Uses and Health Benefits of Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

Sage has been used as a medicine and preservative from a long time. It was deeply regarded by the Greeks and Romans, who had devised a special gathering ceremony. Arabian healers of the 10th century believed that eating sage leaves would grant immortality, and  four centuries later Europeans used sage oil to ward off witchcraft. The Chinese traded three cases of tea leaves for one case of sage leaves in 17th century from the Dutch because they appreciated Sage Tea.

How to Use Sage Leaf ?

Russian sage has originated in Afghanistan and has spread to Tibet. While the common culinary sages first grew in the Mediterranean and Balkan regions. One of the most popular culinary types of sage is pineapple sage. It bears bright red flowers and a sweet fragrance good for teas and potpourri.

Sage usually comes in three forms:

  • Fresh
  • Ground
  • Rubbed

Rubbed sage comes off the leaf almost like powder and is extremely light and fluffy. Fresh is the most flavorful and fragrant.

[ HOW TO GROW SAGE ]

Sage Leaf for Making Hair Dye

Sage can restore your natural hair color.It will cover up the gray hair, and will make your hair soft and shiny, All this without any harmful effects of chemical hair color that contains ammonia. Sage is a highly aromatic evergreen herb that contains phytosterols which are beneficial in many ways. This herb is one of the most effective remedies for grey hair. It stops the growth of grey hair and reportedly restores natural hair color. Sage also has been recommended for dandruff, oily hair or infections of the scalp.

  • To make this dye you need to pour some clean water into a pot and place it over high heat. Let the water boil.
  • Then you have to add sage leaves to the boiling water and let it boil for 30 minutes to an hour. You will notice that the water gets darker as you let the sage leaves steep in the water.
  • Then switch off the flame and take the pot out of the fire and let the resulting tea cool down.
  • Now lean over the sink or tub, and scoop the tea over your head. Then let your hair dry and shampoo, preferably with mild herbal shampoo.
  • You can repeat this process twice a week until you get the shade you desire.
  • To give your hair a refreshing scent, add some lavender oil or rosemary oil into your homemade sage dye.
  • This also helps make your scalp healthier and your hair smoother.

Sage Leaves for Making Incense

Sage incense made at home can be useful to gets rid of nasty odors and it can set your mood for meditation and yoga practice.It also helps relax your tired mind and body.

  • You can make a bundle from  the branches of the herb and cut them into equal pieces.
  • Then tie these branches together by winding a thread or string from one end to the other at an angle and winding it again towards the bottom end at an opposite angle.
  • This will create a crisscross pattern which will help hold the branches together.Then let these bundles dry.
  • Once the herbs are completely dry, you can use it as an incense stick. All you have to do is simply burn one end of the bundle and it will give off a nice scent.

How to use Sage oil ?

Sage oil helps to manage and cure dermatitis, herpes, sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis, accumulation of phlegm, cerebral palsy, depression, sciatica and lumbago.It also induces mental stability along with alertness.

This essential oil is extracted by steam distillation of sage leaves and is made up of mainly  aesculetinen, alpha humulene, alpha thujene, alpha thujone, alpha terpineol, alpha terpenines, alpha pinene, alpha maaliene, aromadendrene, beta pinene, beta copaene, beta thujone, Borneol, Camphor, Cineole, Caryophyllene Oxide, camphene, delta cadinenes, linalool, limonene, myrcene, ocimenes, para cymenol, salviol, terpinenol and terpinolene.

[ PROPERTIES OF SAGE ]

Sage Oil for Cognitive Disorders

Sage has an ability to stimulate brain function to improve memory and concentration, eliminate any cognitive disorders that may arise, including Alzheimer’s and dementia.Neural pathways get stimulated by the essential oils of sage and keep your mind fresh and youthful in old age.

  • Sage oil is safe for consumption if its 100%  therapeutic in nature.It is high in quality as well. You can add a drop of sage oil to a cup of water and consume it.
  • You can also add a drop of Sage oil to your juice or smoothie as a dietary supplement.

Sage Oil for Skin Conditions

  • Sage oil has antibacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and many other medicinal properties.
  • This oil is highly potent so should be diluted before use as concentrated oil can be harmful. Essential Oil of Sage blends well with the essential oils of Clary Sage, Lavender,  Vetiver, Neroli and Rosmary.
  • You can also use sage oil to make facial steam when suffering from nasal blockage. You just need to pour 2-3 drops of this potent oil  into boiling water and lean over to breath in the steam. To avoid escape of this steam you can use a towel to cover your head.

[ SAGE ]

How to use Sage Tea ?

Sage Tea is made from the leaves of a sage plant, one of the most beloved herbs used in culinary applications around the world. The high concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B-family, vitamin K and vitamin E, as well as copper, fiber, calcium, iron and magnesium make this a very popular herb in medicinal applications.

The many health benefits of sage tea include:

  • It lowers Anxiety
  • Prevents Cancer
  • Mitigates Menopausal Symptoms
  • Detoxifies your Body
  • Aids in Weight Loss
  • Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
  • Boosts Appetite
  • Soothes the stomach and stimulates the immune system.

Sage Tea Preparation

Fresh Sage leaves or dried leaves may be used to make tea. Following are the steps to make basil tea :

  • You can take a few fresh leaves of sage or 1 tablespoon of dried sage leaves.
  • Put these leaves in a tea pot and fill up the pot with a mug of boiling water.
  • Then you have to steep these leaves.
  • Sage has strong and spicy flavor but you can steep it for 10 minutes and then sweeten it.

Sage Constituents

  • Vitamin B : It rejuvenates and energizes your body and improves the functionality of your metabolism.
  • Calcium/ Iron/ Manganese : These salts improve your bone health, help speedup your liver function and eliminate toxin to detoxify your body.
  • Fiber : Fiber aids your digestion by stimulating peristaltic movement and helps in maintaining gut health to increase your nutrient uptake.
  • Linalool/ Thymol : It is an antioxidant which boosts immunity and free radicals.
  • 1,8 Cineole : It acts as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory agent and is anti-plasmodic in nature.
  • B-caryophyllene :It modulates body’s response to irritation.
  • Omega-3 fatty acid : This is the good cholesterol which improves your heart health helps in preventing artheoclerosis ,and balances your cholesterol  levels along with reducing inflammation.
  • Alpha and Beta Thujone :  It is a Ketone and a Monoterpene that occurs naturally in two Diastereomeric forms: (−)-α-thujone and (+)-β-thujone. It has a menthol odor and  Thujone acts on GABA as an antagonist (opposite to the effects of alcohol) and as a component of several essential oils.It is also used in perfumery.
  • Borneol : It is used as a skin tonic, a local Anaesthetic, sedative and an antispasmodic.
  • Vitamin A : It plays vital role in bone growth, reproduction and the immune system. It also helps the skin and mucous membranes repel bacteria and viruses more effectively. It is essential to healthy vision.
  • Vitamin K : It is an essential nutrient necessary for responding to injuries – it regulates normal blood clotting.
Preeti Dubey
Preeti Dubey
B.Sc Bio-Tech + M.Sc Bio-Tech

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