Salvia officinalis
A classic seasoning
herb for poultry and many savory dishes, sage is a highly aromatic,
shrubby perennial native to the northern Mediterranean coast. The genus
name, Salvia, comes from the Latin salvere, meaning
“to be saved” or “to be healed.” Sage was sacred to the ancient Greeks
and Romans; they believed it imparted wisdom and mental acuity. The
Romans gathered the herb in a solemn ceremony that involved using a
knife not made of iron, as sage reacts with iron salts. For many
centuries, sage also has been linked with good health and long life.
Eighteenth-century herbalist John Evelyn took that one step further,
writing, “ ’[T]is a Plant endu’d with so many and wonderful Properties,
as that the assiduous use of it is said to render Men Immortal.”
Therapeutic Uses
Sore throat
Colds and coughs
Memory
Menopause
Excessive sweating
Sage is said to clear the mind and improve memory. In
fact, there may be a link between the herb and the mind. Researchers
have shown that the essential oil of Salvia officinalis
inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme targeted by Alzheimer’s drugs.
Animal studies and trials on humans suggest sage may improve mood and
cognition in both healthy adults and those with Alzheimer’s dementia.
Sage tea has long been used as a remedy for sore throats—often in
the form of a gargle—as well as a treatment for coughs and colds.
Scientists have confirmed that sage is highly effective for relieving
sore throat. One clinical trial of 286 people with acute sore throat
found that a 15 percent sage spray given over a period of 3 days was
superior to a placebo spray for relief of symptoms. In fact, symptom
relief occurred within 2 hours of the first treatment. Similar results
were found when an echinacea/sage spray was compared with a
chlorhexidine/lidocaine spray in 154 patients with acute sore throat.
Based on traditional use and studies in humans,
Germany’s health authorities approve the use of sage as a treatment for
excessive sweating. Sage may also have weak estrogenic properties, which
may explain why it has been used to relieve night sweats associated
with menopause. An 8-week study found that 1 gram of fresh sage was
superior to placebo for relieving night sweats. Sage is often included
in combination with other herbs designed to relieve hot flashes and
night sweats, and to improve memory and mood.
Sage has been used to aid digestion, to stimulate
digestive enzymes, and to alleviate intestinal cramping—hence its use
with beans or other gas-producing foods. Sage exhibits antibacterial
activity, which may explain its use for gastroenteritis or for other
minor GI tract infections.
How to Use
Tea: Steep 1 teaspoon chopped sage in 1 cup water for 10 minutes. Strain. Drink or use as a gargle for sore throat.
Capsule: 500 mg sage leaf taken twice a day.
Tincture: Take 2 ml, twice a day, or
follow manufacturer’s recommendation. A tincture of 5 ml can be added to
1 cup water and used as a gargle 3 times per day.
Precautions
The amount of sage consumed as a
culinary herb is safe, but avoid larger amounts because of thujones
(chemical compounds with specific effects on the brain) present in the
essential oil. Do not exceed recommended doses. Alcohol extracts of sage
are higher in thujone than those made with water and should not be used
internally for more than 1 to 2 weeks; a tincture diluted in water and
used as a rinse or gargle is safe. Do not use sage internally during
pregnancy.
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