Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Family: Lamiaceae (mint)
Genus: Salvia
Common names include garden sage, common sage, culinary sage
Comes from the Latin word salvere meaning “to feel well and healthy, health, heal”
Energetics: warming, drying
Taste: pungent, bitter
Plant Properties: aromatic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, antiseptic, blood moving
Plant Uses: Sore throat, excessive sweating, infections, stagnant digestion, type 2 diabetes, hot flashes, toothaches, sore muscles, high cholesterol, Alzheimer’s disease
Sage has been approved by the Commission E in the treatment for dyspeptic symptoms, excessive perspiration, and inflammation of the mucous membranes of nose and throat. Sage has been reported as an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, astringent, secretion-promoting, and perspiration-inhibiting herb.
Plant Preparations: Tea, culinary, tincture, tooth powder, facial steam, essential oil
Digestion
Promotes digestion and eases painful gas and bloating, moves stagnant digestion, and relieves intestinal cramping
Astringent
Tightens and tones tissues, especially tissues that have become lax, lost their tone, or have become swollen
Relieves pain from mouth ulcers, canker sores, bleeding gums, and cold sores
Used as a tooth powder or in mouthwash recipes
Colds and the Flu
Mainly used to treat sore throats, the astringent properties bring relief to swollen tissues and the antimicrobial properties address the infection
Clinical trials done comparing sage and echinacea extracts with a spray made of the antiseptic chlorhexidine and the anesthetic lidocaine
Can aid in discomforts associated with fevers (cold and shivering) and congestion in the lungs
Dosage
Tea: 1-2 grams, 2-3 times per day
Tincture: 1.5-2 ml, 3 times per day
Considerations
Avoid large amounts when pregnant
Will dry up milk flow
Recipe
Sore Throat Gargle – soothe a sore throat
1 tablespoon dried sage leaves
1-2 tablespoons salt
A pinch of cayenne powder (optional)
½ cup apple cider vinegar
Pour ½ cup boiling water of the dried sage, cover, and steep for 30 -45 minutes
Strain and add sea salt and cayenne, stir until dissolved
Add apple cider vinegar
Gargle 1-2 teaspoons every 1/2-1 hour
Sage Steam – clear sinuses and loosen congestion in the lungs
1 cup fresh sage leaves or ½ cup dried
2 cups water
Large bowl
Towel
Heat the water to a boil
Place sage leaves in a large bowl and pour boiling water over them
Sit down in front of the bowl and drape the towel over your head and the bowl
Close your eyes and takes deep breaths through your nose for as long as you’d like (up to 15 minutes)
Adjust your positioning if the steam is too hot
Sage Honey
Simply add fresh chopped sage leaves to honey and allow to infuse for a few weeks or enjoy right away
Sage Tea
Drink sage tea with honey and lemon to soothe a sore throat and stimulate sweating
