Salvia officinalis: application, plant photo, description, beneficial properties

Salvia officinalis is a beautiful plant with numerous beneficial properties. Before using the herb, you need to study its composition and basic qualities.

What does salvia officinalis look like?

Medicinal sage (Salvia officinalis) is a subshrub or perennial herb of the Lamiaceae family. It has a powerful root and straight branched stems up to 75 cm in height. The shoots are woody at the bottom, green at the top, covered with whitish hairs.

The leaves of medicinal sage are oblong, with a crenate edge, wrinkled, and arranged in opposite order. The color of the plates is grayish-green due to dense pubescence. In June and July, the crop blooms with purple buds that form long clusters.Closer to autumn it bears fruit - round, dark brown nuts, consisting of four lobes. The seeds of the plant remain viable for three years.

Medicinal sage begins to bloom in the second year after planting.

Where does Salvia officinalis grow?

The Mediterranean region - Italy, Greece and Albania - is considered the birthplace of medicinal sage. The culture is also widespread in France and Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Moldova, and in the Krasnodar Territory in Russia. The perennial grows wild in vegetable gardens, orchards and fields, preferring open areas and fertile soils.

Chemical composition of Salvia officinalis

The healing effect of medicinal sage is due to its composition. The green parts of the plant contain:

• essential oil;
• alkaloids;
• ursolic and oleanolic acids;
• tannins;
• flavonoids;
• fixed oils;
• linoleic acid;
• camphor.

The perennial emits a pleasant smell during the flowering period. The aroma of the buds has a beneficial effect on the human psyche, relieves stress and anxiety.

Medicinal properties of Salvia officinalis

Indications for the use of medicinal sage advise its use for a wide variety of diseases. With careful use of plant-based products:

• stop bleeding and promote healing of wounds and cuts;
• help fight oral diseases;
• improve the condition of flu and colds;
• promote expectoration during bronchitis;
• help with gastritis and colitis, with flatulence and gallbladder ailments;
• strengthen the nervous system and normalize sleep;
• stop hair loss and stimulate hair growth;
• prevent the development of arthritis, radiculitis and osteochondrosis;
• relieve toothache and strengthen gums;
• have a cleansing effect on purulent wounds;
• accelerate the resorption of bruises;
• prevent the development of flatulence.

Medicinal sage can be used in the complex treatment of diabetes mellitus and disorders of the endocrine system. The plant reduces sweating and improves the condition of women during menopause.

Application in medicine

Medicinal sage is used to treat diseases and prevent them. Traditional medicine prepares a wide variety of medicinal preparations based on the plant.

Salvia officinalis decoction

The use of medicinal sage leaves allows you to prepare a healing decoction for internal and external use. It is done according to the following scheme:

1. Grind about 15 g of dry plant material.
2. Pour a glass of water.
3. Heat over low heat for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from the stove, cool and strain through cheesecloth.
5. Add fresh water to the initial volume.

The decoction is used to gargle the throat and mouth for sore throat and dental diseases. You can also wipe the skin with the product for inflammatory ailments and do douching for gynecological infections.

A decoction of medicinal sage is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 12 hours.

Infusion

One of the recipes for medicinal sage suggests preparing an infusion based on the plant. The diagram looks like this:

1. Approximately 15 g of raw material is brewed with 250 ml of boiling water.
2. Leave under the lid for half an hour.
3. Strain from the sediment.

You should take the infusion for cramps in the intestines and flatulence, 60 ml up to four times a day.The drug is consumed on an empty stomach shortly before meals. In total, treatment is continued for a week.

Tea

The instructions for the medicinal sage herb allow you to prepare simple tea based on it. The product is brewed according to the following algorithm:

1. Pour 10 g of dried leaves into a ceramic teapot.
2. Pour a glass of hot water at a temperature of about 80 °C.
3. Leave for 10-15 minutes.
4. Pour the drink into a cup.

You should drink hot tea, one glass per day. The product improves immunity and has a slight invigorating effect, improves memory and concentration.

Tincture

It is allowed to use medicinal sage to prepare a strong tincture. They do it as follows:

1. Measure out 30 g of dried leaves and pour into a glass jar.
2. Pour the raw material with 500 ml of alcohol or good vodka.
3. Seal the vessel and place it in a warm, bright place.
4. Leave for about a month, shaking occasionally.

The finished preparation is filtered from the sediment. You should take the product in a volume of no more than 15 ml on an empty stomach with warm water. The tincture is recommended for use in cases of inflammatory processes and weakened immunity, stress and insomnia.

