Botanical name: Salvia officinalis
© Steven Foster
Parts used and where grown
Sage is a silvery-green shrub with very fragrant leaves. The most commonly cultivated
species of sage originally came from the area around the Mediterranean but now also grows in
North America. The leaves of this common kitchen herb are used in medicine as well as in
cooking.1
Sage has been used in
connection with the following conditions (refer to the individual
health concern for complete information):
Historical or traditional use (may
or may not be supported by scientific studies)
Sage has one of the longest histories of use of any culinary or medicinal herb. It was used
by herbalists externally to treat sprains, swelling, ulcers, and bleeding.2
Internally, a tea made from sage leaves has had a long history of use to treat sore throats and coughs—often used as a gargle. It was also used
by herbalists for rheumatism, excessive menstrual bleeding, and to dry up a mother’s
milk when nursing was stopped. It was particularly noted for strengthening the nervous system,
improving memory, and sharpening the senses.3 Sage was officially listed in the
United States Pharmacopoeia from 1840 to 1900.
Active constituents
The volatile oil of sage contains the constituents alpha- and beta-thujone, camphor, and
cineole.4 It also contains rosmarinic acid, tannins, and flavonoids. In modern
European herbal medicine, a gargle of sage tea is commonly recommended to treat sore throat, inflammations in the mouth, and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums).5
Test tube studies have found that sage oil has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral
activity which may partially explain the effectiveness of sage for these
indications.6
Sage is also approved in Germany for mild gastrointestinal upset and excessive
sweating.7 An unpublished, preliminary German study with people suffering from
excessive perspiration found that either a dry leaf extract or an infusion of the leaf reduced
sweating by as much as 50%.8 A report from the United Kingdom indicates that
herbalists there employ sage to treat symptoms of
menopause such as hot flashes.9
How much is usually taken?
For treatment of sore throats, inflammation
in the mouth, or gingivitis, 3 grams of the
chopped leaf can be added to 150 ml of boiling water and strained after 10
minutes.10 This is then used as a mouthwash or gargle several times daily.
Alternatively, one may use 5 ml of fluid extract (1:1) diluted in one glass of water, several
times daily. For internal use, the same tea preparation described above may be taken three
times per day.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Concern has been expressed about the internal use of sage due to the presence of
thujone.11 Even when consumed in small amounts for long periods of time, thujone
may cause increased heart rate and mental confusion. Very high amounts (several times greater
than one receives if taking sage as instructed above), may lead to convulsions. If one takes
sage internally, it is best to limit use to the amounts listed above and to periods of no more
than one to two weeks. Extracts of sage made with alcohol are likely to be higher in thujone
than those made with water. Sage oil should never be consumed without being first diluted in
water. Sage should not be used internally during
pregnancy. These concerns do not extend to the use of sage as a gargle or mouth rinse.
Sage should be avoided when fever is present.
At the time of writing, there were no well-known drug interactions
with sage.
References:1. Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinkman J (eds). Herbal Medicine: The
Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 2000,
330–4.
2. Foster S. 101 Medicinal Herbs. Loveland, CO: Interweave
Press, 1998, 176–7.
3. Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler’s Honest Herbal. New York:
Haworth Press, 1999, 327–9.
4. Wichtl M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Boca Raton,
FL: CRC Press, 1994, 440–3.
5. ESCOP 1996. Salviae folium (Sage leaf). Monographs on the
Medicinal Use of Plant Drugs. Exeter, UK: European Scientific Cooperative on
Phytotherapy, 1997.
6. ESCOP 1996. Salviae folium (Sage leaf). Monographs on the
Medicinal Use of Plant Drugs. Exeter, UK: European Scientific Cooperative on
Phytotherapy, 1997.
7. Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete
German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin: American
Botanical Council and Boston: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, 198.
8. ESCOP 1996. Salviae folium (Sage leaf). Monographs on the
Medicinal Use of Plant Drugs. Exeter, UK: European Scientific Cooperative on
Phytotherapy, 1997.
9. Beatty C, Denham A. Review of practice: Preliminary data collection
for clinical audit. Eur J Herbal Med 1998;4:32–4.
10. Wichtl M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Boca Raton,
FL: CRC Press, 1994, 440–3.
11. Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler’s Honest Herbal. New York:
Haworth Press, 1999, 327–9.