CHAPTER 25. Sage/Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Sage is a common household garden plant with silvery grey leaves, used for culinary, religious, medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Sage's scent is pungent, slightly peppery and medicinal. Folk uses are associated with fertility and cleansing (physical and spiritual), sage was used as a first aid wound cleaning agent and to stop bleeding, and Native Americans burn the leaves (smudging). In addition to the well established antioxidant and memory properties of this herb, research, mainly from Europe, with some from Asia, provides evidence of sage's glucose lowering, anti-diabetic, lipid lowering, chemopreventive/anti-cancer and anti-microbial properties. Sage is also reported to have cognitive and memory enhancing properties. Based on its traditional use in the treatment of sweating and hot flushes, and diarrohea, its effectiveness in the relieving of menopausal symptoms and diarrhoea has also been investigated.