Sage

Salvia officinalis

Herbs & Roots. Western & European and Dr. Sebi's list.

Also called Garden sage, Common sage, Culinary sage

Spanish: Salvia

Large doses may cause seizures

Sage is a grey-green kitchen herb used as tea and gargle, and studied in small trials for hot flashes.

Did you know? The name sage comes from the Latin 'salvere,' meaning 'to be well,' and healers once believed the herb promoted good health.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Women's health. Small, mostly unblinded studies found fewer hot flashes, and no large placebo-controlled trial has been published.
Early proof
Sore throat & cough. Gargles are used for sore throats, with little human research.
Traditional proof
Memory & focus. Small studies hint at better memory, but the evidence is thin.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Hormones & reproduction, Mouth & throat, Lungs, Brain & mind

Traditional use

European herbalists used sage for sore throats, mouth sores, and excess sweating. It is also a long-used cooking herb.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Astringent, Antimicrobial, Hormone balancer. Energy: warming.

How people take it

Steeped as tea or used as a gargle. Hot flash studies used sage extract tablets or capsules taken once a day.

Food, tea, capsule and tincture.

Where to get it

Native to the Mediterranean and grown widely as a kitchen herb. Sold as dried leaf, tea bags, extract capsules, tinctures, and essential oil.

Be careful

Food amounts are fine. Large doses of sage or its oil can cause seizures because of thujone, a natural compound in the oil. Avoid medicinal amounts with epilepsy, during pregnancy, or while breastfeeding.

Avoid if: epilepsy; pregnancy; breastfeeding.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Both are common in poultry and stuffing seasonings.
Works well together
Both are in classic poultry seasoning.
Works well together
Both appear in some menopause blends.

Found in these formulas

Four Thieves vinegar (Folk)

The honest take

Sage is a safe kitchen herb, but its medical evidence is thin. Small, mostly unblinded studies suggest fewer hot flashes, and small trials hint at memory benefits. No large, well-designed trial proves that sage works.