The Medicinal Uses of Sage (Salvia officinalis)

You may perhaps read the genus name, Salvia, and see similarities to save or salvation, and indeed the Latin salvere, which the name comes from, means to be cured, saved, or healed.[1] [2]  Traditional uses for this herb abound; science is just now making a concerted effort to confirm medicinal uses.

HARVEST

Make sure what you are harvesting is Salvia officinalis.  The most common culinary sage is S. lavandulifolia, which is not nearly as medicinal.  Pick the leaves in summer. [3]

EFFECTIVE AGAINST

• Bacteria
• Gram-positive
• Staphylococcus aureus[4]
• Gram-negative
• Listeria monocytogenes
• Water extract[5]
• Parasites
• Plasmodium berghe
• Tincture[6]
• Viruses
• Herpes simplex 1 and 2[7]

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

• Anti-inflammatory[8] [9]
• Antipyretic (fever-reducing)[10]
• Antiseptic[11] [12]
• Astringent[13] [14]
• Estrogenic[15]
• Mucolytic (clears mucus)[16]

PREPARATIONS

Capsule:  500 mg sage leaf, 2 per day.[17]

Decoction:  1 heaping teaspoon dried herb simmered in 8 oz water for 15-20 minutes.  Take up to 1 2/3 cups per day for up to 3 days.[18]

Glycerite:  Dried herb, 1:6, 2-5 ml, 2-4 times per day. [19]

Tea:  Steep 1 teaspoon chopped sage in 8 oz boiling water, covered, for 10 minutes.  Strain.  Drink or use as a gargle.[20]  Use 4-8 oz, 3 times per day.[21]

Tincture:  fresh herb (in flower), 1:2; dried, 1:5, 50% alcohol.  Dosage: 30-60 drops as needed.[22]  Add 1 teaspoon to 1 cup water and use as a gargle.[23]  Tincture may also be made with dried herb in 70% alcohol and 10% glycerin.[24]

USAGE

• Dental/oral
• Gum disease[25]
• Mouth ulcers[26]
• Endocrine
• Diabetes, type 2[27]
• Lowers blood sugars[28] [29]
• Gastrointestinal
• Cramping[30]
• Diarrhea
• Decoction[31]
• Dyspepsia[32]
• Gastroenteritis[33]
• Ulcers[34]
• Hepatic
• Cholesterol reduction[35]
• Hepatitis
• Leaves, stems
• Decoction, infusion[36]
• Hyperlipidemia[37]
• Jaundice
• Leaves, stems
• Decoction, infusion[38]
• Musculoskeletal
• Osteoporosis[39]
• Neurological
• Alzheimer’s[40]
• Anxiety
• Tea[41]
• Dementia[42]
• Memory enhancement[43]
• 2.5 grams[44]
• Stress
• Tea[45]
• Respiratory
• Bronchitis[46] [47]
• Common cold[48] [49] [50]
• Cough[51] [52]
• Hoarseness
• Tea[53]
• Influenza
• Essential oil, inhaled[54]
• Laryngitis
• Tea[55]
• Sore throat
• Tea[56] [57] [58]
• Tonsillitis
• Tea[59]
• Skin
• Insect bites
• Apply freshly squeezed leaf juice[60]
• Urogenital
• Dysmenorrhea[61]
• Gout[62]
• Menopause[63]
• Fresh sage, 1 gram[64]
• Hot flashes[65]
• Other
• Cancer
• Cervical[66]
• Colorectal[67]
• Liver[68]
• Night sweats
• Capsules, 1000-2000 mg at bedtime
• Cool tea[69]
• Reduce perspiration[70]

SYNERGISMS      

Sage essential oil works synergistically with clindamycin against antibiotic-resistant MRSA.[71]

Cautions:  Culinary use is safe for all.  Do not exceed recommended doses for therapeutic use.  Do not use tinctures internally for more than 1-2 weeks.  However, a tincture diluted in water and used as a rinse or gargle is perfectly safe.  Do not use internally if pregnant.[72]  Sage will dry up breast milk, so it should be avoided by nursing mothers.[73]

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[1] Rebecca Johnson, et al., Guide to Medicinal Herbs, 2014, 91.

