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Throughout history sage has been used to treat a number of sicknesses. The ancient Greeks and Romans first used Sage as a meat preservative. They also believed that like another powerful preservative, rosemary, it could enhance memory. Sage gained a much broader medicinal reputation. Greek doctors considered it a diuretic and menstruation promoter and recommended sage leaves as bandages for wounds. Sage Uses The sage oil has one unique property that sets it apart from all other herbs – it reduces perspiration. Several studies show that sage cuts perspiration as much as 50% with the maximum effect occurring 2 hours after ingestion. There is even a sage based antiperspirant sold in Germany. Sage also fights infection-causing bacteria and is therefore useful in treating wounds. Like rosemary, sage prevents meats from spoiling with its powerful antioxidants. It can also be used as a digestive aid since it soothes the digestive tract lining and makes a great treatment for indigestion. Another way that sage is like its herb partner, rosemary, is its stimulation of menstruation. Therefore pregnant women should not take sage for medicinal purposes. Sage contains tannins which treats canker sores, bleeding gums, and sore throat. German doctors recommend a hot sage gargle for sore throat and tonsillitis. One German study found that sage reduces blood sugar level in people with diabetes who drink the infusion on an empty stomach. Don’t just run off and start taking sage to treat your diabetes, but rather speak to your physician about making sage a part of your overall care. Sage Recommended Dosage For sage to settle the stomach or to help manage diabetes, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep tea for 10 minutes and then strain. Drink up to 3 cups a day. This can also be used as a gargle for sore throats. Sage Safety Precautions There are a few reports of inflammation of the lips and lining of the mouth associated with ingestion of sage tea. Sage contains relatively high levels of a toxic chemical called thujone. In large amounts, thujone causes a variety of symptoms that end in convulsions. The heat used in creating a sage infusion kills most of the chemical so there is barely any risk in drinking the tea. Concentrated sage oil is toxic and should not be consumed. Sage should not be taken for medicinal purposes by pregnant or nursing women. With all the treatment uses for sage, it could almost be considered a cure all. Many herbalists would recommend sage as an external treatment for wounds and insect bites, as a gargle for bleeding gums, sore throat, tonsillitis, and laryngitis, and as an infusion to reduce excessive perspiration, terminate milk production, and relive dizziness, depression, menstrual irregularity, and intestinal upsets. It’s a popular spice for flavoring food, an herbal remedy for whatever ails you, and shares its properties with rosemary, a similar herbal wonder.
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