Sage - Salvia Officinalis

Sage - Salvia officinalis in the Lamiaceae or Mint family

Part used: Aerial herb in budding stage.

Taste/smell: Pungent, aromatic.

Tendencies: Warming, drying.

Dosage: Infusion: 1 teaspoon per cup of water; or 1:1.4 fresh + dry strength liquid extract: 10-40 drops 1-4 times per day.

Mental picture and specific indications: For people with relaxed and enfeebled circulation with excessive sweating.

Use: (a) Carminative, (b) Astringent, (c) Antibacterial with in vitro activity against Strep pyogenes and Staph aureus , (d) Used for atonic states.

Cold preparations are used to check excessive perspiration from peripheral circulatory atony or relaxation. Sage is used for hot flashes, night sweats, galactorrhea, treating the symptoms of diarrhea and gastric atony with gas and burping. It is also beneficial for mucous membrane irritation, like gum ulcerations and sore throats.

Contraindications: Sage is contraindicated in pregnancy due to the emmenagogue and abortifacient effect. It contains the mutagen, thujone.  Thujone, can cause vomiting, stomach and intestinal cramps, retention of urine, and in serious cases, renal damage, vertigo, tremors, and convulsions. Thujone has been shown to be a neurotoxin in animals, but has not been studied in humans. It may lend Sage to being toxic in larger doses or chronic use. Short term use of herbs containing thujone are generally considered to be safe. Thujone is alcohol soluble, so aqueous extracts contain less of it.  Do not exceed the recommended dosage or use long term.

If you are looking for directions on making teas or tinctures, please see our "Making Herbal Products" page.

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Copyright 1999 by Sharol Tilgner, N.D. (ISBN 1-881517-02-0) - all rights reserved.