Sage

Salvia officinalis

This perennial shrub grows wild in southern Europe and the Mediterranean area of the world, but is cultivated in many other places as a valued culinary spice. A strongly branched root system produces square, finely hairy sterns which are woody at the base and bear oblong leaves. The floral leaves are ovate to ovate-lanceolate. The purple, blue or white flowers are two-lipped and grown in whorls.

A quick little remedy for relief of itching and swelling accompanying insect bites is to pick a few fresh sage leaves, then crush or chew them up a bit. Mix them with a little saliva to make a crude, wet poultice and apply directly to the afflicted area and secure in place with a strip or two of adhesive tape.

A tea made of the leaves of sage provides soothing, healing relief for sore throat, loss of voice and tonsillitis, as well as helping to remove mucus from congested lungs. Steep 2 tsp. dried or fresh leaves in 1-1/4 cups of boiling water for 35 minutes. Strain, sweeten with honey if desired and take 1/2 every few hours as needed. Add 1/4 tsp. of fresh lime juice and gargle well before swallowing for raw, irritated throat.

More and more mothers seem to be returning to the natural art of breastfeeding their newborn infants, because they feel it is much better for their babies' overall health. When the nursing stage comes to an end, however, many aren't aware of how to properly stop their flow of extra, unneeded milk.

Two cups of warm sage tea daily for up to a week generally dries up the milk supply quite nicely. Bring 1 qt. of water to a boil and steep 8 tsp. dried or fresh sage leaves in it for 45 minutes, covered. Strain, add honey and drink.

Any kind of intense itching, whether it be due to an allergic reaction to some unknown substance, general nervousness, psoriasis and eczema or coming in contact with poison ivy or sumac, may be effectively relieved and healed with an old folk remedy from Nassau in the Bahamas.

Sage is good for taking away gray hair. That's a lot safer to use because it's free of chemicals and only contains natural ingredients. In a heavy ceramic mixing bowl put 2 heaping tbsps. of' dried sage and the same amount again of either orange pekoe or black tea. Then fill the bowl or jar half full of boiling water. Cover with a small dinner plate or aluminum foil and place in a moderately warm (275°F.) oven or in a large pan of boiling water on top of the stove on a low setting for at least a couple of hours. Then remove, allow to cool, stir well and strain.

Now a small quantity of this infusion is to be rubbed into the roots of the hair 4-5 times a week. Pretty soon the grayness will start fading away as the hair becomes darker in color once more. Thereafter, this infusion ought to be used just once or twice weekly for maintenance purposes only. Many of those who've tried this for themselves have experienced moderate hair growth in bald places or at the very least, an overall improvement in the tone and texture of their hair. This infusion will keep longer if 3 tbsps. of either gin or rum are added to it.

Sage is one of the most valued herbs of antiquity. Sage is highly antiseptic, an excellent remedy for colds, fevers and sore throats and should be taken at the first signs of any respiratory infections. Sage relieves tonsilitis, bronchitis, asthma, catarrh, and sinusitis. Its astringent and expectorant properties help expel phlegm from the chest and reduce catarrh. The tea can be used in inhalation to disinfect the airways. Sage will enhance the immune system and help to prevent infections and auto-immune problems.

Sage makes a good digestive remedy. The volatile oils have a relaxant effect on the smooth muscle of the digestive tract, while in conjunction with the bitters, they stimulate the appetite and improve digestion. Sage encourages the flow of digestive enzymes and bile, settles the stomach, relieves colic, wind, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea and colitis, liver complaints, and worms. Its antiseptic properties are helpful in infections such as gastroenteritis. Sage is a tonic to the nervous system and has been used to enhance strength and vitality. Sage has a tonic effect upon the female reproductive tract, and is recommended for delayed or scanty menstruation, or lack of periods, menstrual cramps and infertility. Sage has an estrogenic effect, excellent for menopausal problems, especially hot flashes and night sweats. Sage stimulates the uterus, so is useful during childbirth and to expel the placenta. Sage stops the flow of breast milk and it is excellent for weaning.

Sage has powerful antioxidant properties, helping to delay the aging process and reduce the harmful effects of free radicals.

It is mainly the thujone that is responsible for sage's antiseptic properties, which makes it invaluable for use as a gargle and mouthwash. Sage also acts as a circulatory and mild digestive stimulant. In the reproductive system, sage can be used to bring on a delayed period, and in menopause can be taken to relieve sweats and balance hormonal changes. Sage has also been an ingredient in asthma herbal cigarettes, with the rosmarinic acid acting as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic.

Other names

• Common Sage
• Dalmatian Sage
• Garden Sage
• Meadow Sage
• Red Sage
• Scarlet Sage
• True Sage

Parts used

Leaves, root.

