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We are exploring the very interesting world of SAGE. Who would have thought this little plant packed so much punch. For centuries sage has been used in the kitchen, making dinners just a tad bit more delicious. However, it has also been used as a medicinal herb as well. Let’s explore why you should have a ton of sage on hand at all times.
Table of Contents
- How to Grow Sage
- Best Time To Plant Sage
- Where to Buy Sage
- 9 Benefits of Sage
- 1. Cognitive Support
- 2. High in Antioxidants
- 3. Digestive support
- 4. Skin Care
- 5. Helps relieve muscle tension
- 6. Mucus reducer
- 7. Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Anti Inflammatory.
- 8. Helps Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
- 9. Purifying The Air
- Different Varieties
- Herbal Recipe
How to Grow Sage
Sage, also known as Salvia Officinalis, is a perennial herb that is best grown in zones 4-10. It is related to the rosemary plant and closely related to the mint family. Sage grows about 2.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. If you are unsure of what zone you are head on over here to find out.
Sage loves full sun, warm conditions and well draining soil. As the plant matures, it can get leggy, which means there will be more stem than leaves, so be sure to trim it back before spring to promote new growth. The parts of the plant used are the leaves.
Best Time To Plant Sage
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date. The best time of year to plant sage is when the weather is cool, early spring or fall is ideal.
When planting seeds be sure to just lightly cover them with soil as they do not need to be planted deep. If planting more than one sage plant in the same planter be sure to space them out about 2 feet apart.
Where to Buy Sage
Our favorite company to buy any seeds is from Peaceful Valley at groworganic.com. Every time we buy from this company we always get 100 percent germination. If you are struggling to find organic seeds that you can trust, try this company.
9 Benefits of Sage
This beautiful herb is packed with a special ingredient called rosmarinic acid. This acid has some amazing benefits: it’s antibacterial, antimicrobial, and an antioxidant. Its main job is to protect our bodies from damage caused by free radicals.
But what are free radicals?
Free radicals are atoms with an uneven number of electrons. When they form in our bodies, they start breaking down our cells. These free radicals come from almost everything: the food we eat, beauty products, the sun, viruses—everything.
Antioxidants help by neutralizing free radicals, preventing them from harming our bodies. Sage, which is high in rosmarinic acid, is full of antioxidants that reduce and prevent the damage caused by free radicals. This is one of the reasons why this herb is so good for us.
Now, let’s take a closer look at all the other benefits sage has to offer.
1. Cognitive Support
Studies show that within minutes of taking a sage supplement a persons memory became more clear and their ability to concentrate enhanced. The neural pathways are stimulated creating the ability to stay focused. It has also been known to help treat AAlzheimer’s disease.
2. High in Antioxidants
This helps reduce and eliminate free radicals in the body caused by everyday living. Free radicals seem impossible to avoid, so to help the inevitable we must load up on things like antioxidants to help reverse some of that damage.
3. Digestive support
There is a bitter component to sage that helps increase digestive secretions that help allow the digestive track to flow easier. This can also be taken as a carminative, which helps relieve flatulence.
4. Skin Care
Just like any herb, sage can be used in salves, tinctures and teas. For help with acne, blemishes or uneven skin tones, rub a sage salve on your face to help balance out skin issues.
5. Helps relieve muscle tension
Sage contains an anti sporadic compound that helps relieve that tension. Rubbing a sage salve on sore or tense muscles to help relieve the pain.
6. Mucus reducer
To help relieve mucus you can add some sage essential oils to a diffuser or humidifier. You can also make a tea to help relieve mucus in the chest.
7. Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Anti Inflammatory.
You can make a tea to help relieve head colds, sore throats, ulcers, inflamed gums, and indigestion, just to name a few benefits. The phenolic acid in sage can even kill Escherichia coli, Candida, and Salmonella.
8. Helps Reduce Symptoms of Menopause
Drinking sage tea can reduce hot flashes and many other symptoms of menopause. You can also use essential oils by mixing them with a carrier oil and rubbing the mixture over your ovaries and temples to help with symptoms.
9. Purifying The Air
White sage is used to help purify the air and uplift one’s spirit. Typically, the sage is picked by the stem, wrapped with twine, and hung to dry. Once dry, you light the end with the leaves, then blow out the flame to produce smoke.
To smudge, move through your house with the smoking sage, saying a prayer, mantra, or simply thinking positive thoughts to encourage good energy to flow. We try to smudge almost every day, especially when the house feels tense or we feel unsettled. It always brings the energy back to a calm and neutral space.
One Quick Warning…
Sage has so many fantastic medicinal properties and really should be apart of your medicinal herb cabinet. Sage, like all herbs should be used with caution. It should NOT be used while PREGNANT or BREASTFEEDING. It has been known to reduce the production of breast milk.
You can use sage in various ways: as a tincture, salve, tea, or even eat it directly. There are all sorts of sage varieties that give off different tastes. Let’s dive into a few types of sage.
Different Varieties
Most popular in the culinary world is Pineapple Sage. The leaves are a touch smaller and it smells like pineapple!
Purple sage, which has a spicy aroma.
Green sage, large almost furry like grey green leaves. Used for teas.
Tricolor Sage, which has a subtle flavor.
There are many different varieties of sage. These are just a few. Sage leaves can be used fresh or ground. Add a small amount at first, then adjust to your desired flavor.
Herbal Recipe
Mouth Spray: Great for sore throats or swollen gums
Ingredients:
2-3 tbs dried sage
1/4 cup vodka or brandy
1-2 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions:
- Boil one cup of water and pour over dried sage. Allow to steep for 30 minutes.
- Strain and combine with vodka or brandy and peppermint oil.
- Pour in spray bottle and store for 1-3 months.
- To use, spray directly in mouth as often as needed.
To get more herbal recipes to add to your medicinal herb cabinet check out our free guide below!
Some say that using sage for a long period of time can be somewhat toxic. dealing with herbs there is always that controversy. I do not claim to be a doctor, or claim that anything listed above will prevent or cure any or all diseases. Nor do I claim it should replace modern medicine. Please use wisely and put forth much more research than just this article.
Be sure to check out our article on 7 way you can use lavender!
Until next time…
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