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How is sage used for medicinal purposes?
Sage is commonly used as a spice to flavor foods. As medicine, common sage extract has most often been used by adults in doses of 280-1500 mg by mouth daily for up to 12 weeks. Sage is also used in essential oils, creams, ointments, sprays, and mouth rinses.
What is sage most commonly used for?
Sage is perhaps most notably used in the preparation of holiday stuffings and sausage, although it pairs well with any meat, especially poultry. The herb is also commonly used to create a flavorful butter sauce for delicate pastas.
What are the healing properties of sage?
12 Health Benefits and Uses of SageHigh in Several Nutrients. ... Loaded With Antioxidants. ... May Support Oral Health. ... May Ease Menopause Symptoms. ... May Reduce Blood Sugar Levels. ... May Support Memory and Brain Health. ... May Lower 'Bad' LDL Cholesterol. ... May Protect Against Certain Cancers.More items...•
Is sage poisonous to humans?
Sage may be unsafe when taken in high doses or for a long time. Some species of sage, including common sage (Salvia officinalis), contain a chemical called thujone. Too much thujone can cause seizures and damage the liver and nervous system.
Which sage is best for healing?
For example, blue sage is often used in cleansing and healing rituals, while desert sage is used more for purifying and protection.
What is the best way to use sage?
Sage is often found in many holiday dishes and is commonly used to season poultry or sausage, infuse butter, or to add flavor to root vegetables like sweet potatoes or parsnips. In fact, the most common time you've probably tasted sage and not even known it is in a Thanksgiving stuffing.
How do you heal someone with sage?
EQUIP a healing orb. FIRE with your crosshairs over a damaged ally to activate a heal-over-time on them. ALT FIRE while Sage is damaged to activate a self heal-over-time.
What does burning sage do to the brain?
In addition to dissipating negative energy, improving mood, and strengthening intuition, burning sage might improve your memory and focus. A 2016 review of studies noted that evidence for Salvia's cognitive-enhancing benefits are promising — perhaps to affect dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Is sage good for lungs?
"Sage is an expectorant which helps expel mucous from the respiratory track, according to Ayurvedic practitioner Vikrama, writing at drvikrama's friendly holistic herbalist. Sage tea is effective even in the severe case of hemoptysis, or hemorrhaging from the lungs brought on by respiratory infection, Dr.
What happens if you ingest sage?
Drinking extremely large amounts of sage tea — or consuming this herb in other forms — over an extended period may cause heart problems, seizures, vomiting, and kidney damage if you're ingesting more than 3–7 grams of thujone per day ( 41 , 42 ).
Can you drink sage tea everyday?
Sage tea is considered safe to drink, but it should not be taken at high doses or in excessive amounts per day. This is because high doses of sage (or more than 3-7g of thujone per day) may lead to: Heart issues. Seizures.
Does sage make you sleepy?
It can better your quality of sleep. In addition to purifying the air you breathe, smudging can help you catch some zzz's, according to Reshma Patel, PA-C, MMS, founder of Ananda Integrative Medicine. She too points to the antimicrobial and antibacterial healing properties of sage.
What is burning sage in your house good for?
Burning sage is is a powerful ritual The ritual of sage burning has its roots in Native American tradition. Today, people burn sage and other holy herbs to cleanse a space or environment of negative energy, to generate wisdom and clarity, and to promote healing.
What are the benefits of burning sage in your home?
Burning sage, also known as smudging, involves burning sage leaves and letting the smoke purify the air in your home....Benefits of burning sage are believe to include:Removing bacteria from the air.Repelling insects.Improving intuition.Purifying specific objects.Improving mood and reducing stress and anxiety.
What is Sage used for?
Use. Sage has been used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects. It has been investigated for its potential in treating cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease, vasomotor symptoms, cancer, inflammation, and hyperlipidemia.
Why is sage used in cooking?
Sage oil is used as a fragrance in soaps and perfumes. Sage is used as a food flavoring, and its aroma is said to suppress the odor of fish.
How much S. officinalis leaf is good for memory?
In one study, mood and cognitive performance were improved in young healthy volunteers given 300 and 600 mg of dried S. officinalis leaf. Kennedy 2006 In another study in older healthy volunteers (mean age, 72.95 years), ethanolic leaf extract increased memory and attention at lower doses (333 mg extract), but had no effect at higher doses. Scholey 2008
What is the name of the oil that is used to treat a wide range of conditions?
