Sage
Salvia officinalis
Latin Name: Salvia officinalis
Common Name: common sage, garden sage, kitchen sage, true sage, culinary sage, and broadleaf sage.
Family: Lamiaceae
Contraindications: Do not use medicinally for longer than 3 weeks because it is drying. Do not use if chest/body feeding unless you are wanting to dry up supply.
Native To: Mediterranean region
Botanical Description: perennial, evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers.
Habitat: It is often found on sunny, dry shrub lands and grasslands on the coastline and on hillsides and mountains. Also found in dry banks and stony places in limestone areas.
Parts Used: Leaves
Key Constituents: Fixed and volatiles oils (including thujone), tannins, bitters
Herbal Actions: Astringent, antispasmodic, antiseptic, digestive
Taste: Pungent, oily, astringent, butter
Energetics: slightly warming, drying
Some Ways to Work With This Plant:
Stimulate Sweat: Prepare a hot tea to bring out the aromatics which will stimulate sweat, salivation, and internal secretions.
Digestive Aid: Sage is often used as a culinary herb when cooking fatty meats because the bitters and oils in sage stimulate the gallbladder to release bile which improve digestion and absorption of fats and oils. Increased bile also supports with the eliminative function of the bowels.
Sore Throat: Sage tea sweetened with honey and lemon is classic remedy for sore throat. Tea can also be gargled to support sore throat.
Oral Health: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties make it supportive for oral health and gum disease. To work with sage in this way, rinse and gargle with sage tea that has been cooled down.
Respiratory Support: Sage’s drying and warming nature can be supportive in drying mucous and it’s ability to bring up mucus can support in aiding respiration.
Herbal Preparations:
Tea: 1-2tbs dried sage in 1 cup of boiled and steaming water. Add lemon and honey to taste. Do not take for no longer than 3 weeks.
Tincture: 3-30 drops, 1-3xday for no longer than 3 weeks.
Sage Oxymel: Chop up sage and fill jar 3/4 of the way with it. Cover with the sage with equal parts raw honey and apple cider. Shake daily for 2-6 weeks and then strain and rebottle in fresh jar. Add to hot water, eat by spoonful, use in salad dressing, add to bubbly water.
References:
Wood, M. The Earthwaise Herbal, Volum I. North Atlantic Books, 2008 .
written by khadija khansia
This information is provided for educational purposes and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Use with caution and consult with a doctor or herbalist before consuming if you are pregnant or on other medications. Please do your own research before consuming to know if this medicine is right for your body.
