Salvia officinalis
- from the Latin word
"salvere"- the name means "to save" and refers to its alleged curing
properties. Ancient Egyptians promoted it as a brain tonic; the
Chinese believed it promoted longevity, strengthened the memory and
sharpened the senses. Through the centuries, this herb has
maintained its reputation. Back in the ninth century, Walafrid Stabo
wrote in his The Little Garden: “Among my herbs, sage holds the
place of honor; of good scent it is and full of virtue for many ills."
Gerard mentions sage as being in 1597 a well-known herb in English
gardens. Salvia officinalis is still listed in the Medica
Pharmacopia of the United States.
One
of its earliest reputations was as a preventative against the onslaught of
old age. An old English proverbs states: “He who would live for aye,
must eat sage in May.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
-Sage is native to the northern Mediterranean coast.
-Some people say sage fragrance induces sleep.
-Attractive to bees, it produces an aromatic honey.
-Sage infusions have been used to color silver hair.
-Sage tops yield a yellow-buff color to wool.
-Containing antibacterial properties, sage can be used as a natural
food preservative.
-Sage was believed to bestow wisdom and improve the memory.
-In the language of flowers, sage represents good health and
domestic virtue. |
Looked upon as a general tonic herb, sage tea is taken for colds and
coughs. For a sore throat or cough, pour a pint of boiling water on
a handful of sage leaves. When it has cooled, add a little vinegar
and hones. Take a teaspoonful at a time; this may also be used as a
gargle. It is considered an excellent remedy for laryngitis and sore
throats. A cup of the strong infusion of this herb is recommended as
a remedy to relieve nervous headaches. Dried leaves have been smoked
in pipes as a remedy for asthma. This herb’s antiseptic properties
are also effective in the mouth; fresh leaves, rubbed on the teeth, will
cleanse them and strengthen the gums. Our forefathers knew to apply
a hot compress of bruised sage leaves to relieve the pain of sprains.
A strong infusion is an excellent lotion for ulcers and to heal raw
abrasions of the
skin. It has also been used as an application to the scalp, to
darken the hair.
The
Salvia family numbers over seven hundred species; we will be looking at
those plants classified as sages - the herbs recognized for their
usefulness to mankind. There are several sages helpful either as a
culinary, medical, fragrant and decorative use. Salvia officinalis
(common garden sage) is the most familiar. In Yugoslavia, fields of
this sage are planted and harvested three times a year just like wheat or
hay. The crops are exported and end up on your grocery spice shelves.
Recent years have seen an introduction in our nurseries of a cultivar
called ‘Bergartten’ which shows itself to be a hardier, more productive
plant with larger leaves. Look for this particular herb if you plan to add
sage to your kitchen garden.
