Sage oil is the essential oil made from the culinary herb sage, Salvia officinalis. In addition to its valuable flavoring characteristics, sage oil can contain as much as 50% thujone by weight. The exact amount varies based on the time in the season and which part of the plant is tested. Thujone is traditionally regarded as one of the active ingredients in absinthe, distinguishing it from "less controversial" alcoholic beverages.

Sage oil has been suggested to boost short-term memory performance in many using it as a dietary supplement. Sage oils can be toxic and may trigger miscarriages, as well as "cause dizziness, rapid heartbeat and provoke epileptic seizures".

Sage Essential Oil is used to strengthen the seven vital centers of the body and may help relieve depression and mental fatigue. Historically is has been used for digestive complaints, respiratory infections and menstrual difficulties. It also is thought to balance hormones for both men and women.

Even though too high amounts of this essential oil can cause problems, it can be used with great effect on a variety of problems, as long as low percentages are used. It is great for relieving grief and quickening the senses, while stimulating the lymphatic system and helping with female problems, such as sterility and menopausal problems and on the skin it not only helps healing but also to reduce pore size.

It is an evergreen perennial herb that can grow up to about 60 cm. (2 feet) high with a woody base, soft gray-green oval leaves and a mass of blue or violet flowers. The Chinese believed that it cured sterility, while the Romans believed it cured just about everything.

Sage is a small evergreen shrub with grayish leaves and blue to purplish flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean area, but is now grown easily and successfully in gardens all over the world. Sage does best outdoors in a sunny spot. Sage plants grown indoors in pots need to be near a window that offers at least six hours of sunlight a day in the growing season.

Benefit & Uses: Although this oil has high thujone content, and can therefore cause convulsions when used in high concentrations, it is effective to stimulate the digestion and specially a bad appetite and due to its hormonal regulatory effect, it is most useful for menstrual problems, as well as the pain associated with rheumatism.

It helps to deal with grief and depression and quickens the senses and has been used to combat female sterility, as well as menopausal problems and has a tonic effect on the urinary tract as well as the liver and kidneys.

As an herb, sage has a slight peppery flavor. It is used for flavoring fatty meats, cheeses, and some drinks. Sage is also used with onion for poultry or pork stuffing. Of all the varieties of sage, which include purple, tricolor, and golden, the best choice for cooking is plain green sage. The other varieties contain too much camphor and can ruin a recipe. Use the herb sparingly for best results.

In addition to curbing harmful bacteria, another sage oil benefit is its astringent effect. The same qualities that heal sore mouths make sage oil a soothing aftershave splash. Use a drop of sage oil in a handful of cool water just after shaving to soften skin.

Put dried sage plant leaves among linens to discourage insects. Sage smoke deodorizes animal and cooking odors, and you can boil sage in water to disinfect a room.

Sage is antiseptic and antifungal, and makes an excellent mouthwash that can remedy sore throats and oral thrush. To make a mouthwash, steep one teaspoonful of fresh sage or one-half teaspoon dried sage in one cup of hot water, covered, for four minutes. Swirl in a quarter teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of cider vinegar.

Swish the mixture around your mouth while it is still hot or gargle with the mixture for a sore throat. Do not swallow sage oil however, since it is not meant for internal use. Sage is also useful for mental clarity and stimulates the nervous system.

 

Sage soap is a very popular use of sage in aromatherapy products, as its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, combined with a very pleasant fragrance, make sage an ideal ingredient.