Sage (Salvia Officinalis) is an herb that belongs to the Lamiaceae or mint family. It’s very similar to rosemary, which is why they are sometimes called sister herbs. The flowers on the plant can be a blue, pink, white or purple color. It has gray-green leaves that are safe to eat, which is why it’s used as a seasoning in many recipes.
Sage essential oil is extracted from the leaves through the process of distillation. It’s a common ingredient found in many hair products, skin moisturizers and cosmetics but it’s best known for its medicinal benefits.
Medicinal Uses for Sage
For centuries, people have used sage to treat a wide variety of medical problems and it’s still used today in a variety of ways. For example, sage tea is used to soothe sore throats and coughs. It’s also used to treat infected gums, intestinal infections and nervous headaches. It helps lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels and it can also strengthen the nervous system, improve memory and it helps control excessive menstrual bleeding.
Sage 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil by Edens Garden- 5 ml
Sage has antiseptic properties for treating and healing cuts, sores and ulcers. The disinfectant properties help to heal infections both externally and internally. Sage is a very popular digestive medicine because it promotes the secretion of gastric and bile juices so it aids the digestive system.
Sage also provides the following health benefits:
- Reduces inflammation
- Aids in the removal of toxins in the body
- Stimulates the brain function to improve memory and concentration
- Treats a variety of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema
- Strengthens the immune system
- Improves nervous and circulatory systems
When used in bath water or as massage oil, it will help loosen up your muscles so you can relax. When placed in a diffuser, it can help calm your nerves and stimulate the senses. It’s also used as a topical application to help heal cuts and abrasions.
When you consider all the health benefits this essential oil has to offer, it’s easy to see why it’s as popular today as it was centuries ago.
Sage Essential Oil Warnings
When used correctly sage is an excellent essential oil with many health benefits but it’s not suited for everyone. Since sage contains camphor and camphene, you should not use this oil if you’re pregnant or nursing. If you suffer from low blood pressure, using it could make your blood pressure drop to dangerous levels and people with epilepsy should avoid it altogether.
Sage oil is a stimulant that can cause dizziness, rapid heartbeat and provoke epileptic seizures in anyone with seizure disorders such as epilepsy according to WebMD. Consuming sage in large doses can also cause seizures or it can do damage to the nervous systems and liver due to the chemical thujone. You should also avoid this essential oil when drinking alcohol because it can make you more intoxicated.
Sage does have many health benefits but as with any essential oil, you do need to use it responsibly. Always mix with carrier oils and do your homework to learn all you can about proper usage before using it to treat health problems.
