Sage, Salvia officinalis, aka garden sage or common sage, is the most readily available species of sage that you can grow yourself. Many people immediately think of white sage, but garden sage is a lot easier to find in seed and plant form, and Iâm all about availability and resourcefulness. They are both used in the same way.
But guess what? This lady is actually a mint! True sages are members of the Asteraceae (Daisy) family and are damaging to the liver when ingested internally. However, even Salvia should be ingested in moderation. Sage contains high amounts of thujone, which can cause convulsions. Any mention of ingesting tea should be taken with that knowledge. Many people recommend making a weaker tea rather than a medicinal infusion, which is typically stronger, but generally made the same way.
Sage is so much more than a spice used during Thanksgiving and forgotten about for the rest of the year.
Key Constituents:
- Essential Oil (1-2%)
- Diterpenes
- Triterpenes
- Phenolic compounds including rosmarinic acid
- Tannins
Key Actions:
- Astringent
- Antiseptic
- Clears mucus
- Stomachic
- Estrogenic
- Reduces sweating
- Tonic
General Uses for Garden Sage:
- Sore throat relief
- Fever Reducer
- Reducing heavy menstrual bleeding and cramping
- Upset stomach, gas, and diarrhea
- Drying up breast milk
- Reduce perspiration
- Wound care
- Body odor
An ancient practice that survives today is burning sage. It is taboo in a few different religions but called for in others (like Native American smudging rituals, which specifically use white sage). Today, I would like to dispel the negative connotations surrounding burning sage, specifically within Christian circles, and show you how beneficial this herb is to have in your home apothecary.
Before I get to that, I would like to say that I am shocked by how many people say you shouldnât burn sage at all because of âdemons.â God created sage. He gave it all the properties that it has for a reason. Like everything, it can be used for âevil,â but that wasnât its original use. Itâs been twisted, and propaganda has made us so blind that we donât know if something is good or bad. We have fallen into a pattern of believing everything everyone on the internet tells us as if it were law, and then we spread those beliefs to anyone who will listen instead of looking into a thing ourselves to see if it is actually true. And if our beliefs arenât perpetuated on the internet, they have most likely come from ancestral beliefs passed down through our families, many of which are heavily steeped in man-made religion. Not all family beliefs are wrong, but many come from highly superstitious times in history that have become ingrained in our society. Lies perpetuate lies, and generational lies become strongholds that will hinder us. Just because a thing is used in a certain way does not make it evil. The intention of the person is what can be âevil,â or you can just be misinterpreting it as such.
Although burning sage is very much used in âwitchcraftâ to âclear negative energy and spiritsâ from the air before rituals, there is an actual science-backed reason as to why you would want to burn sage. Your intention behind doing something means more than you think.
Remember: Intention is everything.
As a side note, I would like to say that witches who burn sage arenât using it to summon demons. Even though most people who are into this stuff see it as a clearing agent for negative spirits, if you really research the topic in the occult, itâs used as a reset button to clear out EVERYTHING, good and bad, so that they can summon in something in particular to fill the voidâSage is a clearer, not a caller. Iâll stop there on that, but I hope it gives you something to think about.
Burning Sage does not summon demons.
âSage smoke contains volatile compounds which kill airborne bacteria.â
- âThe Illustrated Herbiaryâ by Maia Toll, pg. 38
Garden sage, in particular, has been used by both Celtic and Middle Eastern cultures to cleanse the air for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Only in recent history has white sage become so prevalent because of the internet, making people flock to one specific type of sage when they all do the same thing. Thatâs how things become endangered and extinct. Even if you donât believe that burning sage can clear out negative energies in your space, it does actually cleanse the air physically.
Salvia comes from salvare, which means âto cure.â
âWhy should a man die while sage grows in his garden?â
-Medieval saying
Sage Essential Oil can be upward of 50% Thujone oil, which is responsible for estrogenic, antiseptic, and stomachic activity. It is antimicrobial and reduces mucus.
Sage shares much of the same medicinal potential as rosemary, including the ability to fight Alzheimerâs and increase brain function and memory. And like parsley and peppermint, it has the ability to fight bad breath. Along with the antiseptic, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that make it great for gum and teeth health, sage is one of those herbs that can be used in place of a lot of herbs if you only have access to one.
Sage contains rosmarinic acid, also found in rosemary, which is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. And like rosemary, sage is highly antioxidant and inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine, which helps prevent and treat Alzheimerâs.
Sage (because of the high content of Thujone) can cause convulsions in excessive amounts when taken internally. Ingest with care.
