Aztec marigold is indigenous from Mexico to Guatemala and naturalized in the rest of Central America and the western Andes of South America. In the Oaxaca region of Mexico, the Zapotecs used Tagetes as a primary herb in purification rituals. The plant is popular with the Tarahumara Indians of Chihuahua and is used by the modern Huichol Indians in their religious rituals.
The botanical genus name Tagetes is in reference to a Roman deity, Tages, who was originally an Etruscan god of prophecy. Today, Tagetes erecta continues to be a strong smoking herb — especially when blended in equal amounts with Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida); a super combination the Aztecs dubbed "Zempaxochitl."
This product is not intended or sold for ingestion by humans or animals. It is sold only for use as an incense or for smoking. WARNING: Smoking anything, including herbal products of any kind, are harmful to the body.