Sage
(also referred to as...)
Garden Sage (as well as over 15 other names / varieties)
Latin Name: Salvia officinalis
Family: Labiatae
Description
"Why of seknesse deyeth man whill sawge in gardeyn he may han?"
-- Macer's Herbal, 10th century
In England, France, and Germany, sage has been used medicinally for centuries. When these countries first began to import tea from China, the herb was so valued by the Chinese that they traded two or three times the amount of tea for European sage.
Sage has a warm, pungent, slightly bitter taste. For a flavourful bounty, add small amounts of sage to roast pork, duck, turkey, chicken, sausage, meats, fatty meats, broiled fish, onions, green beans, peas, tomatoes, carrot, pumpkin, chicken, or green bean soup, vegetable or meat casseroles, vinegar dressings, creamy polenta, risotto, or homemade tomato sauce. Sage is an essential for poultry stuffing, too.
Ailments / Situations Where Used
Sage, Closeup
A warm infusion of sage is very useful in colds and influenza as it will stimulate circulation, bring about a free perspiration and remove obstructions. The plant has astringent, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties, and is very useful against Staphylococcus aureus. Due to these properties, it is very handy when used as a gargle against sore throats, laryngitis, tonsilitis, and mouth and gum ulcers.
Sage has an overall calming effect and can be used to treat headaches, anxiety, and nervousness. Sage is both stimulating and soothing to the stomach and is used in dyspepsia, gas, loss of appetite, and a weak digestion. Natural bitters in the plant make it useful for stimulating a sluggish liver. This plant contains estrogenic properties and is very useful in conditions of menopause, especially hot flashes. It is given in amenorrhoea and painful periods.
As warm sage tea is stimulating to circulation and causes a sweat, cold sage tea does quite the opposite. It is wonderful at stopping excessive sweating and is effective at controlling night sweats and drying up the flow of milk in nursing mothers. Sage is prescribed in Parkinson's Disease to reduce salivation and has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.
Traditionally, sage has been used as an aid to longevity, poor memory, and mental confusion. Externally, it makes a nice wash for cuts and when used as a hair rinse can darken hair and control dandruff. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the root is used to move blood stagnation such as in certain menstrual pains and heart conditions. It is cooling and sedating and is used to reduce heat in the liver and heart.
Source
Aerial portions of plant.
Preparations
Infusion: Use one teaspoon herb to one cup water and infuse 10 minutes. For a cold infusion, let one teaspoon herb sit in one cup water for a couple of hours (overnight is ideal) and take when needed.
Tincture: Use 20 to 40 drops of tincture three times daily or when needed.
Contraindications / Precautions / Warnings
Avoid in pregnancy as it stimulates uterine muscles.
The plant contains thujone which can trigger fits in epileptics, so it should be avoided.
Avoid in hypertension and blood in the urine.
Ailment / Situation Listing
