Sage Tea

With the exception of a few herbs such as peppermint and chamomile, many people only consider drinking herbal teas when they are not feeling well – as a medicinal. Sage tea would definitely fall into this category. But everyone can benefit from drinking herbal teas because herbs are full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants making them an all-around good preventative measure anyone would feel better for doing.

Sage Tea Recipe

Sage tea can be steeped using either fresh or dried sage leaves. As a general rule, when making a cup of herb tea, fresh herbs will provide a fresher and more robust flavor. And, the drying process causes many herbs to lose their potency. Since sage has such an intense flavor, however, fresh or dried leaves work equally well. When making herb teas it is always best to use water that is not quite boiling. Since boiling water can destroy some of the herb’s essential oils, the benefits gained from the tea will be reduced.

How to make sage tea: To make a basic cup of sage tea, place 2 teaspoons of finely chopped fresh sage leaves or 1 teaspoon dried crushed sage leaves into a cup. Add the juice of ½ of a lemon. Add one cup of almost boiling water and steep (sit) for 10-15 minutes. Cover the cup to prevent any essential oils that are released into the air from escaping. Strain the tea after steeping to remove the sage leaves as they can be rather chewy. Sweeten the tea with honey.

Sage tea for sore throat: place 2 teaspoons of finely chopped fresh sage leaves or 1 teaspoon dried crushed sage leaves into a cup. Add 1-1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds. Add one cup of almost boiling water and steep (sit) for 15 minutes. Cover the cup to prevent any essential oils that are released into the air from escaping. Strain the tea after steeping to remove the sage leaves and the fennel seeds. Sweeten the tea with honey. This tea is great for a sore throat when used as a gargle that is then swallowed! If you do not like the taste of licorice or anise, omit the fennel seeds.

Sage tea for Sweating, including Night Sweats: place 2 teaspoons of finely chopped fresh sage leaves or 1 teaspoon dried crushed sage leaves into a cup. Add 1 teaspoon horsetail herb and ½ teaspoon valerian root. Add one cup of almost boiling water and steep (sit) for 15 minutes. Cover the cup to prevent any essential oils that are released into the air from escaping. Strain the tea after steeping. Sweeten the tea with honey. This tea is used to reduce stress induced nervous perspiration; and if consumed just prior to retiring at night, has shown to be effective in preventing night sweats related to menopause. An additional cup in the morning will help deal with the hot flashes that occur during the day.

Dr. Oz’s Sage Tea for Mood: Dr. Oz has shared that sage tea can decrease anxiety, boost alertness and mood. To make Dr. Oz’s tea blend, and to enhance the flavor, mix sage leaf with black tea. Steep for 5-10 minutes and sweeten with honey.

Common Medicinal Uses for Sage Tea ~ Sage Tea Benefits

Although sage is not used extensively for its medicinal properties in many societies today, it has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Folklore espouses it to be a cure-all. It has even been described as having the ability to improve brain functioning. Sage tea has so many anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and antibiotic properties and uses it is considered in many cultures to enable one to lead a longer and healthier life.

Even its botanical name, salvia officinalis, speaks of its curative powers. Salvia, is derived from the Latin word, salvus, which means “healthy.”

• Sage tea sweetened with honey does wonders for a sore throat! See recipe above.
• Drinking sage tea and holding it momentarily in your mouth is an ideal cure for mouth ulcers and sore gums. Use any of the recipes above.
• Sage tea has been used medicinally for various stomach and intestinal ailments, and used as an appetite stimulant.
• Sage tea has been used to cleanse and purify the blood.
• It has been used to treat menopausal symptoms, especially night sweats. See recipe above.
• It can be used to treat irregular menstrual bleeding.
• When weaning a baby, drinking 1-2 cups of sage tea daily will help stop the flow of milk.
• For itchy and weepy skin lesions, steep 1 cup chopped fresh sage leaves or ½ cup dried sage leaves in 1 quart of almost boiling water for 20-30 minutes. Strain and add to bath water. Bathe in bathwater prepared in this manner, 2-3 times weekly.
• A stronger brew of the tea has been used to darken graying hair and condition it.
• It has been used to lower fevers, treat colds, and treat bronchial infections.
• It can be used to treat headaches.
• It is used to treat athlete’s foot.

Other lesser known claims for sage tea:

• It can be used to treat delirium during fevers.
• It can be used to treat joint pain and lethargy.
• It can be used to treat nervous excitement exhibited with nervous disorders.
• It is said that sage tea can be useful in the treatment of typhoid fever.
• Sage tea is said to help with bleeding from the stomach or lungs.

Sage Tea Benefits

In addition to the benefits already mentioned, sage has been a popular herb used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. According to Holistic Herbalist.com, sage has proven to be a stimulant, an expectorant, and a diuretic. It is reported to boost memory; and is shown to have antioxidant (reducing inflammation and prolonging cell life), anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anxiety-reducing properties. It contains flavonoids and other beneficial compounds. As previously mentioned, it has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and antiseptic properties. Is it any wonder its name was derived from a Latin word meaning “healthy”?

Where to buy sage tea?

Although sage leaves can easily be purchased to make sage tea, the best source of sage leaves would be those harvested from a plant that you have grown yourself, either indoors or out. If you are looking for detailed instructions to successfully grow your own sage, either indoors or outside, check out the article, Indoor and Outdoor Sage Plant Care – How To Grow Culinary Sage. Freshly harvested leaves will create a tea that is more potent and, therefore, more beneficial. The plant that seems to work the best for making a medicinal tea is the Salvia Officinalis, also known as common garden sage.

You can even use the ground sage that is sold in the grocery stores in the herb and spice aisle, but you will want to filter the “dregs” out before drinking. And this will not be as beneficial as tea that is made from leaves that are freshly harvested, or dried leaves that are less processed.

Sage Leaf Tea Side Effects and Precautions

If you are pregnant or nursing, do not use sage medicinally in any form or any dosage. The smaller qualities that are used for culinary purposes, however, would be considered safe.

For Educational Purposes Only

The information presented here is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitution for medical advice from a health care professional. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

An additional tea article that you might be interested in: Banaba Leaf Tea

Sources:

Holistic Herbalist.com: Sage herb

Herb Wisdom.com: Sage benefits