Sage
by Gudrun Maybaum
Summer 2003
Botanical name: Salvia Officinalis
Family name: Lamiaceae or mint family
“Tis a plant indeed with so many and wonderfull properties, as that the assidiuous use it is said to render men immortal,” wrote 17th century diarist John Evelyn.
Sage's botanical name salvia comes from the latin word salvare, which means to save or to heal.
For the longest time, sage was not just highly valued but was also one of the most-often used medicinal herbs in history. Its healing powers were supposed to come directly from the virgin Mary. The Romans associated sage with immortality and used it in sacred ceremonies.
For centuries, herbalists used it for fever, infections, liver trouble, common colds, and intestinal problems like parasites, disorders of the nervous system, memory loss, eye problems, and even snakebites.
Charlemagne had it grown in his royal gardens and, by the end of the 16th century; it was a well-known herb in English gardens.
There are many different kinds of sage. The most common one is the garden sage or salvia officinalis. Although most sage species originated in the area between Asia Minor, today's Iran, to the Mediteranean coasts, some originated in Central and South America. Even the Southern California coastline was once covered by different sage shrubs.
For example, black sage is still grown in California. While it is considered too strong to use as a spice, native Americans steeped it as a beverage and ground it into a flour mixed it with grease for a healing salve. To this day, they still burn the leaves for purification.
Garden sage made it to the United States in the beginning of the 18th century and is there to this day, still an official medicine.
Most sage species from Central and South America usually have a much sweeter and fruitier aroma than salvia officinalis, the garden variety most common today.
All parts — leaves, flowers and stems — have healing properties. The beneficial components in sage are resin, flavonoids, salvene, saponins, tannin, terpene, camphor, estrogene substances, and volatile oils.
Sage is a very powerful herb and, in most cases, a tea made of the leaves is a remedy for many disorders. It is stimulating to the central nervous system. The tea aids in the digestion of heavy foods and clears digestive tract disorders like diarrhea or gas. It is beneficial as a mouthwash for mucous membrane irritations, gum infections, as a gargle for sore throats and stops exessive salivation. When taken for colds, sage cools fevers and regulates excessive perspiration. The tea has also blood-purifying properties and helps with congested livers.
The terpene thujone and cinole exhibit antibiotic properties and are mainly used for infections of the respiratory system and to remove mucus from congested lungs. The plant estrogene contained in sage is useful for drying up mother's milk, and to alleviate menopausal and menstrual disorders.
Sage leaves can reduce the itching and swelling that result from insect bites by boiling or chewing them and applying them as a poultice to the bite.
Sage is very strong and should not be used for longer than a week or in large quantities, because the terpines can cause irregular heartbeat or dizziness.
Sage can be started from a seed or a cutting from another plant, which is best done in later spring. It grows well in full sun and any kind of well-drained soil. To encourage the growth of more leaves, it is best to cut off the flowers and harvest leaves and branches frequently.
The harvested leaves can be hung in a dark place or in a paper bag to dry.
Natural History of Medical Plants by Judith Sumner
Herbal Medicine by Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
The way of Herbs by Michael Tierra, L.A.c., O.M.D.
Nutritional Healing by James F. Balch, M.D & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/sages-05.html
http://ks.essortment.com/sageplants_orx.htm
http://www.1upinfo.com/encyclopedia/S/sage.html
http://www.whiterivergardens.com/education/docs/HandoutA-sage.pdf
http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Salv_off.html
http://www.boldweb.com/greenweb/HR195.htm