Salvia officinalis

Healing sage (Salvia officinalis)

The True Sage ( Salvia officinalis), also Garden sage, Kitchen sage or sage of salvation called, is a species of the genus sage (Salvia ). This evergreen aromatic and medicinal plant native to the Mediterranean, but is now widespread throughout Europe.

Description

The True Sage grows as a shrub, reaching heights of growth of up to 80 centimeters. All his plant parts have a strong aromatic odor. The woody stems near the ground of Real sage are weak square to roundish and highly branched usually from below. They rise straight or arched on curved and covered with dense hair frizzy especially in the upper part. From the woody stem part, but also from the axils of the lower leaves on the stem, often densely leafy drive, sterile branches, so they do not form an inflorescence. The leaves are in pairs opposite constantly on the stem. The lower leaves a stalk, which can be as long as the leaf blade ( to about 9 centimeters). The length of the petioles on the stem decreases towards the top; the upper leaves are sessile (sitting). The simple leaf blades are lanceolate to oblong - ovate, with a width of up to 5Zentimeter. The wrinkled leaf surface is white tomentose hairs and therefore of gray-green color. Older leaves verkahlen, especially on the top. The leaf margin is smooth up to a maximum notched weak.

The flowering period extends into central Europe from May to July. The flowers are on short stalks in the upper part of stem of four to ten in five to eight loose whorls. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and fünfzählig double perianth. The approximately 1 centimeter long, usually reddish brown calyx is distinctly divided into an upper part with three and a bottom with two lobes and hairy fluffy on the nervous and on the edge. The purple, rarely pink or white flowers crowns have the typical shape of the Lamiaceae and are 2 to 3 inches long. The upper lip is nearly straight, slightly arched and comparatively.

The Klaus fruits fall into four Klausen, containing several black seeds.

Occurrence

The True Sage is a traditional plant species in the cottage gardens. As the heat- loving plant of Mediterranean origin it is hardy only partially in Central Europe and needed in harsh climatic layers of winter protection. It is therefore not able to compete with wild plants and found only rare wild in Central Europe. The True Sage thrives on calcareous, stony and dry soils ( for example, in premolars Xerothermrasen ).

Ingredients of medicinal sage

The main active ingredients are the essential oils with the contents of thujone, linalool and 1,8- cineol, tannins and bitter substances. In addition, sage contains a variety of flavonoids, with rosmarinic acid followed by coffee acids occur most frequently. In overdose, the essential oil is toxic by its content of thujone. The use of sage for continued use as a herbal tea is therefore considered questionable.

Use

In the kitchen

The use of sage as a remedy has a long tradition. As a spice he held until the Middle Ages way into our kitchen, but quickly got the reputation of being one of the herbs that prevent rancidity of fats.

Sage smells fragrant and tastes spicy, bitter and astringent ( furry mouth feeling). The spice is used for meat dishes, game, poultry, sausages, fish dishes and herb cheese. Especially for fatty foods sage goes well, because it promotes the wholesomeness heavier fare Sage is one of the few herbs that can be readily used dried.

Raw and finely chopped sage leaves are suitable for fish and poultry fillings for flavoring vegetables and soups used.

In the whole of Germany Salbeiküchlein are a classic pastry for the fair or carnival, which is due to their alleged protection against noise.

Sage in cosmetics

The tannins contained in the sage can also be used for cosmetic purposes in the field of hair. Sage is used here as Sud, makes the hair darker overall. Sage can also apply for blemished skin.

Sage as bee pasture

The flowers of sage are an excellent honey bees, potential honey yield per hectare of arable land may exceed 600 kg per year, surpassing still clearly a good bee pasture plants such as rapeseed applicable.

In therapy

Traditionally, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and astringent, ie contracting effect of sage is known. If there is inflammation of the mouth and throat, commercial aqueous or alcoholic extracts are used for gargling. Sage tea can also be used as a gargle or drink. He is awarded an antiperspirant effect. The ingredients in the medicinal sage should also act sekretionsfördernd and support the function of the nervous system.

Sage is one of the plants that you should not take a long time in high dose. While breastfeeding should take no sage tea or other products to be, otherwise the milk flow may dry up, unless you want to stop breastfeeding.

Sage oil is a greenish-yellow essential oil which is extracted by steam distillation from the leaves of garden sage. It consists mainly of eucalyptol, camphor, thujone, and is especially useful for disinfecting action and pharmaceutical compositions for use.

History

During the great plague of Toulouse in 1630, thieves began to plunder the bodies without fear of infection. They were caught and the councilors gave them for the disclosure of her secret life. They used pickled sage and a few other ingredients such as thyme, lavender and rosemary. To protect against the plague they rubbed so a whole body. A century later in Marseilles proven this method than other crooks followed suit.

Sage formerly belonged also to the means that pregnant women should help. So recommended the famous London midwife Mrs. Jane Shapr in their 1671 published birth Manual The Midwives Book, Or the Whole Art of Midwifery Discovered that a pregnant every morning should strengthen her body with a spiced with sage ale. Even Hippocrates sage used as a uterine remedies.

However, the doctors and healers of the Middle Ages appreciated the sage also for other reasons. Paracelsus, Hildegard of Bingen, Lonicerus and Matthiolus used it in acute fever, Harnwegsleiden, colic, colds, and toothache. Has been given a special use of the plant for the treatment of red blood dysentery. The sage told by a disinfectant and preservative action. Thus, the room, where were staying seriously ill, were cleaned by that they burned sage leaves on charcoal.