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Sage Herb Benefits

Sage, a member of the mint family, is a low-growing, grayish-green shrub that is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region. Its leaves have long been used as a seasoning. The plant also has a long history of use for medicinal purposes. The common sage plant, Salvia officinalis, now is cultivated in many areas of the world and is widely used by gourmet chefs, herbalists and others.

  1. Wide Variety of Uses

    • Sage is so popular and beneficial that it was named 2001's Herb of the Year by the International Herb Association (IHA). Each year, IHA's Horticultural Committee selects an herb to honor, choosing among candidates that are outstanding "in at least two of the three major categories: medicinal, culinary or decorative." In addition to its use in culinary and medicinal applications, the aromatic herb is popular with crafters who use dried bunches of sage in putting together ornamental wreaths and other craft projects.

    In the Kitchen

    • Although sage's medicinal use stretches back more than two millennia, its popularity as a culinary seasoning is comparatively new, dating back to the seventeenth century. It not only adds a pleasant array of flavors to food, but it also is loaded with vitamins A and C and aids the digestive process, making it an excellent seasoning for fatty foods. American cooks use sage in preparing bread stuffing for poultry. Italians use it in a wide variety of popular recipes, including saltimbocca, gnocchi and focaccia.

    Medicinal Elements

    • In addition to the aforementioned vitamins A and C and its properties as a digestive aid, sage has other elements of medicinal value, according to Michael T. Murray and Lara Pizzorno, authors of "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods." These include rosmarinic acid, volatile oils and flavonoids. Murray and Pizzorno claim sage has proven effective in inhibiting the growth of such microbes as bacteria and fungi; lowering blood sugar levels in diabetics; and preventing perspiration. Opt for fresh sage over the dried variety when the former is available. Other sources claim that sage is effective as a diuretic, expectorant, astringent, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.

    Topical Applications

    • The use of sage in topical applications dates back to ancient times, and many herbalists continue to use the herb in this manner. According to the University of Wisconsin's Horticulture Information website, a poultice made up of chopped sage leaves and saliva can relieve the itching and inflammation caused by insect bites. There are also unsubstantiated claims for sage's effectiveness in wart removal.

    Sage Tea: Good for What Ails You

    • An easy way to sample some of the medicinal benefits claimed for sage is through drinking an occasional cup of sage tea. A particularly easy recipe comes from the Horticulture Information website. "Pour a cup of boiling water over one to two teaspoons of dried [sage] leaves and steep for ten minutes." Pregnant women, epileptics and people with liver disease should avoid sage tea, and no one should drink it on a continuing basis for more than a week or two.

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