Sage Herb and Spice

[Guest guest]

Sage, such a wonderful herb and spice as well. I grow these bushes

here in my own back yard. When they flower they have beautiful purple

flowers that the bees love as well.

I also harvest them to make a smudge stick, you know the kind that

you burn for healing or clearing the stale air in your home for

sickness or negativity. I have harvested the fresh branches with the

leaves still in tact and tied them up with thread and dried it out

for several days and then I can burn it.

Of course I dry sage out for cooking or making tea, or just use it

fresh mostly on poultry, or fish, or even my pot roast.

Enjoy,

Michele

http://www.vitaminstuff.com/herbs-sage.html

Sage

Sage (Salvia officinalis [Latin]), also known as garden meadow, has a

long tradition of culinary and medicinal use. Sage was once used to

help preserve meat and over the past 2,000 years or so has been

recommended by herbalists to treat just about every known condition,

from snakebite to mental illness. In fact, in medieval times the

French called the herb toute bonne, which means, " all is well " .

Modern research has shown that sage, while not a panacea, can help

reduce excessive perspiration, digestive problems, sore throats,

premenstrual cramps, and high blood sugar.

Sage was once recommended by herbalists has to treat fever, a usage

that probably arose from sage's ability to reduce perspiration.

Modern research has demonstrated that sage reduces perspiration by as

much as 50 percent, and Commission E, the group that evaluates the

safety and efficacy of herbs for the German government, approves the

use of sage infusions to treat excessive perspiration. Today, there

are sage-based natural deodorants sold at most health food stores.

Sage is also an active ingredient in some natural mouthwashes because

its tannins are thought to help kill the bacteria that cause

gingivitis. Sage has traditionally been used to treat canker sores,

bleeding gums, sore throat, tonsillitis, and laryngitis. Recent

laboratory studies support the use of sage to guard against infection-

it has demonstrated an ability to fight against several infection-

causing bacteria. Some herbalists and, in Germany physicians,

recommend gargling hot sage to soothe pain from sore throat and

tonsillitis.

Like two other culinary herbs, rosemary and thyme, sage helps guard

against depletion of the brain's concentration of acetylcholine, a

neurotransmitter that is crucial to proper brain function. A

combination of ginkgo biloba, sage, and rosemary may help prevent or

slow the development of Alzheimer's.

Sage has a long history of use as a treatment for gastrointestinal

disorders. It has been shown to help relax muscle spasms in the

digestive tract, and is approved by Commission E for treatment of

indigestion. One German study has found that drinking a sage infusion

reduced blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, but only when

they took the infusion on an empty stomach.

Sage is available commercially in liquid leaf extract form; the usual

dose is 1 teaspoon three times per day. It's easy to grow and dry

your own sage. Better yet, this herb is a perennial, and will come

back year after year, although it should be replaced every three to

four years or it becomes woody and unproductive. To harvest your own

sage leaves, cut the plant down, leaving 4 inches above the ground,

then strip and dry the leaves for future medicinal or culinary use.

For a homebrewed sage tea, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves per

cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Use this

infusion as a gargle for sore throat or as a mouthwash for

gingivitis. You can also drink up to 3 cups a day to improve

digestion and help regulate blood sugar. (Remember that people with

diabetes must be under a doctor's care and should consult their

doctor before taking medicinal amounts of any herb.) Drinking sage

infusions could also help reduce wetness if you perspire a lot.

Very few side effects have been reported from the consumption of sage

leaves; however, those using more concentrated forms of this herb,

such as tea or extracts, may experience inflammation of the lips and

lining of the mouth. This inflammatory response is probably due to a

toxic chemical in sage called thujone. In very large amounts, thujone

has been shown to cause convulsions. Concentrated sage oil is toxic

and its use should be restricted to aromatherapy.

Sage has traditionally been used to promote menstruation, and there

are some studies that indicate it may indeed help stimulate uterine

contractions; pregnant women should not consume highly concentrated

forms of sage, although using it as a culinary spice has not been

shown to have this effect.

http://www.nutrasanus.com/sage.html

Sage Herb Benefits and Information

Sage is a silvery-green plant with leaves that offer a memorable

fragrant. The most common variety of sage was first found growing in

regions around the Mediterranean but now grows in regions of North

America as well. The leaves of the sage herb serve both medicinal and

culinary purposes.

