Sage was used in ancient times as a medicine and as a spice. However, not everyone could collect it, because it was considered a sacred plant. In Rome, the harvest of sage was preceded by an offering of bread and wine, and the plants were cut with special tools from stone or wood. Even in the Middle Ages, it was considered a sacred plant in France, which was rare, because plants valued in antiquity fell out of favor in the Middle Ages.
Sage in medicineThe name of sage comes from the Latin word salvare - to be in good he alth, heal, save, save. The properties of sage are due to the presence of active compounds, which are the ingredients of the oil with bactericidal and fungicidal properties, as well as tannins with astringent and antiseptic properties.The most essential oil is in the youngest leaves, and in the morning the most oil is present in the leaves during the day. It includes, among others thujone, pinene, cineole, camphor. The leaves also contain tannins, bitterness, saponins, flavonoids, resins, bioelements and vitamins - B1, B2, PP, C, as well as carotene (vitamin A) and an estrogenic compound.
Many herbs have lost their meaning in the light of today's knowledge, but not sage. The raw material is still the leaves, and more precisely the leafy tops of the shoots, collected before flowering. They are used as an anti-inflammatory, astringent and antibacterial agent. Commonly, sage is known as a pain reliever for toothache and gum pain. It is also an effective gastric herb as it stimulates the secretion of gastric juices, thus preventing over-fermentation. The antiperspirant properties of sage deserve special attention. Drinking an infusion of fresh leaves inhibits profuse sweating for 2-3 days.
Oil obtained from sage, used in aromatherapy, has an intense effect and should not be used without consulting an aromatherapist.It is helpful in rheumatic ailments, muscle pains and bacterial infections. It can be used in the form of massage (always diluted with base oil), bathing or inhalation, e.g. evaporated with water in aromatherapy fireplaces.
Sage in cosmeticsSage baths are helpful in skin and rheumatic diseases. How to prepare such a bath? 100 g of sage herb should be mixed with 25 g of plantain leaves and 25 g of chamomile flowers (only sage can also be used, although mixtures from an odd number of species are always preferable). The herbs need to be poured over 3 liters of boiling water and set aside for 15 minutes (covered). Pour the infusion, straining, into the bathtub and fill it with water to 1/3 volume, and put the herbs into a cloth bag and dip into the water. The bath should last 15-20 minutes.
A decoction of sage and tea used to rinse the hair darkens it and removes gray hair. Pour 1 liter of water over a tablespoon of sage leaves and tea leaves and simmer for approx.2 hours. The decoction is rubbed into the scalp and the hair is rinsed. Sage preparations in the form of creams are used against wrinkles and stretch marks.
Sage in the kitchenSage is popular both as a spice and as a remedy. It is added in a dried or fresh form, mainly to fatty foods - meats, especially lamb, pork, goose, duck, but also to fish - eel, herring, fish soups and game. Fresh leaves can be used to flavor salads and salads, and sage cookies are popular in northern Italy, Switzerland and southern Germany. These are sage leaves baked in a pancake batter.
Sage in the gardenSage is a very good neighborhood for growing beans, fennel, cabbage, carrots and rosemary. The smell of plants deters aphids and snails. The extract in a concentration of 1: 3 deters agriculture, it is used to water the soil. In addition to medicinal sage, Salvia sclarea, a biennial plant, also has healing properties.Its composition differs from that of the medicinal sage oil, and the action is broader - it is used in soothing and toning blends for strong nervous tension and depression. Slows down skin aging, prevents hair loss, and strengthens the immune system. The smell of this sage is more like that of lavender. Decorative annual sage known in floriculture - shiny sage - Salvia splendens has no healing properties. This sage comes from Brazil, it has many varieties, for example with pink, white or dark burgundy flowers.
• soil- fertile, well-cultivated, slightly alkaline or neutral.
• position- requires a lot of light and warmth.
• reproduction- by sowing seeds in March in an inspection or in boxes to a depth of 0.5 cm or in April on a seedbed to a depth of 1 cm. When the plants have three leaves, they are transplanted to a permanent place. The seeds retain their ability to germinate for 3-5 years. Sage can also be propagated in summer by semi-woody cuttings.They take root after a month.
• harvest- harvesting sage 2-3 times for drying. First harvest during flowering, when the concentration of essential oils is highest. We dry the whole thing in the temperature not higher than 30 degrees Celsius.
• storage- whole, just as they were dried. The herb is crushed immediately before use.
• care- sage is quite sensitive to frost, it needs to be covered with soil and twigs for the winter, in spring the shoots that are frozen are pruned and the plant shape is shaped (branching).