The name Salvia derives from the Latin "salvere," meaning "to cure." Traditionally, sage and its oil have been used to treat a wide range of conditions. Ethanolic tinctures and decoctions have been used to treat inflammation of the oral cavity and GI tract, and sage has also been used as a tonic and antispasmodic.
What are the antioxidants in sage?
The antioxidant effects of sage are believed to be attributable to rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, which are polyphenolic components of sage. Hamidpour 2014
How long does Sage mouthwash last?
In a study of 70 girls aged 11 to 14 years, sage mouthwash used twice daily for 21 days was associated with a significantly reduced colony count of Streptococcus mutans in dental plaque ( P =0.001). Behesthti-Rouy 2015
Is Sage safe for lactation?
S. officinalis is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. One study in pregnant Palestinian women found infrequent use of herbs, including sage, during pregnancy to be safe. Animal data suggest potential lactiferous effects. Until further information is available, sage should not be routinely recommended during pregnancy and lactation.
What is Sage used for?
Sage is used for Alzheimer disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and symptoms of menopause. It is also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
How long does Sage help with cholesterol?
Taking common sage three times daily for 2 or 3 months reduces "bad" low-density lipoprotein ( LDL) cholesterol and blood fats called triglycerides. It also increases "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, in people with high cholesterol. Symptoms of menopause.
How long before surgery can you stop using Sage?
There is a concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using common sage as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
How long does sage leaf extract help with Alzheimer's?
Alzheimer disease. Taking extracts of two different sage species, common sage and Spanish sage, for 4 months seems to improve learning, memory and information processing in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease. Diabetes. Taking common sage leaf extract three times daily for 3 months lowers fasting blood sugar and average blood sugar ...
Does Sage help with enlarged ovaries?
Some research shows that taking sage helps to reduce some, but not all, symptoms in people with PCOS.
Does Sage help with lung cancer?
Some research suggests that people who regularly use sage as a spice may have a 54% lower chance of developing lung cancer than those who don't use sage as a spice.
Does Sage extract help memory?
Decline in memory and thinking skills that occurs normally with age. Taking a single dose of common sage extract might improve some measures of memory in healthy older adults. Hot flashes in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer.
What can we learn from Sage?
What Have We Learned? 1 Sage has not been clearly shown to be helpful for any health condition. 2 There have been a few studies of sage for sore throat, mood, memory, diabetes, and blood cholesterol levels. However, the findings are preliminary, and some of the research is of poor quality.
Does Sage help with sore throat?
There have been a few studies of sage for sore throat, mood , memory, diabetes , and blood cholesterol levels. However, the findings are preliminary, and some of the research is of poor quality.
Is Sage safe to take while pregnant?
It may be unsafe to use sage during pregnancy because its constituent thujone may have harmful effects. Little is known about whether it’ s safe to use sage while breastfeeding.
Is Sage safe to eat?
Sage is safe in the amounts commonly found in foods, and larger amounts have been used safely for up to 4 months in research studies. However, some species of sage, including common sage (Salvia officinalis), contain a constituent called thujone that can cause seizures in experimental animals and may also do so in people.
What is the medicinal use of common sage?
The leaves of common sage have been used traditionally as a remedy against diabetes.
Why is sage used in small amounts?
Sage has a strong aroma and earthy flavor, which is why it’s typically used in small amounts. Even so, it’s packed with a variety of important nutrients and compounds.
How to use sage leaves?
Here are some ways you can add fresh sage to your diet: 1 Sprinkle as a garnish on soups. 2 Mix into a stuffing in roast dishes. 3 Combine chopped leaves with butter to make sage butter. 4 Add chopped leaves to tomato sauce. 5 Serve it with eggs in an omelet.
How to make sage butter?
Combine chopped leaves with butter to make sage butter.
How many polyphenols are in sage?
Sage contains over 160 distinct polyphenols, which are plant-based chemical compounds that act as antioxidants in your body ( 5 ).
What is the flavor of fresh sage?
Fresh sage leaves have a strong aromatic flavor and are best used sparingly in dishes.
What vitamins are in sage?
Sage also contains small amounts of magnesium, zinc, copper and vitamins A, C and E.
What is sage used for?
The herb often pairs well with poultry and pork. Sage is often used as a fragrance in soaps and cosmetics due to its pleasant aroma. Sage extracts and herbal sage supplements are also available.
What are the benefits of sage?
