Making a sage water infusion is a simple and effective way to extract the beneficial compounds from sage leaves and enjoy its potential health benefits.
How to make Sage tea (water infusion)?
Ingredients:
Fresh or dried sage leaves
Water
Instructions:
Make an infusion of hot water with sage leaves. The ratio of water to sage leaves will depend on how strong you want the infusion to be. A common ratio is 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh sage leaves or 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried sage leaves per 8 ounces (240 ml) of water.
Bring 1 cup of water to boil in the casserole, teapot, or bowl
Add 1 teaspoon (4 grams) of dried sage
Steep for 5-10 minutes. Steeping too long may result in a bitter taste.
Strain the sage leaves from the infusion using a fine mesh strainer, tea infuser, or cheesecloth. This will leave you with a clear sage-infused water.
Add sweetener (sugar, honey), lemon juice and enjoy it as a warm or cold beverage
If you have leftover infusion, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 24-48 hours. Reheat or enjoy it chilled as needed.
How to use Sage tea or water infusion?
gargling:
to ease a sore throat
for healing of inflammation of gums, plaque build-up, mouth wounds,
after chemotherapy-induced inflammation
improve mood or memory (Alzheimer’s), better focus, brain function
topically it may heal wounds or enhance the skin and hair
better digestion
easy menopause symptoms, hot flushes
Sage contains a compound called thujone, which can be toxic in high doses, around 3-7g thujone/day. But drinking a few cups of sage tea is perfectly safe. 4 cups (1 liter) contains only 4–11 mg of thujone.
Avoid drinking extremely large amounts of sage tea, alcohol tinctures, and essential oils. Over an extended period may cause heart problems, seizures, vomiting, and kidney damage.