Uses

Antiseptic & astringent - Sage's combination of antiseptic, relaxing, and astringent actions makes it ideal for almost all types of sore throat, and it is widely used in gargles. Sage is also used for canker sores and sore gums. Sage's astringency also makes it useful for mild diarrhea.
Tonic - Sage is a digestive tonic and stimulant. In Chinese medicine it is a yin tonic  with a well-deserved reputation as a nerve tonic, helping both to calm and stimulate the nervous system.
Hormonal stimulant - Sage is a valuable remedy for irregular and light menstruation, encouraging a better flow of blood. Although its hormonal action is not completely understood, there is no doubt that sage reduces sweating, which, coupled with its tonic and estrogenic effects, makes it an excellent remedy for menopause, not only reducing hot flashes but helping the body to adapt to the hormonal changes involved.
Asthma remedy - Sage has traditionally been used to treat asthma, and the dried leaves are still included in herbal smoking mixtures for this complaint.
Sage is also used to treat foot odor, and snoring.
Culinary uses - Use to season poultry, stuffing, gravies, pickles, soups, and stews. Garden sage aids digestion, so include it when cooking fatty meats such as duck, pork, or sausages. Adding garden sage gives zest to vegetable dishes, especially eggplant, lima beans, and onions, and to omelets, cheeses, tofu, tomato recipes, and cream cheese. But less is more when seasoning with garden sage, as the flavor and aroma can easily overwhelm foods.
Add ground garden sage to savory biscuits, corn bread, or muffins to serve with chicken or fish, or to accompany a hearty bean or minestrone soup.
Flavor the cooking oil of your choice by adding garden sage leaves.
Garden sage is used commercially to season soups, sauces, sausages, preserves, meats, fried chicken, pickles, cheeses, candy, ice cream, chewing gum, baked goods, and vermouth.
Craft uses - Fashion dried garden sage branches into herbal wreaths and garlands.

Habitat & cultivation

Native to the Mediterranean, sage is cultivated all round the world.
Garden sage grows best in well-drained, nitrogen-rich clay loam, preferably near a wall so that the plants will be sheltered during harsh winters. Tolerated pH range is 4.9 to 8.2.
Requires full sunlight for best growth, but will accept light shade. Avoid over watering, which will stunt growth and may kill the plants.
Can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, and layering.
Plant seeds in the garden 2 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds to a depth of 1 cm (1/2 inch) or less. Seedlings usually emerge in 14 to 21 days. Thin seedlings to about 0.6 m (2 feet) apart.
Alternatively, and preferably, if you want particular cultivars, propagate from cuttings, as seeds often don't produce the desired results. Take cuttings in early summer. Clip a sprig of new growth, about 5 cm (2 inches) from the top of the plant. Remove the leaves from the bottom, and put the end of the twig in wet sand to root, usually in 4 to 8 weeks.
Layer branches by bending them over and anchoring a portion under the soil to promote rooting. Expect new roots in about a month.
Trim back the plants after flowering, and replace them every 3 to 4 years, as they are inclined to become woody and produce poorer quality sage.
Susceptible to root rot and fungal diseases, and to infestations of slugs and spider mites.
To provide winter protection, mulch well with straw or leaves. Garden sage does not grow well indoors.

The many forms of edible sage are ornamental and make good companions in summer containers with other flowering annuals. Or plant them in their own 12-inch (30 cm) pot filled with a standard, soil-based potting mix. Start with purchased plants or rooted cuttings and keep them evenly moist, but not excessively wet. Feed every month with a balanced fertilizer and pick leaves frequently to encourage vigorous foliage production.
Hardy sage plants can be taken indoors in winter and kept in a bright-light location with cool temperatures. Keep the soil slightly dry, but don't allow it to completely dry out. Tropical varieties can be grown year-round indoors and with six hours of natural sunlight from a window or twelve hours under artificial plant lights.

Research

Thujone - Research shows that thujone, contained in the volatile oil, is strongly antiseptic and carminative. It also has an estrogenic action that is partly responsible for sage's hormonal effect, especially in reducing breast-milk production. In excess, thujone is toxic.
Other research - Rosmarinic acid, a phenol, is known to be strongly anti-inflammatory, while the volatile oil, as a whole, relieves muscle spasms and is antimicrobial.

Constituents

• Volatile oil (thujone -about 50%)
• Diterpene bitters
• Flavonoids
• Phenolic acids
• Tannins

How much to take

Take sage as an infusion, 200 ml (8 fl oz) a day, or use as a gargle or mouthwash, 100 ml (4 fl oz), two to three times a day. The tincture can be taken 2 ml (40 drops), twice a day.

Side effects

Drinking sage tea to alleviate an upset stomach is probably not a good idea, even though the water used to make the tea will extract only a limited amount of thujone.
While sage essential oil is used in aromatherapy, some authorities advise against this usage.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take sage for medicinal purposes as it has a traditional reputation for inducing abortion and drying up the supply of milk.
Some people may experience contact dermatitis from handling sage.

Applications

LEAVES:

INFUSION - Use 20 g leaves to 5O ml water as a tonic and liver stimulant, or to improve digestive function and circulation in debility. Can reduce lactation when weaning and relieve night sweats at the menopause.

TINCTURE - Use for menopausal problems. Prescribed to reduce salivation in Parkinson's disease.

COMPRESS - Apply a pad soaked in the infusion to slow-to-heal wounds.

GARGLE/MOUTHWASH - Use a weak infusion for sore throats, tonsillitis, mouth ulcers, or gum disease.

HAIR RINSE - Use the infusion as a rinse for dandruff or to restore color to graying hair.

ROOT:

DECOCTION - Prescribed for period pain caused by blood stagnation; also prescribed in Chinese medicine for angina and coronary heart disease.

Collection & harvesting

Collect young shoots near the tops of the plants for drying just before mature flowers are produced. Tie the shoots in bunches and hang in a warm location to dry. Leaves are fairly thick and dry slowly. Crumble dried leaves and store in an airtight container.
Freeze sprigs of leaves on a cookie sheet before storing in airtight freezer bags for later use. Alternatively, freeze the leaves in ice cubes. Freezing retains the flavor of garden sage better than drying.
Stop harvesting in early fall to allow the plants to maintain reserves needed to survive the winter.

Back To Top