For thousands of years sage has been used for a variety of culinary

and medicinal purposes. It has been used in connection with sprains,

swelling, ulcers, and bleeding. As a tea, sage has been administered

for sore throats and coughs. Herbalists have also used this herb for

rheumatism, menstrual bleeding, strengthening the nervous system,

improving memory, and sharpening the senses.

How does sage work?

Sage oil contains the chemical substances alpha- and beta-thujone,

camphor, and cineole as well as other constituents including

rosmarinic acid, tannins, and flavonoids. Even today, in many

European countries sage is used medicinally as a gargle for sore

throat and inflammation of the mouth and gums. Clinical studies also

indicate that the substance found in sage oil may also offer

antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral effects, explaining much of

its medicinal activity.

In Germany, sage herb is commonly used for upset stomach and

excessive sweating. In England, sage is used for some symptoms of

menopause.

Sage Dosage and Administration

For a variety of conditions including mouth inflammation, gingivitis

and sore throats, add 3 grams of sage leaf to 150 ml of boiling

water, strain after 10 minutes and then let cool. The resulting tea

can then be used as a mouthwash or gargle a few times a day. As an

internal supplement 5 ml of fluid extract can be diluted in a glass

of water and taken three times a day.

http://botanical.com/site/by_you/acandee_sage.html

SAGE: MORE THAN JUST POULTRY STUFFING!

- Candee, MS, MSC

The wise gardener who planted salvia officinalis has an abundance of

sage

for valuable medicinal use. Prepared as an infusion (1 teaspoon of

the herb

steeped 15-30 minutes in a covered cup of boiled water), sage has a

multitude of applications.

Dipping a cloth into the hot tea creates a sage compress which can be

applied to the forehead to help relieve tension headaches...breathe

deeply

to inhale as well as absorb sage's aromatic benefits. A compress

applied to

the diaphragm or abdominal areas can help soothe stomach cramps,

flatulence

and general intestinal/digestive discomfort. Whenever a compress is

applied, also consider sipping a cup of the sage tea (honey may be

added for

flavor).

Hot or cold...an herb of many talents

Known as a diaphoretic herb, hot sage tea will increase the flow of

bodily

fluids (e.g. perspiration and delayed periods) and decrease the flow

when

taken cold. Colds, flu, and bronchial afflictions benefit from hot

sage's

ability to expectorate and increase sweating and elimination of

toxins.

Cold sage tea arrests diarrhea. Drink 2-4 cups a day, hot or cold,

depending

upon the desired benefit.

From the child-bearing years to menopause, sage provides valuable

benefit.

Cold sage tea is used to help stop night sweats during the menopausal

years

and can be used to assist in the weaning process when it is time to

stem the

flow of milk in a nursing mother. In both stages, women want those

bodily

fluids to stop flowing! Sage is to be avoided during pregnancy as it

can

stimulate uterine contractions. Do not use cold sage tea while

nursing so as

not to affect the flow of milk.

Rinse, Gargle, Inhale, Shampoo and Bathe!

Those sporting braces can benefit from sage's ability to astringe and

heal

irritated tissue. For inflamed gums, tongue or mouth ulcers, rinse

with

cool sage tea three times a day. As a gargle, sage's antiseptic

properties

help heal a sore throat.

Aromatically, sage helps to clear the sinuses and lungs. Place the

hot sage

infusion in a glass bowl, use a towel to create a tented effect and

inhale

deeply. Strained sage tea can be used in the vaporizer and added to

the

bath water.

A cool sage compress speeds the healing of cuts, wounds, herpes

sores, and

varicose veins. Poured over the hair after shampooing, sage tea is

most

helpful in reducing dandruff.

Why should a man die if he has sage flourishing in his garden?

Sage was commonly used by Native Americans to clear the energy

field. The

dried leaves were rolled into cylinders and tied with string. The

smoke

from the ignited " smudge sticks " was credited with clearing negative

vibrations. Sage and cedar bundles may be found in health food stores

and

wellness/gift shops. Place the bundle in a ceramic dish and ignite.

The

branches will smolder, releasing the cleansing smoke. This is a good

way to

clear out lingering " sick germs " after cold and flu, or " bad vibes "

after an

argument or unwelcome visitor!

Considering the varied medicinal uses of common garden sage, it is

easy to

understand the ancient proverb: Why should a man die if he has sage

flourishing in his garden?

Next time you cook a turkey, you may want to save some of the sage

you use

on the turkey for the digestive upset that's sure to follow -

especially if

you wind up as stuffed as the turkey!

Copyright 2004 Candee