Sage: a remedy for everything, or almost everything. Since ancient times, sage has been used as a remedy for many health problems: stomach ache, regulating menopausal flushes… The word ‘sage’ comes from the Latin ‘salvus’, which means ‘to save’. So it’s not just a good smelling herb for the kitchen then!
Sage is a disinfectant and antibacterial; it is hypoglycaemic, oestrogenic and diuretic.
Sage for stomach aches, discovered in the desert
In the desert of Lawrence of Arabia, among the rocky gorges and fine sand, one day I met a Bedouin boy. I stopped at his tent, and we spent hours in suspended time. He made me a tea with a unique flavour, which gave me immediate relief to my stomach. I asked him to reveal the secret, and he opened a bag full of dried wild sage and gave me some as a gift. So from that day on, I have been brewing it whenever I’m upset or my tummy gets upset.
An aid during the cycle or menopause. Sage: a remedy for everything, or almost everything.
Of the many sage remedies, the one related to the female cycle is the most interesting. Taking sage during the cycle helps to regulate it. And what about night sweats related to the menopause? Drink sage infusion or take sage drops and feel the benefit. Many friends have told me that after taking sage, their nights have improved.
Sage: a remedy for everything, or almost everything
Sage was used in Ancient Egypt for mummification and to treat infertility. Hippocrates mentioned it for treating wounds and sores. It was used as an aphrodisiac plant. The Greeks banned it at the Olympics because it was too exciting. For the Romans it was a sacred plant and the Gauls used it in magic rites. The Salerno School, a world centre of medicine in ancient times, called it ‘Mater Salvia’, and indicated it for almost all ailments. In the Middle Ages, sage was part of the Vinegar of the 4 Thieves (a remedy believed to protect against the plague).
Burning sage in the home, or keeping a potted plant indoors, was considered a good remedy for chasing away ghosts in folk tradition. In Chinese medicine, it was a remedy for longevity and an aid against depression and insomnia.
A couple of recipes with sage: tea and fried sage
Tradition or not, I like sage very much in the kitchen. I make sage tea every day as follows: I boil water with a couple of dried or fresh sage leaves. I let it boil for a couple of minutes, then turn it off. I add the tea and let it steep for a few minutes. I filter it and drink it with a little lemon and honey.
Fried sage drives me crazy, irresistible. I wash a few large sage leaves well and dry them. I beat an egg with salt and pepper. I dip the leaves and then dip them in breadcrumbs. Fry in hot oil. There is also a variant with batter, but I prefer them this way.
