Sage
Salvia officinalis
Sources:
Sage is easy to grow and very widely available. If you make Sage tea using
the small packets of the herb sold for
culinary use, it will work out expensive. It is better to buy a larger amount of
loose, dried leaves, which you should find in health food shops and herbal
apothecaries. Better still, grow your own plants. They are evergreen and
perennial but reach a useable size in the first season of growth.
Anecdotes:
Although now widely grown throughout Europe, this plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. I always associate Sage with fishermen drinking the tea in little cafes around the harbour of Piraeus in Greece. It fascinates me seeing how herbs are used in a particular cultural setting. My own first experience of using the plant medicinally, was one of my early successes as a newly qualified herbalist. A friend of mine had been breast-feeding her child for about two and a half years (which is very healthy but unusual in Britain). She decided to wean the little boy when he stopped feeding for a couple of days due to an infection. Her breasts soon became very painful, as they were still producing plenty of milk. I knew that in theory, Sage would stop milk being produced, so I gave her some as a tea. She experienced almost immediate relief and had no further pain.
Uses:
Sage is used wherever secretions need to be reduced. This can be excessive perspiration, salivation or lactation. It is also good for stimulating a sluggish digestion and generally has a somewhat uplifting, tonic effect. It also makes an excellent mouthwash. Sage helps to normalise female hormone levels.
Actions:
Stimulant to smooth muscle of uterus, locally antiseptic on skin and mucous membranes, digestive tonic, reduces secretions.
Safety:
Due to its stimulant action on the uterus, this herb should not be used during pregnancy.