Sage (Salvia officinalis) also called common or garden sage, is a perennial evergreen in the Lamiaceae family, the mint family. Sage is part of a large family including basil, mint, rosemary, savory, marjoram, motherwort, oregano, hyssop, thyme and lavender.
Medicinal Benefits Of Sage
The essential oil of sage contains powerful antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The volatile oils in sage kill bacteria, making this herb useful for all types of bacterial infections. There are many health benefits of sage such as improving brain function and boosting increased concentration and focus. It lowers inflammation throughout the body and boosts the strength of your immune system as well.
This herb can play an important role in your dental routine. It is useful as an effective mouthwash to treat gum disease, throat infections and cankers. If you are troubled by cankers, gargle with a strong tea or freeze it into ice cubes. Pop one of these cubes in your mouth to soothe cankers.
Sage contains phytosterols, reported to have a cooling action. In one study, using an infusion of the leaf reduced sweating by as much as half. Early and modern herbals list sage as a treatment for bright red, abundant uterine bleeding and for cramps that feel worse with heat applications and better with cold applications. You can also use the herb to stop breast-milk production when weaning a child from breast-feeding.
The properties that help dry up milk, as well as its reported cooling action, also make this very useful for treating diarrhea, colds, and excessive perspiration. It may be of value for menopausal hot flashes accompanied by profuse perspiration. This herb can dry up phlegm and gargling with the tea treats coughs, tonsil or throat infections.
It also regulates proper digestion, alleviates skin conditions, increases the health and strength of bones and prevents the onset of diabetes.
The antioxidants in sage reverse the signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine lines and age spots. These antioxidants protect against free radicals that damage skin cells, causing premature aging of the skin. This herb is full of calcium and vitamin A, which protect your skin against the assault of free radicals and aid in daily cell regeneration, minimizing and delaying the onset of facial wrinkles.
The antibacterial properties of this amazing herb prevent the occurrence of skin infections. It also possesses antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which help cure acne as well as relieve the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
Sage Hair Rinse
A combination of sage and rosemary is excellent for making your hair thicker, shinier and stronger. It is particularly effective in encouraging new hair growth as it improves circulation to the scalp and provides more nutrition to the hair follicles.
A sage rosemary hair rinse is prepared by boiling the two herbs in water. This herbal rinse improves the quality of your hair and revitalizes dry and thinning hair. Use this daily for one week or once or twice a week to maintain hair shine and thickness. Being an astringent, it reduces dandruff and prevents clogged hair follicles. Sage darkens and intensifies hair color, use it as a final rinse after shampooing.
Hair Rinse Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbs sage
- 1 tbs rosemary
- 8 oz water
- glass jar I like mason jars
Directions
- Place a tablespoon of each herb in a glass mason jar. Pour 8 oz of boiling water in the jar and cover.
- Let steep until cool, then strain out the plant matter into another glass jar. Discard the plant material.
- Use as a final rinse after shampooing.
Sage Infusion For Darkening Grey Hair
An infusion of sage leaves can darken grey hair as well as deepen the color of brown or black hair and impart shine to it.
Ingredients
- 1 oz by weight of dried sage
- 1 quart mason jar
Directions
- In a quart mason jar, place 1 oz. by weight of dried herb in the jar and add boiling water to the top of the jar.
- Cap and let sit for 4 -8 hours, strain into another jar and use on your hair.
- Store any left over infusion in the fridge.
Precautions
There have been isolated reports that the volatile oil beta-thujone, which occurs in significant amounts, may trigger seizures in people with epilepsy. Although using the herb as a cooking spice is considered safe, avoid large amounts of it as a medicinal preparation during pregnancy.
Add this herb to soups, stews, baked dishes and roasting meats its not only tasty but you get the health benefits as well. This spice rack staple is used in many remedies to improve your health.