Salvia officinalis
Monograph
- Plant Family:
- Lamiaceae, or mint family [1]
- Habitat & Cultivation:
- Sage is native to the Mediterranean rim, predominantly around the Adriatic Sea. It can now naturalized in in Albania, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, U.K. and U.S. It is produced mainly in the southeastern European countries, the cultivation from northern European countries dates back to medieval times and it was introduced to North America during the seventeenth century. [1]
- Parts Used:
- Aerial parts [2]
- Herbal Actions:
- Diaphoretic
- Expectorant
- Nervine
- Astringent
- Alterative
- Diuretic
- Carminative
- Antihydrotic
- Antispasmodic [2]
- Indications:
- Lactation suppression
- Colds, flu
- Sore throat
- Laryngitis
- Swollen lymph glands
- Night sweats
- Spermatorrhea
- Hair loss
- Nervous dysfunction [2]
- Plant Constituents:
- Estrogen; phenolic acids; Rosmarinic acid; flavonoids; resin; saponins; silica; tannins; thujone; volatile oil. [1]
- System Affinities:
- Respiratory, digestive, nervous, circulatory, lymphatic [2]
- Energetics:
- Pungent, bitter, heating [2]
- Safety:
- Should be avoided in pregnancy for its uterotonic effects, and in lactation for its strong milk-suppressing action. [1]
- Interactions:
- None known. [2]
Personal
Experience
- Organoleptics:
- The dried sage is a pale grey-green, and smells sweet, lemony, and sour.
- Preparation Method:
- Hot Infusion: 1 tsp of dried herb in 8 oz of boiling water, steep for 10-15 minutes and drink 3-4x/day.
- Capsules: 250-500 mg of dried herb in capsule form.
- Usage Notes:
- As a tea, the sage scent becomes much stronger. It tastes bitter; just a very strong “herbal” taste. It definitely has a drying effect. I can see why it would be prudent to mix it with another aesthetic herb, like mint, or hibiscus, to make it taste better for a client using sage for lactation suppression.
Sources:
- Zollinger, R. & Riccio, L. (2018). Week 11 Study Questions. Bastyr University: WI-18_MW5122-A Botanicals 2: Postpartum.
- Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.
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