Surprising Health Benefits of Sage

All About Sage

The official name for the most commonly grown variety of sage is Salvia Officinalis. This species of sage is also referred to as Common Sage because it is the most common type of this herb grown today. It is one of the most useful plants that you could ever decide to add to your garden.

Sage is a perennial herb in most places which means it will die when the weather becomes cold but it will return every year in the spring. Some cultures use it strictly as a culinary herb and in other cultures, it is prized for the wonderful medicinal properties that it carries.

The plant commonly grows wild in areas of southern Europe and along the Mediterranean.

Sage is considered a woody plant which means that the stems are harder than other, more delicate plants. It grows similar to shrubbery and can handle being pruned back on a regular basis. The leaves of Salvia officinalis, the most common type and the type we are discussing here, are a silvery gray and have what can be described and fine hairs that make the oblong shaped leaves soft to the touch.

The plant will bloom with small purple, white or blue flowers.

There are many different varieties of sage.

Berggarten that comes in a solid green as well as variegated.
Golden which has variegated green and gold leaves.
Golden Pineapple is a beautiful, ornamental variety that shows off distinct yellow leaves and blooms red blooms. It is said that the plant smells like pineapple.
The Purple Sage variety has purple leaves and is also used as culinary sage although it is not as popular as the Common Sage we are discussing here.
Tricolor Sage is an interesting looking plant that has colors of white, green and purple. This type of sage is commonly used as a decorative plant.

Common Culinary Uses for Sage

Sage has a distinct scent and flavor that adds to many culinary dishes. It is primarily used to season poultry, pork and stuffing. This herb is what produces that distinct scent on the American Thanksgiving Holiday when stuffing is cooking in the oven.

This herb can also be steeped into a nice soothing tea. Boil the freshly picked leaves then allow them to steep for a while. The end result is a nice, flavorful tea that will wake up the senses.

Sage and the Health Benefits

If you are not familiar with the medicinal and healing properties of sage you might be surprised to find out all of the wonderful healing properties that this herb produces. Please remember that anytime you are usingherbs for medicinal use that it is important to also consult a medical professional.

Soothes Sore Throat- Drinking sage tea that has been sweetened with a teaspoon or two of honey can help calm a sore throat, tonsillitis and help you regain your voice back. Sage essential oil can also be rubbed on the throat for a soothing effect.

Acts as an Expectorant- Excess mucus in the lungs can also be broken down and coughed up by drinking sage tea that has been steeped for at least 35 minutes. You will want to drink the tea a few times a day until the cough has subsided.

Stops Milk Flow in Women- By drinking sage tea for at least a two week period, many women have reported that it significantly reduced and even stopped their body from producing milk. This is in conjunction with using the tea during weaning time.

Acts as a Laxative- When combined with marjoram, oregano, rosemary and thyme and drank as a strongly steeped tea or added to diluted organic apple cider vinegar, this mixture will help with constipation.

Helps Relieve Athlete’s Food and Jock Itch- Sage essential oil is an excellent natural remedy for fungal problems around the body. Just apply the oil to the area and let it sit until absorbed into the skin.

Helps Swelling and Itchy Insect Bites- Pick a few sage leaves and either mash or chew them up a bit then apply the mashed leaves directly onto the bite. It will immediately quell the itching and within a few minutes, the swelling will start to subside. You can also use sage essential oil for swelling and itching from an insect bite.

Helps Lower Cholesterol and Stabilize Triglyceride Levels- Drinking a strong sage tea daily or adding the leaves to your diet can help battle these two common problems in type 2 diabetics.

Improves Memory- Sage has been known to improve the memories in Alzheimer’s patients in people that drink the tea or eat the leaves of the plant on a regular basis.