In a world where wellness is often commercialized, ancestral healing practices from the African and Caribbean diasporas offer a profound connection to timeless wisdom.
For certified well-being coach and healing practitioner Stephanie Long, the journey into these traditions began with a transformative reading in December 2023.
Since then, she has embraced rituals like steaming, ritual baths, and bush teas—practices that ground individuals in something greater than themselves and reconnect them to the parts of their being that modernity often strips away.
Here’s how anyone can incorporate these powerful, ancestral wellness practices into their life:
Ritual Baths—Healing from the Inside Out
Ritual baths are more than just a soak—they’re a spiritual cleanse. Rooted in Afro-Caribbean traditions, these baths are designed to wash away negative energy and restore balance. For someone with generalized anxiety disorder, like Long, they’ve become a sanctuary of calm.
How to try it: Add sea salt, rose petals, or herbs like lavender and rosemary to your bath. Set an intention—whether it’s healing, peace, or personal growth—and let the water absorb the energy you’re ready to release.
Steaming—A Purification Ritual
Steaming is a sacred practice across African and Caribbean cultures, often used for cleansing the body, clearing sinuses, and rejuvenating the skin.
Yoni steaming, for example, has been used for centuries to promote feminine health. Beyond physical benefits, steaming offers moments of peace and clarity, connecting individuals to their ancestors.
How to try it: Boil water with herbs like rosemary or eucalyptus. Drape a towel over your head, lean over the steam, and inhale deeply for 10-15 minutes. Let the heat and herbs cleanse your body and spirit.
Bush Teas—A Tradition of Healing
Bush teas are more than beverages—they’re medicinal, healing, and deeply tied to legacy. Made from plants like ginger, hibiscus, and cerasee (bitter melon), these teas address everything from colds to spiritual purification.
Brewing tea has become a grounding ritual for Stephanie Long, a way to honor nature and their ancestors.
How to try it: Brew a tea with herbs like ginger, hibiscus, or lemongrass. Inhale the aroma, savor the flavor, and reflect on your connection to nature and healing. Add honey or lemon for extra benefits.
Honoring the Legacy
Writing in Essence, Long states that these practices are more than self-care—they’re acts of reclamation!
By steaming herbs, taking ritual baths, or sipping bush tea, individuals reconnect with a legacy of wisdom passed down through generations.
Whether you’re new to these traditions or deepening your practice, it’s important to source materials ethically and consult trusted practitioners to ensure safety and respect.
These ancestral rituals remind us that true healing lies in the wisdom we already carry within.
