Herbs of Xangô: in Umbanda, in Candomblé and in Batuque
Herbs of Xangô (Shango) by tradition: acocô and orobô in Candomblé, quebra-pedra and guiné in Umbanda, okra in the South. See who cites each one and which of them are toxic.
Read articleSoften, balance and purify with delicacy
Macela is an herb that works with delicacy as strength. In Umbanda and Candomblé, it is appreciated for its ability to balance energies without harsh impact, being widely used in amacis and head obligations to harmonize the orixá (orisha) with their child. Its soft, golden fragrance is associated with the peace of Oxalá (Obatala) and the ancestral wisdom of Nanã (Nana Buruku).
💡 "In the terreiros of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, macela is harvested at sunrise, with prayer and gratitude, so that its power of healing and protection manifests fully. It is said that the plant harvested with sadness loses half of its strength."
Navigate through the different facets of the plant: from its native biome to the ritual preparation in the garrafada and in the terreiro.
The foliage and energetic structure of Macela / Marcela (Achyrocline satureioides), harvested with respect for the botanical cycle and the axé of nature.
Always check the botanical origin. The legitimate root of Macela / Marcela has a rustic texture, no musty odor, and an intact woody consistency.
In Afro-Brazilian cosmology, each plant acts as a condenser of the forces of the Orixás. Macela / Marcela operates direct transformations in the subtle body:
Vibrational activation under the regency of the Air / Earth elements, acting on the breaking of blockages and the restoration of essential forces.
Vibrational activation under the regency of the Air / Earth elements, acting on the breaking of blockages and the restoration of essential forces.
Vibrational activation under the regency of the Air / Earth elements, acting on the breaking of blockages and the restoration of essential forces.
Learn how Macela / Marcela is traditionally used by priests, herbalists, and prayer practitioners:
Consecrated use with the strength of Oxalá.
Consecrated use with the strength of Oxalá.
Consecrated use with the strength of Oxalá.
Consecrated use with the strength of Oxalá.
Identify the energetic signs and situations in which the power of this plant is the key to restoration.
When waking up requires superhuman effort, the body feels like it is carrying lead, and you feel your vital energy being drained by dense environments or envious people.
Before difficult negotiations, competitions, lawsuits, or professional decisions where cowardice has no place and you need the courage of Ogum (Ogun) and the cunning of Exu (Eshu).
Lack of drive to achieve, stagnation of personal projects, and emotional coldness. The fiery force of this herb warms the vital centers and restores the desire to live and conquer.
Select the type of preparation to see the list of ingredients, ritual time, and detailed consecration instructions.
Recipe consecrated in the knowledge of terreiro and popular healing
Take the ritual bath on a favorable day. Ruling Orixás of this plant: Oxalá, Nanã.
Prepare an infusion with macela flowers and leaves in hot water, letting it rest for 10 minutes. Strain, lightly sweeten with native bee honey, and apply the warm bath from the neck down. For smoke cleansing, mix dried macela with lavender and burn on charcoal, sweeping the smoke through the room with gentleness and an intention of peace.
Keep your thoughts elevated and speak to the plant during the entire handling, asking it to awaken its virtues.
Strain the herbs gently and take the ritual bath from the neck down after your usual hygiene.
Return the strained leaves to a garden, flowerbed, or plant pot, thanking the axé of Ossaim (Osanyin).
Despite being a low toxicity plant, excessive internal use can cause dizziness. People with allergies to plants from the Asteraceae family should avoid contact.
*"Kó s'ewé, kó s'òrìṣà"*: Without leaf there is no Orixá. Every plant is sacred and requires respect with the axé:
Discover the divine vibration that commands this herb and how to connect your ritual bath to the strength of each divinity.
Father of all Orixás, the great creator
Under the domain of Oxalá, Macela / Marcela acts as a conductor of firmeza, opening paths and breaking stagnation.
Grandmother of the Orixás, lady of the mud and ancestry
Under the domain of Nanã, Macela / Marcela acts as a conductor of firmeza, opening paths and breaking stagnation.
A native plant of southern and southeastern Brazil, macela is called "Brazilian chamomile" and has been part of folk medicine since pre-colonial times, being used by indigenous peoples and incorporated by enslaved Africans who arrived in Brazil. Its trajectory in the terreiros is marked by the tradition of subtle healing, being passed from generation to generation among the ervateiras of the candomblés of the south of the country.
In the traditional garrafadas of Central Brazil, the raizeiro masters recognized in the knotted shape of the root the living metaphor of firmeza: the capacity to tie knots in adversity and remain standing even in arid lands.
In the terreiros of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, macela is harvested at sunrise, with prayer and gratitude, so that its power of healing and protection manifests fully. It is said that the plant harvested with sadness loses half of its strength.
Your safe harbor of axé, candles, and sacred herbs in Southern Minas.
At Joia Mística Laroyê, we treat every herb as sacred matter. Our macela / marcela is carefully selected, free of impurities, weighed and packaged with full respect for the terreiro traditions.
No mixtures, pure with preserved axé.
We deliver to all of Brazil or for pickup in Extrema, Minas Gerais.
We create the exact combination of herbs for your ritual bath.
Ask questions about firmeza directly with Joice.
📍 R. Benedito Zingari, 460 - Bela Vista, Extrema-MG · Service Mon to Fri 9am to 6pm | Sat 9am to 1pm
Objective answers for practitioners, mediums, and spirituality enthusiasts.
By ritual safety precept, we recommend that the ritual bath be taken from the neck down, unless you have received express guidance from the priest of your terreiro to wash your head.
Herbs of Xangô (Shango) by tradition: acocô and orobô in Candomblé, quebra-pedra and guiné in Umbanda, okra in the South. See who cites each one and which of them are toxic.
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