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Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

Sage Benefits
Sage has one of the longest histories of use of any culinary or medicinal herb. Ancient
Egyptians used it as a fertility drug (Bown, 1995). In the first century C.E. Greek
physician Dioscorides reported that the aqueous decoction of sage stopped bleeding of
wounds and cleaned ulcers and sores. He also recommended sage juice in warm water
for hoarseness and coughs. It was used by herbalists externally to treat sprains,
swelling, ulcers, and bleeding. Internally, a tea made from sage leaves has had a long
history of use to treat sore throats and coughs; often by gargling. It was also used by
herbalists for rheumatism, excessive menstrual bleeding, and to dry up a mother's milk
when nursing was stopped. It was particularly noted for strengthening the nervous
system, improving memory, and sharpening the senses. Sage was officially listed in the
United States Pharmacopoeia from 1840 to 1900.

Contents
Benefits
Related Herbs
Notes / Side Effects
Latin Names
Common Names
Properties
Indicated for
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Sage Tea or infusion of Sage is a valuable agent in the delirium of fevers and in the
nervous excitement frequently accompanying brain and nervous diseases. It has a
considerable reputation as a remedy, given in small and often-repeated doses. It is
highly serviceable as a stimulant tonic in debility of the stomach and nervous system and
weakness of digestion generally. It was for this reason that the Chinese valued it, giving
it the preference to their own tea. It is considered a useful medicine in typhoid fever and
beneficial in biliousness and liver complaints, kidney troubles, haemorrhage from the
lungs or stomach, for colds in the head as well as sore throat, quinsy, measles, for pains
in the joints, lethargy and palsy. It has been used to check excessive perspiration in

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phthisis cases, and is useful as an emmenagogue. A cup of the strong infusion will be found good to relieve nervous
headache.
The German Commission E approved internal use for mild gastrointestinal upset and excessive sweating as well as for
external use in conditions of inflamed mucous membranes of the mouth and throat. An unpublished, preliminary German
study with people suffering from excessive perspiration found that either a dry leaf extract or an infusion of the leaf reduced
sweating by as much as 50%.
In Germany, sage tea is also applied topically as a rinse or gargled for inflammations. Sage extract, tincture, and essential oil
are all used in prepared medicines for mouth and throat and as gastrointestinal remedies in fluid (e.g., juice) and solid
dosage forms (Leung and Foster, 1996; Wichtl and Bisset, 1994).
Sage has been used effectively for throat infections, dental abscesses, infected gums and mouth ulcers. The phenolic acids
in Sage are particularly potent against Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro, sage oil has been shown to be effective against both
Escherichia coli and Salmonella species, and against filamentous fungi and yeasts such as Candida albicans. Sage also has
an astringent action due to its relatively high tannin content and can be used in the treatment of infantile diarrhoea.
Its antiseptic action is of value where there is intestinal infection. Rosmarinic acid contributes to the herb's anti-inflammatory
activity.
Sage has an anti-spasmodic action which reduces tension in smooth muscle, and it can be used in a steam inhalation for
asthma attacks. It is an excellent remedy for helping to remove mucous congestion in the airways and for checking or
preventing secondary infection. It may be taken as a carminative to reduce griping and other symptoms of indigestion, and is
also of value in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea. Its bitter component stimulates upper digestive secretions, intestinal
mobility, bile flow, and pancreatic function, while the volatile oil has a carminative and stimulating effect on the digestion. It
has a vermifuge action. There also seems to be a more general relaxant effect, so that the plant is suitable in the treatment of
nervousness, excitability and dizziness. It helps to fortify a generally debilitated nervous system.
In 1997, the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in the United Kingdom sent out a questionnaire to its member
practitioners on the clinical use and experience of sage. Of 49 respondents, 47 used sage in their practice and 45 used it
particularly in prescriptions for menopause. Almost all references were to sage's application for hot flashes, night sweats, and
its estrogenic effect. The age range of the menopause patients was 40 to 64, with an average of 49.76. Three-quarters were
aged 47 to 52. Forty-three practitioners also noted its use in infections, mainly of the upper respiratory tract, 29 reported its
use in sore throat, and 15 reported its use in mouth and gum disease, taken in the form of gargles and mouthwashes.
Another main area emphasised by the respondents was its use as a general tonic, for fatigue, nervous exhaustion, immune
system depletion, and poor memory and concentration, at any age. Dosage form preference was also reported. Sage was
prescribed as tea (aqueous infusion) by 37 practitioners, alcoholic tincture by 30, fresh tincture by 14, alcoholic fluidextract by
2, fresh juice by 2, and fresh leaf by 1 (Beatty and Denham, 1998).
It is well documented that Sage leaf helps to reduce menopausal sweats. In one study, excessive sweating was induced by
pilocarpine. The sweating was reduced when participants were given an aqueous extract of fresh Sage leaf. In a further
study 40 patients were given dried aqueous extract of fresh sage (440mg) and 40 were given infusion of sage (4.5g) herb
daily. Both groups of patients experienced a reduction in sweating.
Sage has a strong anti-hydrotic action, and was a traditional treatment for night sweats in tuberculosis sufferers. Its
oestrogenic effects may be used to treat some cases of dysmenorrhoea and menstrual irregularity or amenorrhoea and can
reduce breast-milk production.
Research has suggested that the presence of volatile oil in Sage
is largely responsible for most of its therapeutic properties,
especially its anti-septic, astringent and relaxing actions. Sage is
also used internally in the treatment of night sweats, excessive
salivation (as in Parkinson's disease), profuse perspiration (as in
TB), anxiety and depression. Externally, it is used to treat insect bites, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal
discharge.

