The Salvation Herb- Salvia Officinalis

It says it right in the scientific name, Salvation. For over two millennia, Sage has been haled as the wonder herb. A cure all for most every ailment: gum disease, skin blemishes, chronic disease management and cancer. Although there is no magic bullet in any realm of this world, the chemical properties are abundant and plentiful in this herb making it effective as a treatment and preventative for a long list of concerns.

I have been growing, harvesting, and creating with sage for about two years now. I use it in teas and in the form of slow burning- sage bundles, that I use when I meditate or work. I swear by sage to guard against illness and to help me focus when I am sitting down to write.

In order to start mingling with the plant world, it is important to do so intentionally and really get to know the herbs you want to work with. So, before you begin reading about all the wonderful benefits, I have a quick monograph on Sage. As always, I encourage you to dive in deeper and explore more of the history and uses for Sage, and any herb you choose to have a relationship with, for that matter.

A monograph is an herbal snapshot of the scientific name, herbal family, geographic region, medicinal parts, herbal actions, uses, recommended dosage and history.

SAGE

• Scientific name: Salvia Officinalis
• Botanical family: Lamiaceae, mint
• Native region: Middle Eastern/ Mediterranean
• Growth: Perennial
• Name origins: Latin for salvarem or ‘healing’ ‘salvation’ plant
• History: For over 2000 years, Greeks and Romans used the herb for sorcery to ward off evil, to increase fertility, as a healing tonic, and as a local anesthetic. Celtic Druids smoked sage in sacred spaces.
• Properties: angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antispasmodic, astringent, anti-septic, carminative
• Times for use: daily use for immune support, weight loss, improve mental capabilities, overall well being and lessen symptoms of chronic disease

Phytotherapy is the field of research that tests the benefits of plant medicine. Throughout my research, I found an overwhelming amount of benefits, all unbiased and scientifically tested in favor of Sage. Astonishingly, not one article reported adverse events so Sage is considered extremely safe. The following list is from nearly a dozen research papers:

Health Measurements ^{2,4, 9}:

1. Lowers HBA1c and fasting blood glucose levels
2. Blocks fat absorption
3. Lowers total cholesterol and LDL
4. Lowers triglycerides
5. Acts as a platelet aggregation inhibitor

Beauty ^{4, 8}:

1. Packed with anti- wrinkle properties
2. Protects against UV damage due to methanolic content
3. Astringent properties keeps skin clear
4. Inhibits aging by up to 50% by targeting enzymes related to inflammation

Chronic Disease Management 1,2,3,4, :

1. Alleviates pain and increases mobility and function for those with Sciatica
2. Treats symptoms of GI disorders, especially chronic flare ups
3. Reduces chronic lung disease symptoms such as fibrosis due to the large Phenolic content
4. Clinically proven to successfully manage type 2 Diabetes

A study of 80 type 2 diabetics showed that when daily metformin and glyburide medication failed to lower Hba1c, Sage lowered it by an average of 14.4% and lowered fasting glucose by an average of 25.8%

Holism at its finest: many chronic lung meditations also affect kidney and liver function but there were no adverse effects when using Sage

Disease Risk Reduction^2,4,11:

1. Lowers risk of periodontal disease for pets and humans due to potent antibacterial properties
2. Restores degradation due to Alzheimer’s
3. Anticancer and anti-mutagenic
4. Lowers risk of Pulmonary Embolism due to anti-thrombotic activity
5. Lowers risk of cardiovascular disease from combined effect of reducing clot formation, lowering cholesterol, and decreasing fat storage
6. Treats and targets depression

Sage acts as a cytoprotective from the Amyeloid Beta Plaque that causes Alzheimer’s

Sage is shown to lower your risk of colorectal, prostate, melanoma, lung, kidney, and liver cancer which is HUGE for the field of epigenetics

Acute illness^5,6,10:

1. Increases immune function due to antioxidant and nutrient- dense content
2. Anti- diarrheal- Acts on electrolytic channels to stop hyperactive guts and its dehydrating effects
3. Effective antibiotic and antiseptic for dozens of bacterial infections- bactericidal for MRSA and penicillin resistant pneumonia, candida, salmonella, and E coli
4. Effect analgesic for pain management

