Common Name: Sage

General Information

Salvia officinalis is an erect, evergreen, much-branched, perennial plant growing from a woody rootstock; the stems become more or less woody, especially near the base, the plant growing around 25 - 100cm tall[].
Sage is a very popular domestic herbal remedy and also much used as a food flavouring. It is often cultivated on a commercial basis. It is also a very ornamental plant and is commonly grown in the herb garden for culinary and medicinal purposes. Many cultivars have been developed both for ornamental and herbal use, some of which are suitable for use as ground cover.
Salvia officinalis has a very broad distribution throughout Mediterranean Europe, The population is stable and there are no major threats. The plant is also cultivated and naturalised widely. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2014)[].

Known Hazards

The essential oil in this plant contains thujone. Thujone is a GABA receptor antagonist which allows neurons to fire more easily. In larger doses this can cause muscle spasms and convulsions, and can also be toxic to brain, kidney, and liver cells.
There has been a lot of negative press regarding thujone, particularly in the mid 19th century when thujone was reported to be more dangerous than alcohol - since shown to be exaggerated; and reports in the 1970’s that it might have a similar effect on the brain to THC (found in cannabis) - since found to be incorrect.
Thujone is probably best known for its use in the alcoholic drink ‘Absinthe’. It is also found in the essential oils of many other plants that are used in herbal medicines and foods, including Arborvitae (Thuja species), some Junipers (Juniperus species), Wormwoods (especially Artemisia absinthium) and Sage (Salvia officinalis). There are some legal restrictions in various countries on the quantity of thujone that can be added to foods and drinks and these vary between countries.
Side effects from consuming thujone can include sleeplessness and anxiety but, unless the pure essential oil is used, the quantity of thujone found in plants is well within safety levels. Pregnant women, however, may be advised to restrict their use of thujone-containing plants.

Botanical References

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Range

Southern Europe - Spain, France, Switxerland, Italy and the Balkans to Greece

Habitat

Dry banks and stony places[], usually in limestone areas and often where there is very little soil[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia officinalis is a plant of the temperate to subtropical zones, it can be cultivated at elevations above 500 metres in the drier regions of the tropics[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 26°c, but can tolerate 5 - 30°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -10°c so long as the soil is not wet and this is not for more than a few days[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 300 - 1,500mm[].
Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers a calcareous soil[, ]. Dislikes heavy or acid soils[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.2 - 8.3[]. Succeeds in dry soils, tolerating drought once it is established[].
Sage can be killed by excessive winter wet[] and winter-planted bushes often die[].
Sage is cultivated on a commercial scale for its leaves and essential oils. The expected yield where there are two cuttings a year is 2.5 - 3.0 tonnes per hectare of fresh leaves, or 5.0 - 8.0 tonnes of fresh herbs. The expected essential oil yield is 8 - 10 kilos per hectare[].
A very ornamental plant[], sage is commonly grown in the herb garden for culinary and medicinal purposes. There are some named varieties[, ]. 'Albiflora' is said to be the best culinary sage[]. 'Purpurea' has tougher leaves than the type and makes a better tooth cleaner[].
Plants need to be trimmed in late spring in order to keep them compact[]. They tend to degenerate after a few years and are best replaced after about 4 years[].
The leaves emit a unique pungent aroma when pressed[].
A good companion for many plants, including rosemary, cabbages and carrots[, , , ], the growing plant is said to repel insects. It is inhibited by wormwood growing nearby and dislikes growing with basil, rue or the cucumber and squash family[, , , ].

Edible Uses

Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. A very common herb, the strongly aromatic leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods[]. They are an aid to digestion and so are often used with heavy, oily foods[]. They impart a sausage-like flavour to savoury dishes. The young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw, boiled, pickled or used in sandwiches[]. The flowers can also be sprinkled on salads to add colour and fragrance[].

A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[], it is said to improve the digestion[, ].

An essential oil obtained from the plant is used commercially to flavour ice cream, sweets, baked goods etc[, ].

Medicinal

Sage has a very long history of effective medicinal use and is an important domestic herbal remedy for disorders of the digestive system. Its antiseptic qualities make it an effective gargle for the mouth where it can heal sore throats, ulcers etc[]. The leaves applied to an aching tooth will often relieve the pain[, ].

The whole herb is antihydrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, galactofuge, stimulant, tonic and vasodilator[, , , , , ]. Sage is also used internally in the treatment of excessive lactation, night sweats, excessive salivation (as in Parkinson's disease), profuse perspiration (as in TB), anxiety, depression, female sterility and menopausal problems[]. Many herbalists believe that the purple-leafed forms of this species are more potent medicinally[].
This remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women or to people who have epileptic fits[]. The plant is toxic in excess or when taken for extended periods[] - though the toxic dose is very large.
Applied externally, the plant is used to treat insect bites, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal discharge[].
The leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[].

The essential oil from the plant is used in small doses to remove heavy collections of mucous from the respiratory organs and mixed in embrocations for treating rheumatism[]. In larger doses, however, it can cause epileptic fits, giddiness etc[].
The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Tonic'[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good companion for many plants, including rosemary, cabbages and carrots[, , , ]. It is inhibited by wormwood growing nearby and dislikes growing with basil, rue or the cucumber and squash family[, , , ].
The growing or dried plant is said to repel insects, it is especially useful when grown amongst cabbages and carrots[, , , ].
A good dense ground cover plant for sunny positions, though it needs weeding for the first year or two[]. They are best spaced about 60cm apart each way[].

Other Uses

The leaves make excellent tooth cleaners[, ]. Simply rub the top side of the leaf over the teeth and gums[]. The purple-leafed form of sage has tougher leaves and is better for cleaning the teeth[]. The leaves have antiseptic properties and can heal diseased gums[].

An essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery, hair shampoos (it is good for dark hair) and as a food flavouring[, , ]. It is a very effective 'fixer' in perfumes[], and is also used to flavour toothpastes and is added to bio-activating cosmetics[].
The dried, crushed leaves are used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a masking agent, skin protector and tonic[].
An extract of the whole plant is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an antidandruff treatment, antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, cleansing agent, deodorant, skin conditioner and tonic[].

The plant (the flowers?) is an alternative ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator[]. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost[].

The plant was formerly used as a strewing herb[] and has been burnt in rooms to fumigate them[].

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse[]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of heeled shoots, taken off the stem in May and planted out directly into the garden grow away well[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, early summer to August in a frame[]. Easy.
Cuttings of mature wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, late autumn in a cold frame[].
Layering in spring or autumn. Mound soil up into the plants, the branches will root into this soil and they can be removed and planted out 6 - 12 months later.