At a temple in Taipei, a mother watches her son scoop a little fine ash from a receptacle of burned incense sticks into a small plastic pouch to bring home with him. For some followers of popular religion, the powder represents a potent force that is inscribed with deep meaning. Traditionally, they believe it has been prescribed by the gods as a kind of efficacious medicine and possesses the spiritual power to purify, protect, and cure people.
To help treat illness, the ashes can be dissolved in some warm water and ingested or rubbed on parts of the body as an antidote for external ailments. The ashes can also be worn or carried in a sachet like an amulet for emotional support, or kept underneath a pillow.
These days the use of ash has been widely discredited as a medicine. Scientifically and objectively, this view surely holds true. Culturally, however, the ash still establishes a link with the realm of the divine and as such can be an important medium for healing and connection.