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Salvia Officinalis
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Salvia Officinalis, a highly versatile plant, has many other names such as Sage, Common sage, Garden sage, Kitchen sage, Culinary sage, Dalmatian
sage, Purple sage, Broadleaf sage, Red sage and Spanish Sage It is a small perennial evergreen shrub with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to
purplish flowers. It is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to the northern Mediterranean region. There are several species, including
garden or true sage (S. officinalis), the sage most commonly used in foods. Many varieties of garden sage are known, but the Dalmatian type possesses
the finest aroma. Garden sage is native to France and other parts of southern and eastern Europe, and is still cultivated extensively there and in the
United States and Russia.
Sage has been used for thousands of years for medicinal as well as culinary purposes. The word comes from the Latin “salvare” which means to “cure or
heal”. Although the effectiveness of Common Sage is open to debate, it has been recommended at one time or another for virtually every ailment. In
ancient times it was thought that if a person had a sage plant growing in his yard, he would be prosperous and possibly
immortal.
Essential oils are extracted from the flower and leaves of Spanish Sage. To preserve the essential oil content and leaf color, sage is dried, as are most
other herbs. The strongest active constituents of Sage are within its essential oil, which is derived through steam distillation of the flowers and leaves.
The flower contains cineole, borneol, and thujone. The Sage’s leaf contains tannic acid, oleic acid, ursonic acid, cornsole, cornsolic acid, fumaric acid,
chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, niacin, nicotinamide, flavones, flavonoid glycosides, and estrogenic substances – which gives the essential oil an
extremely high therapeutic nature and a warm, spicy herbaceous and somewhat camphoraceous aroma.
This amazing oil contains so many healing properties: analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral,
astringent, carminative (combats flatulence), digestive, emmenagogue (stimulates blood flow to the pelvic area), expectorant, febrifuge (reduces fever)
, hypertensive, mucolytic (dissolves thick mucus),tonic, vulnerary (treats wounds), and has a restorative effect on the female reproductive system…..
and the entire body as a whole.
Spanish Sage can be used for bronchitis, flu, colds, slow-healing wounds, menopause, hot flashes , PMS, painful menstruation, cramps, muscular aches
and pains, and spasms. The plant was used as a folk remedy for diarrhea, enteritis, venereal disease, excessive perspiration, snake bites, sore throats,
toothaches, and cancer. It was also thought to improve the memory and has been reported to act as a bactericide - used in mouthwashes and as an anti-
inflammatory agent in treating oral cavity disease.
Caution is indicated when used in conjunction with central nervous system stimulants or depressants. This powerful oil is not recommended for use by
pregnant women, infants or young children.
Not only does Sage have amazing healing properties for the physical body but it is held in the highest esteem in many spiritual milieus. It is held sacred
by Native Americans because of its effective purifying energies. It heals by bringing the patient back into balance and cleanses the body and mind of
negative spirits and impurities. It played an intricate part in ancient ceremonies and was often included as an ingredient in a mixture called Kinnikinic,
and then smoked in a pipe or was used externally for smudging. It is also widely used in Shamanism and is offered to the enlightened ones in Buddhist
temples all over Asia.
There is a story of the sage plant that goes back to the time when Jesus was an infant: King Herod’s soldiers were scouring the countryside cutting the
throats of little children so Mary and Joseph fled through the mountains of Judea with their newborn – trying to escape.
Mary rested by the road nursing the child while Joseph took the donkey for a drink. Suddenly Mary heard soldiers coming down the road. With no cave
or cover to hide in, she turned to a rose bush. “Please bloom your flowers so that I may hide my child from the soldiers.” But the rose bush was more
concerned about its beauty than helping the blessed mother. So Mary turned to the little sage plant. “Please help us, little sage!” With a selfless gesture,
the sage plant blossomed so abundantly that it covered all the earth and its velvety leaves created a canopy under which the Madonna and Child were
sheltered.
The soldiers rode right by – never noticing mother or child. Mary thanked the sage bush, “Sage, holy sage, many thanks. I bless you for your good deed
which everyone will henceforth remember.” Since that time the rose has had thorns, while the sage plant possesses many curative powers.
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