You may know sage as a spice and flavoring agent, but it has also been used medicinally for a wide range of ailments, ranging from gastrointestinal complaints to excessive sweating. Sage is now being studied for various conditions, including menopause, infections, and Alzheimer's disease. However, sage is currently not recommended for any of its uses. As with all herbs, consult with your doctor before using sage for medicinal purposes.
About Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease is a brain condition that occurs with age. If you have Alzheimer's, you will gradually lose your memory and the ability to function and to take care of yourself. The cause of Alzheimer's may involve a decrease in the natural chemical called acetylcholine that is involved in carrying messages between nerve cells in the brain. Taking supplements, such as sage, may help you to prevent or manage symptoms of Alzheimer's.
How It Works
Laboratory studies have shown that sage contains chemicals that interfere with a natural enzyme in the body called acetylcholinesterase that breaks down acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is involved in the processes of thinking, learning, and remembering. By helping to keep more acetylcholine in the blood, sage may help to improve or restore memory in people with Alzheimer's. Sage may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may be of added benefit in Alzheimer's disease.
Dosing
Sage can be taken by mouth in various forms, including capsules, tablets, liquid extracts, and teas. Sage has been studied in oral doses equal to 1 g of common sage per day, or 2.5 grams of Spanish sage taken three times a day for Alzheimer's disease. Sage tincture in doses of 60 drops per day has also been used by people with Alzheimer's.
Effectiveness
A trial published in the "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics" in 2003 showed that people with Alzheimer's disease who took sage supplements for four months had significant improvement in mental functioning, as compared to those taking placebo, or inactive medicine. In this study, agitation was also possibly decreased in those people who took sage supplements. More human trials are needed to confirm these results.
References
- PaloAltoMedicalFoundation.org: Sage
- PaloAltoMedicalFoundation.org: Alzheimer's Disease
- DrugDigest.org: Sage
- "Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics"; Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial; S Akhondzadeh, et al.; Feb 2003
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