Overall Health and body function^4,9,10,7:

1. Improves brain health
2. Lowers belly fat by inhibiting pancreatic lipase
3. Increase nutritional intake because Sage is highly bio-available in the human body so the vitamins and minerals in the herb are easily digested
4. Improves menopause symptoms
5. Synergistic to antibiotics so there is a possibility to use smaller doses (which reduces healthcare costs, adverse events, and antibiotic resistance)
6. Heals wounds more efficiently- wounds treated with sage heal faster and the skin is stronger than standard wound care due to upregulating epithelization
7. Decreases inflammation throughout the body

Along with marked improvement for patients with memory impairment, such as Alzheimer’s, Sage improves brain health significantly in healthy controls in the areas of alertness, calmness, and contentment on the Bond- Lader mood factor scale, when compared with placebo.

Sage is a wonderfully spicy and fragrant herb. Along with its multitude of health benefits, it makes great cooking seasoning. It requires low maintenance and grows in abundance all over the world, so if any of these benefits resonate with you, I would recommend looking into growing Sage yourself.

If you are interested in growing your own herbs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any questions. Herbalism is a beautiful practice and I truly believe plant medicine is the key to unlocking an abundantly healthy life.

As always, thanks for reading! xoxo

References:

1. Bahri, Sana, et al. “Salvia Officinalis Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Oxidative Stress and Lung Fibrosis in Rats.” Nutrition and Cancer, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 Oct. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31608667.

2. Bojić, Mirza, et al. “Antithrombotic Activity of Flavonoids and Polyphenols Rich Plant Species.” Acta Pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia), U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Dec. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31639083.

3. El Gabbas, Zineb, et al. “Salvia Officinalis, Rosmarinic and Caffeic Acids Attenuate Neuropathic Pain and Improve Function Recovery after Sciatic Nerve Chronic Constriction in Mice.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, Hindawi, 24 June 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31341489.

4. Hamidpour, Mohsen, et al. “Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Property of Sage (Salvia) to Prevent and Cure Illnesses Such as Obesity, Diabetes, Depression, Dementia, Lupus, Autism, Heart Disease, and Cancer.” Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, Apr. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003706/.

5. Jedidi, Saber, et al. “Comparative Studies of Phytochemical Screening, HPLCPDAESI-MS/MSLC-HRESIMS Analysis, Antioxidant Capacity and in Vitro Fermentation of Officinal Sage (Salvia Officinalis L.) Cultivated in Different Biotopes of Northwestern Tunisia.” Chemistry & Biodiversity, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 Oct. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31618522.

6. Jedidi, Saber, et al. “Phytochemical/Antioxidant Properties and Individual/Synergistic Actions of Salvia Officinalis L. Aqueous Extract and Loperamide on Gastrointestinal Altering Motor Function.” Journal of Medicinal Food, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 16 July 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31313944.

7. Karimzadeh, Sirvan, and Mohammad Reza Farahpour. “Topical Application of Salvia Officinalis Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract Improves Wound Healing Process.” Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30183236.

8. Khare, Ruchi, et al. “Exploring the Potential Effect of Methanolic Extract of Salvia Officinalis against UV Exposed Skin Aging: In Vivo and In Vitro Model.” Current Aging Science, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8 Aug. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31393258.

9. Kianbakht, S., and F. Hashem Dabaghian. “Improved Glycemic Control and Lipid Profile in Hyperlipidemic Type 2 Diabetic Patients Consuming Salvia Officinalis L. Leaf Extract: A Randomized Placebo. Controlled Clinical Trial.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Churchill Livingstone, 6 Aug. 2013, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229913001180.

10. Silva, Danielle M, et al. “Plant Extracts Display Synergism with Different Classes of Antibiotics.” Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciencias, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 May 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31090789.

11. Sparabombe, Scilla, et al. “Efficacy of an All-Natural Polyherbal Mouthwash in Patients With Periodontitis: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.” Frontiers in Physiology, Frontiers Media S.A., 22 May 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31191341.