the home with holy water. Jewish families fix a mezuzah to the doorpost as a reminder of faith. In many Hindu homes, the day begins with lighting a lamp and saying a prayer. Each marks the home as a protected, intentional place.

If you prefer a secular approach, writing works too. Some people jot down what they want to let go of, then tear up the page. The act is symbolic, but it gives a vague feeling a clear shape and an ending.

Energy cleansing practices compared

A smoke-free home reset ritual

You do not need to burn anything to create a meaningful reset. This sequence draws on the shared steps found across traditions. It is also safe around children, pets and anyone with asthma.

The whole sequence takes about ten minutes. Each step has a clear, practical purpose: fresh air, a calmer visual field, a moment of attention, slower breathing and a stated goal. Whether or not you believe in subtle energy, those effects are real and immediate.

Safety for every energy cleansing ritual

Smoke and your lungs

Any burning plant material releases fine particles and gases. A 2013 study by Cohen and colleagues, published in Science of the Total Environment, burned two traditional Middle Eastern incense types in a test chamber. Particle levels exceeded air quality limits, and the smoke caused inflammation in lung cells. Emissions of some pollutants were higher than from tobacco smoke.

The CDC lists smoke and some fragrances among asthma triggers. If you burn anything, use a small amount, open a window and never smudge a person who has not agreed to it. Avoid smoke entirely around babies and anyone with asthma or COPD, and during pregnancy.

Fire safety

Candles start about 20 US home fires a day, according to National Fire Protection Association figures shared by the Illinois State Fire Marshal. More than a third begin in bedrooms. Keep any flame at least one foot from anything that can burn. Use a sturdy fireproof holder, and never leave it unattended or burning while you sleep. Never use flames where home oxygen is used. Battery candles are a safe swap.

Essential oils, children and pets

• Dilute before skin use. Tisserand and Young’s Essential Oil Safety, the standard reference, sets low dilutions for adults. It sets lower ones still for the face, children and pregnancy.
• Never swallow essential oils, and store them out of children’s reach.
• Pets: the ASPCA warns that concentrated oils on a pet’s skin or coat can cause unsteadiness and low body temperature. Swallowed oils can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Concentrated tea tree oil can cause problems in just seven or eight drops.
• Diffusers: brief use in an area pets cannot reach is unlikely to be a problem, says the ASPCA. Avoid diffusers in homes with birds, rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters, or pets with breathing problems.
• Pet emergency: call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Common mistakes with energy cleansing

1. Using a ritual instead of care. Ongoing exhaustion or low mood deserves a doctor’s visit. NCCIH notes that even meditation should not replace or delay medical care.
2. Smudging others without consent. Wafting smoke over someone, especially a guest, child or person with asthma, is never neutral.
3. Buying wild-harvested white sage. It feeds poaching on Indigenous lands. Grow your own garden sage or choose a smoke-free method.
4. Believing frequency and crystal health claims. Claims that sounds repair DNA or stones cure illness have no reliable support.
5. Diffusing oils for hours. Strong, constant scent can irritate airways in people and pets. Short sessions with ventilation are gentler.
6. Treating meditation as risk-free. An NCCIH-cited review found about 8% of meditation study participants reported negative effects, most often anxiety or depression. Stop if a practice makes you feel worse.

For more on the traditions behind these practices, browse our yoga and breath articles.

Your first reset this week

Pick one room and try the five-step reset: open, clear, sound, breathe, intend. Choose a time you can repeat, such as Sunday evening, and keep it smoke-free. Notice how the room and your mood feel afterward. That observation is the most honest measure of whether the ritual serves you.

Sources

1. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Reiki. nccih.nih.gov/health/reiki
2. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety. nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-and-mindfulness-effectiveness-and-safety
3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Aromatherapy. nccih.nih.gov/health/aromatherapy
4. National Cancer Institute. Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ), patient version, updated September 2023. cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/aromatherapy-pdq
5. Stanhope J, Weinstein P. The human health effects of singing bowls: a systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2020; 51. University of Adelaide record
6. Saxbe DE, Repetti R. No place like home: home tours correlate with daily patterns of mood and cortisol. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 2010; 36(1): 71–81.
7. Cohen R, et al. Incense burning and indoor air quality. Science of the Total Environment, 2013. Reported by HealthDay: Burning incense generates harmful air pollutants
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common Asthma Triggers. cdc.gov/asthma/triggers
9. ASPCA. Is the Latest Home Trend Harmful to Your Pets? (essential oils and diffusers), January 2018. aspca.org
10. Illinois State Fire Marshal. Candle Safety, citing National Fire Protection Association data. sfm.illinois.gov/currentfocus/candle-safety
11. eCampusOntario. Indigenous Health: Lesson Six, The Four Sacred Medicines and Smudging. ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/indigenoushealth
12. California State University Long Beach, Legal Resource Center. Ecological Damage on White Sage. csulb.edu
13. IUCN Red List. Bursera graveolens assessment, 2019 (Samain, Fuentes and Martínez Salas).
14. Tisserand R, Young R. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone, 2014.