Caution: Do not use therapeutic doses during pregnancy or if you are epileptic. Do not use AT ALL while breastfeeding (unless trying to stop) as it does dry up a womanâs milk supply.
Sage Infusion
NOTE: Sage encourages a better flow during menstruation, reduces sweating/hot flashes during menopause, and helps the body adapt to hormonal changes in general.
Drink during your cycle or when you have hot flashes sparingly.
Use as a gargle for sore throats up to 3 times daily. Swish around in the mouth to treat canker sores and tighten up weak gums and loose teeth. Dried leaf powder can be applied directly to affected areas to treat mouth sores and to help tighten teeth and gums. In European folk tradition, whole leaves have been rubbed on gums and teeth to clean them in place of toothpaste. A warm infusion is also great for treating bad breath and mouth sores. You can swallow the infusion afterward to help with other parts of the body, but limit yourself to 3-6 xâs a day, based on potency.
âSage has breath-freshening properties that are similar to parsley and peppermint.â
- âThe Green Pharmacyâ, by James A. Duke, Ph.D., pg.78
Sage Poultice
Chew and rub fresh leaves on stings and bites in the field. Infusions and decoctions can also be used by pouring directly onto the affected area.
Sage Tincture
Take 30-60 drops under the tongue or diluted in water twice a day as a digestive tonic. Before a meal on an empty stomach is best.
Although less common in tea blends than other herbs because of its thujone content, sage renders an earthy punch with many healing benefits. Even if you arenât growing it yourself, you can easily find it fresh in most grocery stores in the produce section. Fresh sage keeps longer in the fridge than on the counter, but you can easily dry it for longer storage.
Memory Tea
- 1 tbsp. chopped fresh or crumbled dry sage (can substitute with rosemary)
- 1/2 tbsp. chopped fresh or crumbled dry peppermint
- 2 tsp. white tea
- 1 cup hot water (almost boiling)
- Sweetener of your choice (optional)
NOTE: Mesh tea balls are great when making loose-leaf tea, but you can always pour your tea through a strainer into a mug if you donât have one. Sieves, coffee filters, cheesecloth, muslin, and clean rags all work well as strainers.
Combine herbs and pour hot water over them. Let steep for 5 minutes and strain or remove the herb ball. Add sweetener and enjoy! Donât ingest more than 3-6 cups per day, depending on how strong you make your tea/infusion.
Cleansing Bath Infusion
- 2 cups water
- 5 fresh or dried sage leaves
- 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 1 cup Epsom Salt
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1 lemon, sliced
Combine water and herbs in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Run bath water and strain the tea into the tub. Add Epsom salt, baking soda, and lemon. Swish to dissolve and incorporate.
Sink in and enjoy. This is perfect for days when you feel blue, sick, or need a pick-me-up.
NOTE: Lemon can be replaced with lime, grapefruit, or oranges, or you can use 2 tablespoons of lemon juice rather than putting the fruit in the tub with you.
Sore Throat
Dilute 1 tsp. each of rosemary, sage, myrrh, and echinacea tincture in 5 tsp. warm water and gargle. You can swallow the mixture unless you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
NOTE: Sage can be used by itself if you donât have access to the other herbs for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, but this combination works best to treat all the possible causes of a sore throat.
Smoking Sage
Traditionally used to treat asthma, dried leaves can be smoked in herbal blends to directly affect the lungs in a positive way. Or you can fix a dish that contains eggplant, onion, tomato, and sage, all of which have anti-asthmatic compounds if you canât inhale smoke.
Sage is typically used to impart flavor to smoke blends as 10% of the entire blend, rather than being the main ingredient. It is quite strong and can produce a harsh smoke blend if used more than that in a recipe.
CAUTION: Salivia divinorum, native to Sierra Mazateca in Oaxaca, Mexico, has strong psychotropic properties and is illegal in many states. It is used by Maztec shamans to induce visions.
The information in this post comes from personal knowledge and experiences as well as the following texts:
*âThe Green Pharmacyâ by James A. Duke, Ph.D., pg. 13, 40, 66-67, 78, 80, 86, 116, 125-126, 217, 425, 460, & 464
*âEncyclopedia of Herbal Medicineâ by Andrew Chevalier, FNIMH, pg. 131
*âMedicinal Herbs: A Beginners Guideâ by Rosemary Gladstar, pg. 86-89
*âThe Illustrated Herbiaryâ by Maia Toll, pg. 36-39