Medicinal sage tincture can be used to disinfect cuts

Oil

Medicinal sage oil can be purchased at a pharmacy. The product is colorless or yellowish in color and has a bitter, cooling aroma. The rich composition of the product gives it numerous valuable properties, which is why the extract is widely used in folk medicine.

In particular, the oil can be used for rinsing with periodontal disease and bleeding gums.The algorithm looks like this:

1. Pour clean warm water into a glass.
2. Stir 5 g of soda.
3. Add four drops of medicinal sage ether.

Rinse your mouth with the prepared product up to four times a day. For sensitive tooth enamel, it is recommended to reduce the ether concentration.

You can also use sage oil for compresses for injuries and joint ailments. In this case, ten drops of the extract are stirred in 100 ml of water, and then a piece of gauze is moistened in the preparation and applied to the painful area. Keep the compress under a film and a warm scarf for at least three hours.

Application in cosmetology

Medicinal sage can be brewed for cosmetic use. Plant-based products help fight dandruff, reduce oily scalp, and accelerate hair growth. Decoctions and infusions are used to wash the face - they cleanse the epidermis of rashes and have a slight whitening effect.

For hair growth

If your hair is prone to falling out, it is recommended to use a simple sage infusion. Prepare the product as follows:

1. Pour boiling water over dry raw materials in a ratio of 1:2.
2. Leave covered for half an hour.
3. Strain through cheesecloth.

Warm infusion is used for rinsing after regular shampooing. It is recommended to use the product 2-3 times a week.

For aging skin

Medicinal sage for the face has a rejuvenating effect. For the first wrinkles, it is recommended to use the following product:

1. Approximately 25 g of dry sage herb is mixed with an equal amount of mint, nettle and lemon balm.
2. Fill the raw material with boiling water to the top.
3. Insist for an hour.
4. Drain the liquid.

The remaining herbal paste is distributed over the face and left for 20 minutes. If you use the mask twice a week, your skin will quickly restore its elasticity and freshness.

For skin whitening

Medicinal sage in combination with additional components is used in the fight against age spots. The mask is prepared as follows:

1. Grind 15 g of dry sage leaves and parsley herb.
2. Pour boiling water over the raw materials and leave for half an hour under the lid.
3. Filter through gauze.

The resulting product is applied to the face and left for 20 minutes.

The use of sage in cooking

Medicinal sage has a pleasant smell and spicy taste, which is why it is used in the food industry. As an aromatic additive, the herb can be found in:

• tea and soft drinks;
• tobacco;
• liver products and sausages;
• cheese.

The herb is used as a seasoning in the preparation of salads, fish, poultry, minced meat and game.

Sage leaves are added to marinades and pie fillings.

Contraindications to the use of Salvia officinalis

The benefits and harms of medicinal sage are closely related to each other. It is necessary to stop using medicinal herbs:

• with increased estrogen levels;
• for individual allergies;
• for breast tumors and endometriosis in women;
• after surgery on the reproductive organs;
• with endometrial hyperplasia;
• for hypertension;
• for acute kidney inflammation;
• with insufficiency of thyroid function.

It is recommended to use sage for medicinal purposes for no more than three months in a row. The herb is used in strict accordance with recipes. In case of overdose, the development of side effects is possible - nausea, vomiting, headaches and pressure surges.

During pregnancy

Medicinal sage increases the tone of the uterus, so it is prohibited to use it during pregnancy. In the early stages, the grass can cause miscarriage, in the later stages it can provoke placental abruption or premature birth. In addition, the consumption of the plant reduces the production of progesterone, and this hormone is necessary for the normal course of pregnancy.

When breastfeeding

Medicinal sage can be drunk during breastfeeding if lactation needs to be carefully stopped. The herb reduces the production of breast milk without negative consequences for the woman’s body. It can also be used to prevent mastitis and congestion.

To stop lactation, it is recommended to use tea based on sage leaves. They do it according to this scheme:

1. Pour 5 g of dried herb into a glass container.
2. Pour a glass of hot water.
3. Leave for about 20 minutes and strain.

You need to take 70 ml of tea three times a day.

Sage tea to stop lactation is used for a week until a noticeable result is obtained.

Salvia officinalis for children

Medicinal sage is a good expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent. However, it is not recommended to offer it to children under five years of age, even for rinsing, in order to avoid the development of allergies.

It is allowed to use herbal infusions and decoctions externally at any age. Medicinal sage is used to wipe the baby's skin - it relieves irritation well. For severe colds, the herb can be used for inhalation.

Conclusion

Salvia officinalis is a plant with numerous valuable properties, which is used in medicine and cosmetology. It brings great benefits to the body, but requires careful and dosed use.

Reviews of Salvia officinalis

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