Sage is a fragrant herb with a silvery-green look to it. It grows up to 50cm in height with its woody stem and oblong leaves. Aside from its pleasant blue flowers that it produces in the beginning of summer, there are many reasons why people enjoy sage. Some revere the leaves and shoots for its cooking uses, though it wasn't until the 17th century that it was used as such. The word sage' came from the Latin term, and for good reason. Its medical uses include:

Helping throat infections
Healing dental abscesses
Healing infected gums and mouth ulcers
Treating infantile diarrhea
Treating intestinal infection
Acting as an anti-inflammatory
Helping to end asthma attacks
Helping to remove mucous congestion in the airways
Reducing symptoms of indigestion
Treating nervousness, excitability and dizziness
Treating night sweats
Reducing milk production in new mothers

There are other uses of sage that are unrelated to food as well, so it can be said that sage is VERY important to keep around. Just keep in mind that thujone, a naturally occurring terpene, can be found in sage, which is dangerous in large doses.

Now sage is more common as food seasoning. In fact, it was the most popular one to use before WWII. It has a slightly bitter taste, and enhances the taste in meats, poultry, and many vegetables. Oregano has since beat out sage, but it is still widely used today in many dishes.

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