The Lhoba people in Tibet have a particular custom, i. e. they like to insert green branches or leaves in somewhere to deliver certain messages to outsiders. It is called inserting greens.

In Lhoba villages of Medog County, the green insertion can be seen everywhere: at the doorways of households, by intersections, in the farmlands or the wild fields, and even on or by some articles. They are inserted in different manners: some are in one or two pieces, some are in thick bunches, some are in intersecting patterns and some are not inserted but just placed with an article or on the ground. All are specifically arranged for different implications.

For example, if green branches are inserted in an intersection pattern on a model of male genital organs on the left side of the stairway leading to the doorway of a house, it means that the family just has a baby born and the outsiders, even the relatives and friends, are not allowed to visit within three days. At the doorway, the host will use a bunch of sting branches to flap on the gusts to drive off the devil that may follow, and then press the branches under a white stone, before allowing the gusts to enter the house. If the branches are inserted almost the same way, but not in the model of male genital organs, it tells that the pig or dog of the family just whelped. In this case, outsiders are also forbidden access within three days. If there are two intersecting patterns inserted at the stairway and another bunch of branches placed nearby, it indicates that somebody in this family is ill and please do not disturb them within three days.

This custom reflects that historically due to lack of medical service and high mortality of infants, piglets and puppies and patient, their ancestors resorted to inset greens to ward off the evil spirits. However the superstition behavior does have some scientific effect: the fact that outsiders are forbidden to enter within three days really wards off invasion of germs and cross infection instead of evils!

If the host of a family goes out for hunting, they will stage some rituals for the deity's blessing, and also insert some green branches at their doorway to stop visitors. They hold that during the host's outing, any intrusion of outsiders will offend the deities, and bring misfortune to the family. If such thing does happen, they will take an arms and fight with the offender to win back the deity's blessing.