Sage is a versatile herb that has been valued for its culinary, medicinal, and aesthetic qualities for centuries, making it a popular choice for both gardening and cooking enthusiasts and for its potential health benefits and medicinal properties in herbal medicine.
PARTS OF THE PLANT USED: leaves, flowers
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
thujone
camphor → responsible for cell growth, slowing the signs of aging, wrinkles, healing
chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, ellagic acid, rutin, acetylcholine → lower cancer risk, memory improvement, and improved brain function.
vitamin K (for proper clotting, circulation, and bone health)
magnesium, zinc, and copper
polyphenols → antioxidants
PREPARATIONS: tea, tincture, oil infusion, steam, honey, glycerite, capsule, vinegar
Medicinal Properties of Sage
Health Benefits of Sage
sore throat associated with the common cold, with its antibiotic and diaphoretic properties
to alleviate sinus congestion with a sore throat → inhale the steam
oral health:
astringents and antiseptic, antimicrobial effects that aid in killing plaque
often found in mouthwashes, or products for the treatment of inflammation of the oropharyngeal cavity and in gum bleeding
gargling sage infusion, tea
lowers cholesterol, LDL levels
antiinflammatory
boosts memory
lower cancer risk
animal and test-tube studies reveal that carnosol can kill several types of cancer cells without affecting healthy cells, but more studies on humans are needed
antiperspirant, reduces excessive sweating
menopause symptoms
hot flashes, excessive sweating, vaginal dryness, irritability
has estrogen-like properties
estrogen levels rapidly decline during menopause and that decline causes those side effects
but if we mimic or add estrogen, we ease those symptoms
regularizing the menstrual flow, reducing the associated pain
control blood sugar levels (diabetes type2)
lowers blood sugar levels & increases insulin sensitivity
helps clear excess fatty acids from the bloodstream, which increases insulin sensitivity
treat digestive disorders:
dyspeptic and gastrointestinal issues: bloating, flatulence, slow digestion bellyaches
help digest fatty food → added to meat dishes
antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals
antimicrobial properties: slow down the rancidity of fats, food preservation
slow down aging, wrinkles
soothe skin irritation, sunburns, healing properties
against dandruff, greasy scalp and oily, impure skin
essential oil has a toxic component: the Thujone - careful! can be toxic to the brain at high doses
preferable to use the oil extracted from Clary Sage, free of toxicity and easier to use both for topical use (inside vegetable oils) and inhalation.
Thujone Content in Sage
Thujone is a naturally occurring compound found in various plants, including sage (Salvia officinalis). It is a ketone and a monoterpene that can have neurotoxic effects in high concentrations.
In sage, thujone is present in small amounts, typically at levels considered safe for consumption when used for culinary or medicinal purposes. However excessive consumption of sage or any herb containing thujone can be harmful. High levels of thujone can cause various health issues, including nervous system disorders, convulsions, vomiting, seizures, heart problems, and in extreme cases, even organ damage.
Careful with Sage:
THUJONE toxic to the brain at high doses: 3-7g of thujone/day
thujone is not water soluble, so it doesnt extract itself into tea or water infusions, so drinking tea is perfectly safe. 4 cups (1liter) of sage tea contains only 4-11mg of thujone.
but careful with sage alcohol tinctures, oil extractions or essential oil → dont drink that, only for topical or as mouthwash
drinking only 12 drops of essential oil can be toxic
don’t drink it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Sage benefits for skin (Sage in cosmetics)
purifying, stimulating, and firming action
slows down aging, wrinkles
soothe irritation or sunburns
against dandruff, cleanse scalp, for greasy hair
products for oily hair and oily, impure skin
deodorants
Hydrolats, essential oils, creams, tonics, lotions
Sage in Culinary for food flavoring
Sprinkled on soup as a garnish
Chopped and added to tomato sauces
Mixed into stuffing
Used to make sage butter by combining chopped leaves with butter
Served in an omelet with eggs
As a rub for meats
As seasoning for roasted vegetable dishes
Sage in Aromatherapy
the aroma can uplift sunken spirits and move cloudy thoughts
Sage - Drug INTERACTION:
SAGE - ANTICONVULSANT DRUGS:
Sage makes anticovulsant drugs less effective if used in excess
Phenobarbital
Mysoline (primidone)
Depakote (valproic acid)
Neurontin (gabapentin)
Tegretol (carbamazepine)
Dilantin (phenytoin)
SAGE - ANTIDIABETIC DRUGS:
careful in high doses and in combination with antidiabetic drugs can cause hypoglycemia
Sage for tea:
drying at room temperature in the air for about 15-20 days
drying in dryers at about 40°C
evaluation of the quality of the product is the uniformity of color and the integrity of the dried leaves
Essential oil
extracted from fresh or dried leaves through steam distillation.
yield in essential oil: 0,2% - 0,3% from fresh leaves,
yield from dried leaves: 1,2% - 2,5%.
principal components are thujone and borneol
not for per os use: toxic (only 12 drops very toxic)
Tincture:
macerate flowers and leaves in 65-proof alcohol (contains thujone → careful, toxic)
better to make strong sage tea, then add alcohol in tea (doesn’t contain thujone → safe)
