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The silvery-green plant known as sage (Salvia officinalis) has been used for a variety of culinary and medicinal uses since it was first found growing around the Mediterranean regions. Now also found in North America, sage has made a new name for itself in the form of tea. As a tea, sage is given for sore throats and coughs. It is also widely used for rheumatism, menstrual bleeding, strengthening the nervous system, improving memory, and sharpening the sense. (Nutrasanus.com, 2007)

Dosage and administration of sage is quite simple. For example, most conditions including mouth inflammation, gingivitis, and sore throats only need three grams of sage leaf added to 150 ml of boiling water. After ten minutes the sage leaves are strained and let cool.

The reason why the fragrant leaves of sage are so well used as a medicinal herb is mainly due to its oil. The oil contains alpha- and beta-thujone, cineole, camphor as well as rosmarinic acid, tannins, and flavonoids. These substances have been shown to offer antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral effects.

Like other culinary herbs, such as rosemary and thyme, sage helps fight depletion of the brain's concentration of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is crucial to proper brain function. When used with ginko biloba, sage and rosemary may help slow or prevent Alzheimer's.

There have been very few side effects reported from the use of sage. Those that use concentrated forms of the herb may experience inflammation of the lips or lining of the mouth. This may be due to toxic chemicals like Thujone. In large amounts Thujone can cause convulsions.

In today's world we are rediscovering the benefits of herbs as medicinal remedies. Like our ancestors before us we can certainly rely on nature to help our health and ailments.

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