Herbal Medicine For Women: The Amazing Benefits of Sage – And A Recipe For Heat Rash!
by Miriam Johnson
If sage isn’t growing in your garden right now, you are missing out on some amazing benefits! Salvia officinalis, as it is known to plant geeks, is an easy care perennial in the same family as mint. The sage plant is native to the Mediterranean area and has a long history of use by the ancients. The ancient Egyptians regarded sage to be an herb of fertility. To the Romans sage was a sacred ceremonial herb that was associated with immortality and was said to increase mental capacity. Tea made from sage has long been used to treat colds, flu, fevers, liver disorders, epilepsy, and memory problems.
Today, sage is most commonly known as one of the ingredients in making that delicious stuffing for turkey. Now you know the rest of the story! The amazing sage plant is a must have in any herb garden, not simply for the flavor, but more importantly for the amazing health benefits and many practical applications including teas and compresses. So, where are you going to plant yours? So, what amazing benefits does this plant have to offer?
Ten amazing benefits of sage:
- aids digestion
- eases joint pain
- improves circulation
- diuretic
- anti-inflammatory
- expectorant
- antibacterial
- eases symptoms of menopause
- anti-fungal
- anti-viral
Some Simple Ways To Use Sage:
Sage can be eaten fresh or used to make tea. To make tea, simply pour hot water over a teaspoon of dried sage leaves, cover, and steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain out leaves and enjoy! If you want to jazz it up a bit, add lemon and a bit of honey for a refreshing taste.
Fighting a cold or the flu? Add sage tea to your get well regimen. It’s anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties will lower fever and help relieve symptoms for a quicker recovery. It can also be used as a gargle to relieve mouth sores and inflammation of the gums.
Sage on the Skin
Yes, sage can be just as beneficial topically! The same tea made from sage can be used as a wound wash. Not only that, sage tea is great for easing joint pain aiding in the healing of sprains and treating ringworm, jellyfish stings and spider bites.
An easy way to make use of these benefits is to soak a clean cloth in the warm tea and apply it directly onto the affected area. This wonderful herb can also be added to skin creams and used with talcum powder to deodorize and freshen the skin. To top it all off, sage also has a very pleasant aroma and is calming to the senses.
Sage Body Powder
Source: Annie’s Remedy
Making your own body powders is easy and beats the store bought ones hands down. This powder formula is great for preventing and treating those annoying summer heat rashes.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dusting powder
- ¼ cup baking soda
- 1 tablespoon fresh ground sage
- 1 tablespoon fresh ground rosemary
Directions:
1. Make a base dusting powder by blending mica silk (a powdered mineral) and cornstarch in a 5 to 1 ratio. Mica is not always easy to find so you can simply use unscented talcum powder instead.
2. Mix herbs together with powder and store in a container with a tight fitting lid. Add a few drops of sage or rosemary essential oils to amplify the fragrance and anti-fungal properties, especially if you are using dried herbs.
Miriam Johnson is an avid researcher who is passionate about holistic healing and nutrition. She has studied raw food nutrition with David Wolfe and BodyMind Nutrition with Lars Gustafsson, as well as Wild Edibles and Herbalism with Bodyenlightenment. She is a nature enthusiast and green smoothie connoisseur. She has over 25 years experience as an educator and strives to inspire others to live simply, practice gratitude, and nurture their body with only the best.
www.mypurium.com/miriamjohnson
Come and Expand Your Herbal Horizons
Learn about the healing power of herbs through our Herbal Medicine for Women Program. A 13 week fully supported adventure in learning herbs for you and your families wellbeing. Create a home pharmacy, discover the power of plants & start using herbs to relieve the most common health concerns for women. Enrollment is now taking place for next session’s program.https://www.terawarner.com/university/herbal-medicine