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It is thought that Sage is similar to Rosemary in its ability to improve brain function and memory. In a study involving 20
healthy volunteers Sage oil caused indicated improvements in word recall and speed of attention. Meanwhile the activity of
Sage and its constituents have been investigated in the search for new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with
promising results.
ESCOP (European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy) indicate its use for inflammations such as stomatitis, gingivitis
and pharyngitis, and hyperhidrosis (ESCOP, 1997).

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Sage Herb Notes / Side Effects

Latin Names
Salvia officinalis, Salviae folium

Common Names
Broadleaf Sage, Common Sage, Dalmatian Sage, Garden Sage, Kitchen Sage, Narrow-leaved sage, Sage, Salvia, Sarubia,
Spanish sage, Tibbi Adacayi

Properties
Anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-hydrotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, aromatic,
astringent, carminative, emmenagogue, oestrogenic, relaxant, spasmolytic, vermifuge.

Indicated for
Aiding digestion, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, bacterial & fungal infections, biliousness, bites, calming and stimulating the
nervous system, candida, colds, coughs, dental abscesses, diarrhoea (infantile), dysmenorrhoea, encouraging healing,
excessive menstrual bleeding, flatulent dyspepsia, gastrointestinal upset, gingivitis, glossitis, headache (nervous), hot flashes
(menopausal sweats) hyperhidrosis, improving memory, indigestion, infected gums, intestinal infection, insect bites, irregular
and scanty periods, joint paint, kidney problems, lack of appetite, lethargy, liver complaints, lungs or stomach haemorrhaging,
measles, mouth ulcers, night sweats, oral inflammation, palsy, perspiration (excessive), pharyngitis, phthisis, quinsy, reducing
lactation, rheumatism, rhinitis, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections, soothing the digestive tract, stimulating upper digestive
secretions, intestinal mobility, bile flow, and pancreatic function, stings, stomatitis, strengthening the nervous system, throat
infections, typhoid fever, uvulitis, vaginal discharge. Taken internally or as a gargle or mouthwash; galactorrhoea,
hyperhydrosis, inflammations of the mouth, tongue or throat.
Sage should not be used by pregnant or nursing women or by people who have epileptic fits.
The plant is toxic in excess or when taken for extended periods, though the toxic dose is very large.
Sage should not be used to suppress perspiration in fevers.
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Has Sage Worked For You?

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Marucasilva@Gmail.com Ayala 25/01/2015 09:06

Glad hear a comment like this iam going start uses myself because iam getting out control my self iam never sleep since i
was a little child now iam 57 I need a miracle before is to late hopefully this work for me

Curious 17/02/2011 08:19

Can I use fresh leaves also to make tea? And how much should be taken?
16 people liked this.

Ryanjayatutaan 28/06/2011 13:25

does anyone knows which and where I can buy sage tea? which brand of sage tea is more effective or better? please advice.
thanks
9 people liked this.

purity 31/03/2011 10:10

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Sage Benefits & Information (Salvia Officinalis)

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I usually don't leave comments on any websites but I had to leave this one because it may help someone out there. I don't
take pain killer "drugs" and I learnt that sage is good for headaches. I tried it at least three times so far when I've had terrible
headaches and boy is it true that it works! The headache was gone in literally less than five minutes after finishing my cup of
tea! Amazing! Thank God for the healing power of herbs!
4 people liked this.

K5jtm 10/10/2010 11:27

good for laryngitus.

4 people liked this.

Karen 21/02/2011 06:23

on steriods for ulcerative colitis which cause excessive sweating at night. A couple of sage tea drinks at night have made a
MASSIVE difference. Having read the other benefits, it will help with the other side effects of the steriods and condition
(reduced immune system, fatigue, mouth ulcers, inflamation) And all I've got to do is have a drink of tea!
3 people liked this.

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