Post by sam on Feb 22, 2006 6:26:00 GMT -5
SALVIA OFFICINALIS.
Native to the Mediterranean, there are numerous species of sage, including Clary Sage, named so because of its traditional use as an eye wash. The leaf is the medicinal part of the herb and the leaves are normally harvested when the herb begins to flower.
The Romans revered the herb as a sacred plant and the Egyptians used it to treat the Plague. In medieval Europe sage was believed to have the power to cure all diseases and not only that sage was the herb originally used in Europe to make tea with long before the introduction of Indian tea.
It can be used as a hot infusion to aid digestion or as part of a honey wine to fight colds and fevers. Drunken cold as a tea, sage can help to reduce night sweats in menopausal women and reduces the milk flow in breast feeding mothers. When applied in compresses, it can ease many skin discomforts, including cuts, wounds and dandruff. If made into a cream it is excellent for muscular pain and if dried and smoked, sage sometimes gives relief to asthma. The oils have astringent, antiseptic and irritant properties, excellent to use for mouth ulcers and as a sore throat medication. Clinical studies have also shown that sage can lower blood sugar in cases of diabetes.
PRECAUTIONS – those allergic to sage and other plants in the mint family should avoid this herb. Breast feeding mothers should also avoid the herb unless they are using it to reduce the milk flow when weaning the baby off. People with epilepsy should also avoid sage as the Thymine content may trigger off convulsions. There are no side effects to using sage but it may interfere with the absorption of iron and other minerals.
Sage is a masculine herb associated with the planet Jupiter and the element of Air. It is used in magic for wisdom, healing, psychic awareness, long life and protection. Sage is often bundled tightly into smudge sticks and burned in rituals to purify and cleanse the area that is going to be used for the ritual. It is believed that if you place some sage near an object belonging to someone that is in need of healing, that healing will take place more quickly.