Sage, with the Latin name Salvia officinalis, has been used since ancient times. The Latin word at the beginning of its name comes from the word salvare, which is the verb meaning to save and cure. The medicinal properties of sage in traditional medicine are present today. It is used for inflammatory processes of the mouth, throat, intestines, stomach, liver, kidneys, bile and urinary tract. Sage is considered one of the most valuable natural antibiotics and antiseptics. Theophrastus, Pliny the Elder, and Galen describe the medicinal properties of sage. Medieval ruler Carlo the Great ordered that all monasteries grow about 100 different kinds of herbs. The first on the list was sage.
Which parts of the plant are medicinal?
The medicinal properties of sage are contained in the leaves. They must be harvested when the plant begins to flourish. They are usually dried in well-ventilated rooms, in the shade, where the air temperature does not exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Only in this way are the healing properties of sage utilized properly. Leaves are rich in tannins, cellulose, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins A, iron, and calcium. They also contain a very important essential oil, which has a characteristic scent, easily recognized. This remedy stimulates the body, reduces bleeding, relieves inflammation of the respiratory organs and throat, the gums, and the aphthae, as well as the problems with oily skin and hair. For this kind of usage, tea should not be consumed, the use is only external in the form of rinsing, grinding or coating.
Beneficial sage tea
Sage tea in traditional medicine is recommended in the case of diarrhea, pain or cramps in the stomach. Also, to eject the secretion from the lungs, problems with the glands, spinal cord, and intervertebral discs. For this use, it is necessary to cook sage for three to five minutes, in order to remove the essential oil. Then cover the pot for ten minutes before pouring through the sieve. This concoction has a beneficial effect on the body.
Sage in traditional medicine
The medicinal properties of sage are used in traditional medicine to strengthen the body, especially nerves, cleanse the blood and against all kinds of colds, sweats, and flu. In the case of tuberculosis, it was used in the form of tea against sweating before the discovery of antibiotics. It has also been used against various types of inflammation, starting from the mouth and the throat, through internal organs, to vaginal and urinary inflammation. And in the end, it also alleviates the problems of patients with rheumatism.
Medicinal properties of sage in modern medicine
Research on healthy people has found that the daily intake of sage oil causes better results in memory tests. This plant blocks the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which negatively affects memory. With the obtained results, further research is conducted in the treating of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists believe that it possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and hormone-like properties that can help cure this disease.
Sage is a compulsory ingredient of medicine and various products for the rinsing of the mouth and throat because tannin strengthens the mucous membrane, and the essential oil acts as an antiseptic. Today, due to antimicrobial effects, it is used in anti-herpes fats. And, the extract of sage is a frequent addition to toothpaste.
Where does sage grow?
This medicinal plant grows on its own in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean as a perennial shrub. According to some authors, the Dalmatian islands are the home of this plant. Krš, a specific country, and the Mediterranean climate give the perfect blend of what it takes for natural growth.
In Serbia, sage is found only in the Sićevačka gorge, where specimens with a large number of flowers can be found. As this region is far from the Adriatic coast, some scientists have assumed that it happened to grow here accidentally. Brought with the Romans who were moving their military troops along this gorge. Recent genetic research has been challenging this hypothesis. According to their results, the sage in Sićevačka gorge comes from a natural population.
Medicinal properties of sage in the kitchen
In the Mediterranean, and more and more in world cuisine, sage is one of the most prized spices. Apart from the aroma that it gives to the recipe, it influences the digestion of food and the secretion of the bile of the one who ate the meal. Traditional medicine praises the ancient recipe for sage wine as a natural remedy for the recovery of the organism, as well as its potency.
First, you need to get a proven quality home-made wine. In two liters of this beverage should put thirty grams of sage and seventy grams of rosemary. Altogether, boil for three to five minutes, and then cool. When lukewarm, to the liquid, is to be added another thirty grams of natural honey. Then, stirred and poured into glass bottles. The recommended dose is one glass before meals. If you do not use it for the medicinal properties, it always remains an aromatic aperitif in the kitchen.
A word of caution
The medicinal properties of sage are numerous and have been proven for centuries. However, doctors warn it is not advisable that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and epileptics use it. They also do not recommend long-term continuous intake of the tea made from this plant but are more likely to suggest targeted and medicinal usage of the beverage.