[2] Andrew Chevallier, Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 2023, 135.

[3] Chevallier.

[4] GA Purgato, et al., Isolation and identification of antimicrobial multicyclic terpenoids from the medicinal plant Salvia officinalis and development of a formulation against clinical Staphylococcus aureus strains, Letters in Applied Microbiology, 5 August 2024, Vol 77 No 8, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39127610/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[5] Al-Mohammadi AR, et al., Potential Use and Chemical Analysis of Some Natural Plant Extracts for Controlling Listeria spp. Growth In Vitro and in Food, Foods, 14 September 2024, Vol 13 No 18, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39335846/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[6] ATH Mokogwu, et al., In vivo Antimalarial and Liver Function Profiles of Methanol Extract of Salvia officinalis (Common Sage) Leaf in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice, Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, July 2024, Vol 34 No 4, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39981010/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[7] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 114.

[8] Johnson, et al.

[9] AA Al-Ajalein, et al., Evaluating the Anti-Osteoporotic Potential of Mediterranean Medicinal Plants: A Review of Current Evidence, Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 8 October 2024, Vol 17 No 10, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11510337/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[10] Johnson, et al.

[11] Johnson, et al.

[12] Chevallier.

[13] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 112.

[14] Chevallier.

[15] Chevallier.

[16] Chevallier.

[17] Johnson, et al.

[18] Chevallier.

[19] Johnson, et al.

[20] Johnson, et al.

[21] Johnson, et al.

[22] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012, 377.

[23] Johnson, et al.

[24] Johnson, et al.

[25] Johnson, et al.

[26] Chevallier.

[27] WR Tavares, et al., Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Artemisia and Salvia Genera in Cancer, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Short Review of Clinical Evidence, Journal of Clinical Medicine, 6 February 2025, Vol 14 No 3, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11818717/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[28] WR Tavares, et al.

[29] AA Al-Ajalein, et al.

[30] Johnson, et al.

[31] Chevallier.

[32] AA Al-Ajalein, et al.

[33] Johnson, et al.

[34] AA Al-Ajalein, et al.

[35] WR Tavares, et al.

[36] N Bencheikh, et al., Ethnobotanical survey and scientific validation of liver-healing plants in northeastern Morocco, Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10 September 2024, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11420034/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[37] Chevallier.

[38] N Bencheikh, et al.

[39] AA Al-Ajalein, et al.

[40] Johnson, et al.

[41] Johnson, et al.

[42] Johnson, et al.

[43] WR Tavares, et al.

[44] Chevallier.

[45] Johnson, et al.

[46] Johnson, et al.

[47] WR Tavares, et al.

[48] Johnson, et al.

[49] Johnson, et al.

[50] WR Tavares, et al.

[51] Johnson, et al.

[52] WR Tavares, et al.

[53] Johnson, et al.

[54] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 114.

[55] Johnson, et al.

[56] Johnson, et al.

[57] Johnson, et al.

[58] Chevallier.

[59] Johnson, et al.

[60] Chevallier.

[61] Chevallier.

[62] AA Al-Ajalein, et al.

[63] Johnson, et al.

[64] Johnson, et al.

[65] Chevallier.

[66] AE Hernández-Rangel, et al., Ethanolic Extract of Salvia officinalis Leaves Affects Viability, Survival, Migration, and the Formation and Growth of 3D Cultures of the Tumourigenic Murine HPV-16+-Related Cancer Cell Line, Biomedicines, 8 August 2024, Vol 12 No 8, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39200268/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[67] WR Tavares, et al.

[68] N Bencheikh, et al.

[69] Johnson, et al.

[70] Johnson, et al.

[71] A Mayyas, et al., A phytotherapeutic approach to hinder the resistance against clindamycin by MRSA: in vitro and in silico studies, Future Science OA, December 2025, Vol 11 No 1, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11792796/ (accessed 18 March 2025).

[72] Johnson, et al.

[73] Johnson, et al.