In the herb garden

It’s a beautiful plant- especially the purple variety. Sage usually requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position and dislikes heavy or acid soils. Succeeds in dry soils, and it tolerates drought once it is established.  My purple sage bushes were killed by excessive winter wet last year.planted bushes often die[208]. Sage is  grown in my herb garden for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Plants need to be trimmed in late spring in order to keep them compact though they tend to degenerate after a few years and are best replaced after about 4 years – mine are due this year.

 Sage/ Salvia is a perennial herbaceous to shrubby herb growing up to 50cm in height and a member of the Labiatae order. It has a woody stem and lower branches which give way to the labiate square stem which is green or purplish in colour and covered in a fine down. The stalked and opposite leaves are oblong to lanceolate with a leathery texture, covered in fine down. The leaf margins are delicately toothed. The blue flowers, which appear in Juneand July, occur as whorls in a spike at the end of the stems. 

Parts used: the leaves or the entire soft annual shoots. I  usually pick for drying in May and June, just before flowering, and perhaps again in September.

Uses as a herbal remedy

It actions include:  as an aromatic, carminative, spasmolytic, antiseptic and astringent,

Taken for:  flatulent dyspepsia, specially indicated in inflammations of the mouth, tongue or throat. including: pharyngitis, uvulitis, stomatitis, gingivitis, glossitis, taken internally or as a gargle or mouthwash; hyperhydrosis, galactorrhoea.

Salvia has been found to deal effectively with throat infections, dental abscesses, infected gums and mouth ulcers. It can also be applied to external wounds. Salvia has an antispasmodic action which reduces tension in smooth muscle, and it can be used in a steam inhalation for asthma attacks. It is an excellent remedy for helping to remove mucous congestion in the airways and for checking or preventing secondary infection. It may be taken as a carminative to reduce griping and other symptoms of indigestion, and is also of value in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea. Its bitter component stimulates upper digestive secretions, intestinal mobility, bile flow, and pancreatic function. It also is said to have a vermifuge action – killing worms. There also seems to be a more general relaxant effect, so that the plant is suitable in the treatment of nervousness, excitability and dizziness.  Many herbalists believe that the purple-leafed forms of this species are more potent medicinally. Externally, it is used to treat insect bites, as well as skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal discharge It helps to fortify a generally

Caution: Alcoholic extracts or tinctures of Salvia have quite a high concentration of thujone which can have toxic effects in large doses. Sage should not be prescribed to pregnant women or to people who have epileptic fits and is toxic in excess or when taken for extended periods - though the toxic dose is very large. The herb should be avoided during pregnancy because it is a uterine stimulant. The essential oil should always be used with great care as even small doses can be poisonous.

You can take as an infusion, decoction or as a tincture. (see other entries in blog)