Sage: Nature's Medicine

The silvery-green plant known as sage (Salvia Officinalis) has been used for a variety of culinary and medicinal uses since it was first found growing around the Mediterranean regions. In North America, sage has been making a new name for itself in the form of tea. Sage herb tea is given for sore throats and coughs. It is also widely used for rheumatism, menstrual bleeding, strengthening the nervous system, improving memory, and sharpening the senses (Nutrasanus.com, 2007).

Dosage and Administration of sage herb tea as a medicine is rather simple. Most conditions ( including mouth inflammation, gingivitis, and sore throats) only need 3 grams of Sage leaf added to 150ml of boiling water. Ten minutes later the sage leaves need to be strained and let cool. Other options include soaking a towel or wash-cloth in prepared sage leaf tea and then applying it the forehead to treat headaches or to the abdomen in order to reduce the pain associated with stomach cramps.

The reason why the fragrant sage leaves are so well used as a medicinal herb is mainly due to its oil. The oil contains alpha- and beta-thujone, cineole, camphor as well as rosmarinic acid, tannins, and flavonoids. These substances have been shown to offer antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral effects.

Like other culinary herbs, rosemary and thyme, the sage within sage leaf tea helps guard against and fight depletion of the brain's concentration of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is crucial to proper brain function. When used with ginko biloba and rosemary, sage may help slow or prevent Alzheimer's.

There have been very few side effects reported from the use of sage teas. Those that use concentrated forms of the sage tea herb may experience inflammation of the lips or lining of the mouth. This may be due to toxic chemicals like Thujone. In large amounts thujone can cause convulsions.

In today's world we are rediscovering the benefits of using organic herbal teas as medicinal remedies. Like our ancestors before us we can certainly rely on nature to help our health and ailments.