Sage: Medicinal Herb with Nurturing Effect

With about 900 different plants, sage belongs to one of the most species-rich genera in the plant world, but only the real sage (Salvia officinalis), also called garden, kitchen or healing sage, is used as a medicinal and spice plant in our domestic kitchen and herbal pharmacy. The Latin name (salvare = to heal; salvus = to be healthy) indicates the medicinal properties of this herb, known since ancient times.

Active ingredients in sage

The central active ingredients, which also cause the intense smell of the sage plant at the same time, are the essential oils. Of these, sage has a high content (1 to 2.5%), especially of

  • Thujone
  • Cineol
  • Borneol

In addition, camphor, tannins and bitter substances, glycosides, acids and an estrogen-acting substance are also present. In contrast, the ornamental sage and the meadow sage, which is native to us, do not contain essential oils.

Healing properties of sage

Although thujone, which occurs in true sage, is a neurotoxin and can cause hallucinations in high doses, sage is a versatile medicinal and spice plant because thujone has very limited water solubility and therefore occurs only in trace amounts in sage tea. Sage exhibits various effects:

  • Antibacterial
  • Antispasmodic
  • Analgesic
  • Stomachic
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Wound closing
  • Menstruation regulating
  • Blood purifying

Numerous effects on health

Sage is a good remedy for coughs, sweating, loss of appetite and stomach and intestinal disorders. Sage steam baths also help with oily and blemished skin, which is why sage is also a popular remedy for skin care. Sage tea has a preventive effect on infectious diseases such as flu, it supports the treatment of diabetes and is used as a gargle for inflammation of the mouth and throat. Sage candies are also often used for sore throats and colds.

Sage in pregnancy and lactation

In pregnancy and lactation, the effect of sage tea is controversial. For gargling with colds, the tea can be used without hesitation. However, nursing mothers should be aware that sage has a milk-inhibiting effect. This can be helpful in cases of excessive milk production or when weaning. However, women with normal milk production should avoid sage tea during breastfeeding.

Sage as a culinary herb

Sage is a popular spice. Fresh sage leaves should be given preference when used in cooking, but should be dosed carefully because of their strong seasoning power. Sage prolongs the shelf life of food and has a stomachic effect. It can be added finely chopped just before serving to all soups, stews and vegetable dishes. Also tomato dishes, salads and fish, poultry, potatoes, pizza and various oils, but especially meat dishes such as game, pork, beef and lamb taste more aromatic with the addition of sage.

Sage recipe for sage tea

To prepare sage tea, you can pour 1/4 l of hot water over 1 tsp of dried or fresh sage leaves and let it stand for 10 minutes. The sage tea should not be drunk for a long time and not more than 2-3 cups per day, because overdoses can cause symptoms of poisoning. In pregnancy or kidney disease, sage tea should be avoided. For gargling with infections of the throat and pharynx, the effect of sage tea can be enhanced by adding chamomile.

Grow sage, plant, cut

The Romans brought sage across the Alps to Europe, where it subsequently enjoyed great popularity in monastery and farm gardens because of its versatile healing properties. Sage is a member of the labiates plant family. The woody sage plants, which grow to a height of over half a meter, have a richly branched rootstock and prefer a dry, sunny location with well-drained soil in the garden. Characteristic of the sage are its felt-like, coarse, evergreen and somewhat wrinkled leaves. There are an incalculable number of variations of the true sage, including variegated forms.

Properly cut and harvest sage

A sage plant can be rejuvenated by means of offshoots or even cuttings, which it forms itself on branches that have bent down.Cut back sage should be in the spring, if possible, and only if you want to reduce the size of the plant. Sage pruning pays off later with more lush growth of the plant. From June to August, sage adorns itself with whorls of blue, rarely pink to white flowers that can be used as bee pasture. Sage has limited hardiness, so it should be covered with brushwood during the cold season. Sage leaves can be harvested throughout the year, but the plant is most substantial just before flowering. For the winter, the tips of the shoots can be cut in bunches and hung, they remain aromatic for a long time.