Salvia officinalis/Sage

pH 3.9 –4.2

Aroma and Taste One of my all-time favorites for both smell and taste. Strongly herbal but not harsh, and instantly recognizable as sage. The flavor undiluted is extremely potent, with a rough edge and rather overpowering sage flavor, like a high dose of the dried herb. Diluted, all the harshness disappears and you are left with a savory, herbal taste that is extremely delicious and very satisfying to consume.

Stability and Shelf Life Very stable; lasts two years or more. Rarely problematic, rare to bloom, and maintains its aroma and fragrance right to the end.

Properties and Applications Sage is one of the most maligned of essential oils, often labeled as highly toxic owing to the ketone thujone, which can be present in concentrations of over 60 percent in some varieties. There is a small-leaf variety of sage, sold either as S. officinalis or as S. angustifolia, that contains less than 12 percent thujone, usually somewhere around 7 percent, which should be better known and more widely available; both varieties have exceptional healing properties if judiciously used. The properties of both hydrosols are the same, although the small-leaf variety is less hypertensive than the regular variety and tastes slightly sweeter; it is the one I tend to use.

An exceptional circulatory stimulant, sage tones the venous system, improving circulation both in topical and in internal use. A mild diuretic, it is useful as part of a detoxification or fast. It improves digestion as well as suppressing the appetite or allaying hunger, so it helps in a weight-loss program, especially when combined with diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Quite stimulating both mentally and physically, it can be used as a pick-me-up beverage as needed or to restore vitality and energy levels with a three-week protocol. Cases of chronic fatigue can benefit both from the immediate energizing effects and over the long term from the antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and regenerative nature of sage.

Balancing to the autonomic nervous system, it works to reduce sweating, especially sweating of the armpits and feet triggered by an imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. A renowned hormone balancer, it regulates the menstrual cycle, reducing symptoms of PMS, cramps, bloating, and water retention, even when misted topically on the lower abdomen. It is equally suitable for menopausal symptoms used internally and combined with topical essential-oil use. For issues of infertility, take sage internally for three weeks combined with topical aromatherapy treatments using a carrier oil infused with plantain (Plantago major). Sage’s effectiveness may, again, be a combination of the balancing of the autonomic nervous system and the directly physical effects on the hormones. Sage hydrolate has never shown itself to be emmenagogic, even after weeks of continuous use. After bay laurel, sage is the best lymphatic stimulant and cleanser and can be used at the first signs of swollen glands in the neck, which often precede a cold or infection.

In a compress or bath it aids removal of fluid and acids in the joints and gives exceptional results combined with goldenrod for topical use and with cypress or juniper berry used internally. A very powerful antioxidant, sage is excellent in antiwrinkle and antiaging treatments and can be sprayed on skin prior to and during exposure to sun, wind, and the elements. Mildly astringent, it works as a toner for normal or combination skin and with variable to good results on oily skin. Combine with cedar hydrosol as a leave-in rinse for stimulating hair growth or use on its own to give shine and luster to dark or red hair. Herbal traditions promote sage to reduce gum inflammation, and it can be combined with immortelle as a mouthwash for oral health or used on its own for toothache.

Wonderful in the kitchen, its savory-sweet flavor improves most sauces, pastas, marinades, and dishes with heavy meats or fatty fish.

AVOID in cases of hypertension and in the first trimester of pregnancy. Sage hydrosol will raise blood pressure significantly more than the essential oil; the lower the dose, the stronger the effect. This is the most distinct contraindication for any hydrosol; ignore it at your own risk.