Sage Leaf Herb Uses

Sage, also called Salvia officinalis, is an anti-inflammatory herb. The leaf has uses in the kitchen as well as the medicine cabinet. This herb has a strong sweet yet parsley-like taste that becomes more potent when it's dried. Sage is safe to use topically and internally in pill, powder or whole-leaf form. Sage complements both olive oil and grape seed oil by enhancing the flavor, so add this herb to recipes that involve using oils and other herbs.

Cooking

• Blend sage with other herbs to create a hearty flavor for your favorite dishes.

  "Ohio" magazine lists sage among top-five favorite herbs because it works well with stuffing recipes in addition to having healing and antiseptic properties. Cooking with sage is simple. Buy whole-leaf sage or chopped sage. You can also grow fresh sage at home and chop it up when the plant is mature. Add sage to salads, soups, spaghetti sauce and other dishes that need a hint of herbal flavoring. Sage also adds nutrients to food because it contains vitamins A and C.

Wound Healing

• The high vitamin C content in sage makes this herb beneficial for wound healing. Mix 2 tbsps. of ground sage powder or leaves with 4 tbsps. or more of pure aloe vera gel. Clean your wound or cut, then apply the herbal aloe mixture directly to the affected area. Continue to do this two or more times daily to help your body heal.

Weaning

• Mothers can drink sage leaf herbal tea to help dry up their breast milk when trying to wean a child. Some herbs increase breast milk production while others dramatically decrease the body's ability to produce milk. The effects are different for each woman depending on individual body chemistry. Some women may need to drink sage tea often to benefit from this effect. A lot also depends on current breast milk production. The Kelly Mom website says to use 1/4 tsp. of sage three times per day for one to three days to dry up breast milk. It also recommends adding sage to vegetable juices or other dishes if the taste is too strong for you.

  Sage acts as a drying agent, so it can also help in reducing excessive perspiration or night sweats caused by menopause.

Sore Throats

• Drinking sage tea can help soothe a sore throat and boost the immune system and is comforting when you have a cold. Add raw honey or some type of natural sugar substitute to sweeten the bitter taste of the tea. The tea is more potent than fresh sage.