Sage also contains numerous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that might be beneficial to health. These compounds include: 1 1,8-cineole 2 camphor 3 borneol 4 bornyl acetate 5 camphene
How long does it take for sage to lower blood sugar?
After 2 hours of fasting, blood sugar levels in individuals given sage were significantly decreased when compared with the control group. This study concluded that sage might show benefit for people with diabetes to reduce glucose levels 2 hours after fasting.
How long does Sage leaf extract help with diabetes?
One study saw 40 people with diabetes and high cholesterol take sage leaf extract for 3 months. At the end of the trial, the participants had lower fasting glucose, lower average glucose levels over a 3-month period, and lower total cholesterol, triglyceride, and levels of harmful cholesterol.
What are the two species of Sage?
More research is required, as most studies have been carried out on two species of sage, Salvia officinalis ( S. officinalis ) and S. lavandulaefolia.
What is the color of sage?
The sage plant has gray-green edible leaves and flowers that can range in color from blue and purple to white or pink. There are more than 900 species of sage around the world. Sage has a long history of medicinal use for ailments ranging from mental disorders to gastrointestinal discomfort.
Why do people use herbs?
Herbs and spices can have extremely high antioxidant capacities and pack extra flavor into a meal. This means that people can use herbs to cut back on sodium intake, as less salt is used to flavor a meal.
How to make sage smudge?
1. Begin by saying a prayer aloud or silently, telling the Creator your reasons for smudging. Place the sage in a smudge bowl (com monly a shell) and light it. Let the flames die out so the leaves produce a fragrant smoke.
Is sage a sacred medicine?
Sage is one of our sacred medicines growing in Eeyou Istchee and other regions. There are two types—one is soft after drying and the other hard; both are used for smudging but should not be combined. Once gathered and dried, sage can be used for smudging in our homes, at work and in our ceremonies.
Why is Sage used in medicine?
Sage is widely used in alternative medicine to boost mood, improve memory, and help prevent brain-related disorders like Alzheimer’s. Scientific research backs many of these uses ( 26 ).
Why do pregnant women take Sage?
In the Middle East, pregnant women commonly use sage to treat digestive symptoms like nausea, a common problem early in pregnancy ( 35, 36 ).
What is the best tea for sore throat?
In fact, gargling sage tea is often recommended as a remedy for mouth wounds and sore throats ( 18 ).
What is Sage tea?
Here’s our process. Sage tea is an aromatic infusion made from the leaves of common sage ( Sal via officinalis ), an herb in the same family as mint. Commonly used as a spice, sage also has a long history of use in alternative and traditional medicine.
How many drops of Sage essential oil are toxic?
At the same time, you should avoid ingesting sage essential oil or adding it to your tea, as just 12 drops can be toxic ( 41 ).
How long to boil sage leaves?
Simply bring the water to a boil, then add the sage and steep for about 5 minutes. Strain to remove the leaves before adding your preferred sweetener and lemon juice to taste.
Does sage tea lower cholesterol?
Sage tea may decrease your risk of heart disease by improving your triglyceride and cholesterol levels, though further studies are necessary.
What is sage used for?
Taté Walker, a Two Spirit storyteller and a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, shares that in their particular culture, the plant is used as a remedy for ailments including menstruation, constipation, and anxiety among many others. "If I feel a headache coming on or need a concentration boost, I might roll a ball of sage the size of a pea and tuck it between my gums and cheek," they say.
What is Prairie Sage used for?
Hopkins a writer, indigenous defender, and member of the Dakota/Lakota Sioux Tribe, explains that among her Native community, Prairie Sage is often used to treat skin rashes, as a deodorizer, and even as a blood sugar-lowering tea for diabetics, but that the uses will vary from Tribe to Tribe.
Why do Lakota Sioux perform Sage?
Rather, Tribes including Lakota Sioux perform this ceremony as a spiritual cleansing or blessing with the intention of ridding unwanted influences. "Sage is sacred and should be respected as such," Hopkins tells The Zoe Report.
Is Sage a ritual?
Like many adopted wellness rituals, the use of sage actually has some pretty deep roots. Whether you've personally used it — or even just thought about using it — for physical or spiritual health purposes, knowing the significance of sage among Native American Nations is important to consider, as members of various Native cultures argue that there's a very fine line between appreciation and appropriation.
Should non-Natives use Sage?
