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Sage

Sage, also known by its Latin name Salvia officinalis, has been used for centuries as a spice in cooking and as a natural remedy for hoarseness, coughs, sore throats and sore mouths. In earlier times, sage was even thought to prolong life. The ancient Egyptians used sage as a fertility drug and doctors in ancient Greece used an ointment solution to stop bleeding and clean wounds. Today, sage is used as a folk remedy to treat inflammation of the mouth and throat, for stomach upsets, to prevent excessive sweating, to improve mood and to improve memory and mental performance. Sage is available in the form of dried leaves, liquid extracts, sprays and essential oils.

What does science say?

The use of sage to treat sore throats has not been well studied, so there is little scientific data to support the use of sage for this condition. Two small studies suggest that sage may improve mood and mental performance in healthy young people and memory and alertness in older people. Results of another small clinical trial suggest that sage was more effective than a placebo in improving learning and thinking skills in older people with moderate Alzheimer's disease. Laboratory studies suggest that essential oils contained in sage may have antimicrobial properties.

Side effects and precautions

Sage is generally considered safe and harmless. However, some sage species contain a chemical called thujone, which may have effects on the nervous system. Prolonged use or ingestion of large amounts of sage leaves or sage oil can result in restlessness, vomiting, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, tremors and kidney damage. Taking 12 drops or more of the essential oil is considered a toxic dose. Interactions of sage with medications have not been extensively studied. Sage can cause allergic or hypersensitive reactions. Skin contact can lead to inflammation. Ingestion of sage powder or dust may cause respiratory problems.

References

  1. Bouaziz M, Yangui T, Sayadi S, et al. Disinfectant properties of essential oils from Salvia officinalis L. cultivated in Tunisia.Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2009;47(11):2755–2760.
  2. Kennedy DO, Pace S, Haskell C, et al. Effects of cholinesterase inhibiting sage (Salvia officinalis) on mood, anxiety and performance on a psychological stressor battery.Neuropsychopharmacology. 2006;31(4):845-852.
  3. Sage. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at www.naturaldatabase.com on May 24, 2010.
  4. Sage (Salvia officinalis, Salvia lavandulaefolia, Salvia lavandulifolia). Natural Standard Database Web Site. Accessed at www.naturalstandard.com on April 1, 2010.
  5. Sage Leaf. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds.Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:330-334.
  6. Scholey AB, Tildesley NTJ, Ballard CG, et al. An extract of Salvia (sage) with anticholinesterase properties improves memory and attention in healthy older volunteers.Psychopharmacology. 2008;198(1):127-139.