Salvias, a group of plants also called sage, are among the least demanding perennials. Many are drought-tolerant and thrive in full sun, so they're ideal for xeriscape gardens. While the flowers and fragrance of several species make them popular garden plants, other species are better known for their medicinal properties.
Types
Two types of salvia are sources of salvia extract. The most common--garden sage, or Salvia officinalis--is also a culinary herb. Extract from this species comes in liquid and capsule form. The benefits of clary sage, or Salvia sclarea, come primarily from it strongly scented essential oil, although the leaves have culinary uses.
Active Compounds
Salvia extract contains camphor, cineole, flavonoids and rosamaric acid, among other compounds. Camphor and cineol have aromatic and antimicrobial properties. Rosmarinic acid offers antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Flavonoids are also antioxidants.
Throat Inflammation
Some European natural medicine traditions recommend gargling with salvia tea to soothe a sore throat, but salvia extract may help, too. Volunteers who used a 15 percent sage throat spray reported significant relief from throat pain in two hours, according to a study published in the January 2006 issue of the European Journal of Medical Research. Salvia's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties may be responsible for these results.
Skin Redness
Skin redness, or erythema, has a variety of causes ranging from sun sensitivity to serious digestive disorders. Anti-inflammatory hydrocortisone cream is a common treatment, but sage's anti-inflammatory effects may work equally well. A study published in the September 2007 issue of Planta Medica discovered that an application of salvia extract reduced study participants' ultraviolet-induced skin redness as much as hydrocortisone.
Menstrual Discomfort
Clary sage, or Salvia sclarea, contains estrogen-like compounds that may help relieve premenstrual syndrome, menstrual pain and menopausal symptoms. Except for relief from menstrual cramps, little research is available to support these uses. Women who received aromatherapy with clary sage extract noticed a significant reduction in their menstrual cramp pain, noted researchers from a 2006 study at Wonkwang Public Health College in Iksan, Korea, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Warnings
The compound thujone in salvia extract may pose health risks if you take it internally. Also an active constituent of absinth, thujone may cause rapid heart rate and confusion even in small amounts. Consult your health care provider before taking salvia extract, and use this supplement for no longer than two weeks. Avoid sage extract if you're pregnant or have a fever.
References
- Colorado State University: Gardening in Larimer County
- University of Michigan Health System: Sage
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Aromatherapy
- Organic Facts: Health Benefits of Sage Essential Oil
- Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences; The Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil from Perovskia abrotanoides Karel...; Mahboubi, M, et al.; May-June 2009
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