Medical Benefits of Sage People have been using sage for thousands of years: Recipes for sage pancakes have been dated to the 5th century B.C. Like most culinary herbs, sage is thought to be a digestive aid and appetite stimulant. You can use it to reduce gas in the intestines and, as it also is antispasmodic, to relieve abdominal cramps and bloating.
Sage contains phytosterols, reported to have a cooling action. In one study, using an infusion of the leaf reduced sweating by as much as half. Early and modern herbals list sage as a treatment for bright red, abundant uterine bleeding and for cramps that feel worse with heat applications and better with cold applications. You may also use sage to stop breast-milk production when weaning a child from breast-feeding. The properties that help dry up milk, as well as sage's reported cooling action, also make it useful for treating diarrhea, colds, and excessive perspiration. It may be of value for menopausal hot flashes accompanied by profuse perspiration. Sage can dry up phlegm, and you can gargle with the tea to treat coughs and tonsil or throat infections. Sage also has been recommended as a hair rinse for dandruff, oily hair, or infections of the scalp. The herb reportedly restores color to gray or white hair. The essential oil of sage contains alpha- and beta-thujone, camphor, and cineole, which are antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. The volatile oils in sage kill bacteria, making the herb useful for all types of bacterial infections. Sage Tea The flavors of the sage and lemon blend nicely. It's a very herbal taste, which would be good for those of you who enjoy green teas. INGREDIENTS: 1/2 oz fresh sage leaves (I have also used dried sage) 1 oz fine sugar 1/4 oz grated lemon rind (I have also used orange rind and lime) Juice from one lemon or orange or lime.. 1 quart water, boiling PREPARATION: Keep water at a simmer, and add the rest of the ingredients. Steep for 30 minutes. Strain out the herbs and serve hot or iced. Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
