Herbal Library

SAGE PLANT

Latin : Salvia officinalis
English : Sage
German : Salbei

In Which Areas Is Sage Plant Recommended?

It is helpful and supportive against tonsillitis, pharyngitis, chronic pharyngitis and gingivitis.

I have known many people who have suffered from tonsillitis for years. Especially school-age children lie with high fever for days due to tonsillitis and stay behind in school. In these cases, mouthwashes made with sage are a real help. Sage is also a real protector and preventive against the formation of tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis (pharyngitis).

In the first few days, gargling with sage several times throughout the day will make you feel like you have been reborn. Repeating this gargle several times a week in the following days will protect you against tonsil and throat infections.

The first word of the Latin name of sage, 'salvia' means to protect, protect and preserve. Salvin, carnosol acid and cirsimaritin contained in sage are active substances with antibiotic properties. Especially salvin and carnosol acid affect RNA synthesis in bacteria and prevent their reproduction and regeneration. An important ethereal oil found in sage is cineol. Cineol is a substance that prevents coughing. In short, sage is both a natural antibiotic and a natural cough suppressant.
In addition to all these, antibiotic active substances in sage are water-soluble substances. Due to their water-soluble properties, they provide the possibility of use by brewing directly in hot water without making tinctures with alcohol. Most mouthwashes have to be prepared by using some alcohol. Because the active substance with natural antibiotic properties contained in many plants is not soluble in water, they cannot be effective if they are prepared with water. Since the natural antibiotics contained in sage are very easily soluble in water, it is possible to prepare it as a mouthwash, especially for your children, by simply brewing it in hot water.

The point I would like to emphasise here is that there are over thirty known sage varieties in our country. A significant part of these are wild. The mouthwash of some wild sage species is not as effective as desired. Therefore, when buying sage from the market, take care to buy non-wild sage. If you are not sure about this, you can use packaged sage from different companies sold in some large supermarkets.

Did you know?
Sage has been used as a pesticide in history. Since sage is a parasite repellent (repellent), parasites and insects cannot approach sage. This is also the reason why in antiquity and in the following centuries the leaves and stems of sage were sprinkled as pesticides in areas where vegetables and cereals were planted.

Tonsillitis (tonsillitis)
Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, called tonsils, caused by bacteria and, less commonly, viruses. The most common symptom is severe pain during swallowing, which can be confused with earache. This pain manifests itself as refusal to eat in young children. In addition to pain, high fever, weakness, headache and vomiting are also common symptoms.

People with tonsillitis (tonsillitis) have a very strong mouth odour when they wake up in the morning. After brushing their teeth, the odour is slightly milder and disappears completely after having breakfast. They do not have any bad breath throughout the day. This is because the inflammation formed during the night is carried away with the food during breakfast. However, when the patient goes to sleep at night, the inflammation starts again.

Every day, gargling once after cleaning the mouth is a powerful preventive against bacteria in the mouth and bad breath. Normally, you should prepare sage mouthwash and keep it in your sink. The prepared sage mouthwash can stand on the shelf of your sink for three days without spoiling.

In some cases, inflammation of the tonsils and/or throat may be chronic. In the case of chronic tonsillitis or chronic pharyngitis, sage is not sufficient. For chronic tonsillitis or chronic pharyngitis, please read the herb mallow.

Caution
Those with pharyngitis and tonsil problems should especially avoid smoking and acidic drinks (such as cola, soda, mineral water) while applying the cures. In parallel with this, it is also necessary to pay attention to dental and oral hygiene. Always brush your teeth after meals. Always use the mouthwashes mentioned in the applications after brushing your teeth.

At this point, I would like to explain an issue that parents with school-age children should be careful about. Pharyngitis is a common condition in childhood and is often underestimated by parents. Do not ignore that inflammation of the throat, which may seem like a simple condition to you, can have serious consequences and consult your doctor.
Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF)
Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is an inflammatory disease that occurs a few weeks after pharyngitis caused by group A beta haemolytic streptococcus bacteria, commonly known as "beta germ", or after scarlet fever, which is also caused by the same germ. It is often seen in school-age children. About four out of a hundred people develop acute rheumatic fever (ARF) after a streptococcal infection. There is no rule that ARF will develop after every pharyngitis. However, because of the risk that ARF can cause serious damage, especially to the heart, it is necessary to be careful with seemingly simple sore throats.

Unlike inflammation of other organs, inflammation of the heart can lead to permanent damage. The so-called endocardium of the heart covers the inner surface of the heart and the heart valves. As lesions on the heart valves heal, the valves thicken, adhere and shrink. The result is valve stenosis and/or failure. Rheumatic fever is the number one cause of heart valve disease. Rheumatic heart disease can develop about ten to fifteen years after the illness. Therefore, do not neglect sore throats or throat-related complaints in school-age children and have them seen by a doctor.

Sage is a tea that has started to be consumed frequently in our country in recent years. However, pregnant women should use sage cautiously in the first three months of pregnancy. If there is a danger of miscarriage, they should definitely stay away from sage. Because sage leaves contain four substances that increase the risk of miscarriage. The names of these substances are given in the table below. It is wrong for pregnant women to take medication on their own without consulting their physician and to choose herbal treatment methods on their own.

Dear reader, the first three months of pregnancy are very important. Do not use medication and unfamiliar herbal treatment methods without consulting your physician. It is a common opinion in our country that herbal medicines have no side effects. This opinion is not correct. Before using unfamiliar and unfamiliar herbs, you should get information from people or organisations who are experts on this subject. Since many plants in Turkey have different names depending on the region, it is often difficult to obtain the right plant or to be sure that the plant you buy is the right plant.

Table: Active substances in sage that increase the risk of miscarriage
Name of chemical substance
Located in
Amount ppm [mg/kg]
Alpha-thujone
Leaves
200 - 10 172
Beta-thujone
Leaves
200 - 9 968
Oleanolic acid
Leaves
140 - 786
Thujone
Leaves
1 453 -12 636

Similarly, beta-bisabolene in thyme and oleanolic acid in rosemary are active substances that increase the risk of miscarriage.

Protective against tonsil and throat infections

One sachet of sage or one teaspoon of fresh sage is brewed in about one cup of water for ten minutes. Gargle two to three times a day.
In addition, drink a tea glass of sage every day for a month. After the brewing time is completed, do not keep the plant in the water any longer, be sure to strain and separate it. The prepared mouthwash can be kept in your bathroom cabinet for forty-eight hours.

CORRECT HERB USE!

The most important thing to consider when using all these cures is the shelf life of the plant. The second is that the plant is collected at the right time. The third is how the plant is dried. Each plant should be dried under appropriate conditions according to its characteristics. Some plants should be dried in the shade, some in the sun and some in the dark. The most important thing is that the plant you will use is absolutely the right kind. If it is not the right type of plant, it greatly reduces the effect of the cure.


Note: If you have medicines prescribed by your physician, be sure to use them. Use the application here as a supportive. Firstly, you need to know whether you are allergic to the plant you will use. Get your physician's opinion on this subject. Do not attempt to treat yourself with the information here, regardless of your complaint, without going to a physician and having a diagnosis made.