SOME SAGE ADVICE

Sage - Salvia officinalis

Fevers, chills, memory, sore throat, infertility oh my!! Once upon a time, this herb was considered invaluable in curing many ills and issues. It still is, but we are a bit more… discerning about what it can and cannot do.

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the herb Sage (Salvia officinalis) could cure all sorts of ailments from sore throat to infertility. They believed it strengthened the mind, providing a long memory, hence the name ‘Sage’ given to people with knowledge that spanned many years.

Sage flowers, can be purple, pink or white

The ancient Greeks and Romans also had contradictory associations of sage to Jupiter; on one hand they said it represented domestic virtue; on the other hand they stated that it represented the mythological beast known as the Satyr (half goat, half man) who enjoyed drinking and debauchery. It could be considered the best of both worlds I guess!

It was first noted as a medicinal herb in China in 206 B.C. where it was so prized that they were willing to trade 3 chests of tea leaves for one chest of sage leaves to the Dutch, an unheard of transaction as tea leaves are prized as well in China.

Sage tea for coughs

As a medicinal it has been noted to be useful as an antiseptic and an astringent. It can reduce fever and nasal congestion, calm coughs and sore throats. It helps with digestive complaints and also as an appetite stimulant, relieves mouth inflammation and is used as a wound dressing. It is also said to be effective in reducing the severity of menopausal hot flashes and night sweats.

There are those that believe that a broom made of sage leaves helped clear negative space and warded off evil.  Since it has a nice smell, I don’t suppose it could hurt to use a sage leaf broom occasionally…. Just to be sure!

There are a variety of sages to chose from; there are green leafed, purple-

Salvia tri-color

leafed, leaves with yellow margins, leaves with pink, white and green in them to name a few. Most can be used in cooking and you can get a variety of flavor variances depending on cultivar that is used. Grow a few in your garden and experiment. They are not only useful, but they do make a nice addition to your landscape. Their look can be low and mounding to taller and a bit more open, again depending on cultivar and of course, sun conditions.

Which brings me to growing needs; they need full sun, good drainage and an amended soil (compost would be good) to grow well. Their water needs lessen once established but be cautious of over-watering while you are trying to establish them as they are susceptible to root & crown rot. They don’t grow very well from seed but since they germinate fairly quickly you’ll know soon if you have viable plants coming up. You can take cuttings to start in fall for spring transplanting. It is recommended you use cuttings from the outer portion of the shrub.

To dry sage, cut some branches, snip the leaves off and spread out in a

Dried sage leaves

shady area (indoors is okay provided it is not in or near a humid area) on cloth or paper and allow to dry out. Store the leaves in an airtight, colored container to avoid the leaves losing their strength.

Sage is good in soups, stews and salads. It brings a wonderful flavor to chicken, veal, pork and liver (I haven't tried that one… and probably never will!) eggs and a flavoring for cream cheese on your bagels. Sage is a healing tea and easy to make: pour boiling water over fresh sage leaves (8-10) and steep for five minutes. If you are using dried sage, use a heaping teaspoonful and steep for five minutes.

Enjoy your sage in all its many varieties and uses. They are lovely plants with texture, beautiful flowers and a wonderful aroma!

Happy Gardening !

Mary

Purple Sage