All of this raises an important question: Should non-Natives even be using sage ? Well, according to Walker and Hopkins, that depends. First and foremost, you should look beyond its trend appeal, which Walker says is both reductive and harmful. "My people fought and died to protect our medicinal and sacred knowledge, and your trendy use of it here, on the occupied lands of hundreds of Native nations erases our struggles — and our resilience," they say. "More importantly, when you can burn sage and ignore the history of what sage means to Native people, it’s much easier for you to also ignore our modern struggles, such as bringing justice to missing and murdered Indigenous women and defending our lands from violently extractive industries."
Is sage a medicinal herb?
While both sources acknowledge many medicinal uses of sage, Walker says there is at least one majorly inaccurate claim. "One troubling thing I’ve seen circulated a lot, even by Native people, is that burning sage eliminates airborne viruses, like COVID-19," they explain. "That’s not true, and considering the devastation COVID-19 has caused within Native communities, it’s a harmful rumor that needs to stop."
Should smudging be performed exclusively with the permission and participation of Native individuals?
And while Hopkins shares that smudging should be performed exclusively with the permission and participation of Native individuals , Walker says that if you're considerate and conscious of Native cultures and the history and sacred intentions of sage, you're on the right track.

Clinical Overview
- Use
Sage has been used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects. It has been investigated for its potential in treating cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease, vasomotor symptoms, cancer, inflammation, and hyperlipidemia. However, no quality cl… - Dosing
Doses of 300 and 600 mg of dried sage leaf have been investigated in mood and cognitive performance studies. A standardized S. officinalis ethanolic extract at a dose of 333 mg was used in a study evaluating its effects on memory and attention in healthy older volunteers. A typical d…
Botany
- Approximately 900 species and many varieties belong to the sage genus Salvia, including Salvia hispanica L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza. S. officinalis is a small, evergreen, perennial plant that is native to the Mediterranean region but grows throughout much of the world. The plant can grow up to 1 m in height and has grayish leaves, short woody stems that branch extensively, and viole…
History
- The name Salvia derives from the Latin "salvere," meaning "to cure." Traditionally, sage and its oil have been used to treat a wide range of conditions. Ethanolic tinctures and decoctions have been used to treat inflammation of the oral cavity and GI tract, and sage has also been used as a tonic and antispasmodic. Use of sage as a cognitive enhancer and treatment for cognitive decline dat…
Chemistry
- Twenty-eight components have been identified from S. officinalis, with the primary components being 1,8-cineole, camphor, alpha-thujone, beta-thujone, borneol, and viridiflorol.Hamidpour 2014 Monoterpenes have been identified using gas chromatography and other techniques; alpha- and beta-thujones account for about one-half of the oil's composition.Bozin 2007, Loizzo 2008, Raal …
Uses and Pharmacology
- Antioxidant activity
The antioxidant effects of sage are believed to be attributable to rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, which are polyphenolic components of sage.Hamidpour 2014
Dosing
- Doses of 300 and 600 mg of dried sage leaf have been investigated in mood and cognitive performance studies.Kennedy 2006 A standardized S. officinalis ethanolic extract at a dose of 333 mg was used in a study evaluating its effects on memory and attention in healthy older volunteers.Scholey 2008 A typical dosage has been described as 4 to 6 g/day of the sage leaf.D…
Pregnancy / Lactation
- Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. One study in pregnant Palestinian women found infrequent use of herbs, including sage, to be safe.Al-Ramahi 2013 In a study of rats, sage was associated with alveologenesis of the mammary glands, which suggests potential lactiferous activity.Monsefi 2015Until further information is known, sage sho…
Interactions
- None well documented. Interactions with cholinergic drugs, such as pilocarpine and scopolamine, are expected based on studies evaluating the effect of sage extracts on Alzheimer disease.Akhondzadeh 2006, Eidi 2006
Adverse Reactions
- Cheilitis, stomatitis, dry mouth, and local irritation have been reported following ingestion of sage.Duke 1985 In 2 clinical trials of healthy volunteers, no clinically significant adverse reactions were reported; however, in a study in patients with Alzheimer disease, adverse effects were similar to those reported with cholinesterase inhibitors. Increases in blood pressure were report…
Toxicology
- S. officinalis has GRAS status.FDA 2017 In vitro, doses of more than 200 nL/mL of the essential oil were hepatotoxic,Lima 2004 and at concentrations of 120 mcg/mL, decreased cell viability was observed.Aherne 2007 In rats, the median lethal dose (LD50) of a methanolic extract of sage leaves was calculated to be 4,000 mg/kg when injected intraperitoneally.Eidi 2006, Ghorbani 201…