Sage: The Wise One / Salvia officinalis

By Steph Zabel
Herbalist, Ethnobotanist and Educator

Most of us know sage as a culinary herb — one that we grow in our gardens and use to flavor our dishes. For centuries sage has been valued as one of the best kitchen herbs and was traditionally cooked with rich, heavy foods. It is still a popular flavoring herb for meat dishes and stuffings.  As an aromatic spice, it improves digestion, breaks down fats, relieves indigestion and nausea, and stimulates the gall bladder to produce more bile. 

The plant originates in the Mediterranean — like many of our common culinary spices — and belongs to the Mint family of plants (a group that also holds many wonderful and aromatic plants such as basil, lavender, oregano, rosemary, thyme, peppermint, etc…)

Sage’s history goes far back in time: it was known to the ancient Greeks as an herb of immortality and to hold great healing properties. Its Latin name, Salvia, comes from the root “salvare” which translates as “to save” or “to cure.” There’s an old rhyme: “He that would live for aye should eat sage in May.”  To our modern eyes sage is a humble garden herb, but for centuries healers have recognized this plant as one of the greatest herbal remedies.  And for good reason…

Salvia officinalis has a deep affinity for the brain and nervous system and can be considered a tonic herb for both. It has a rejuvenating effect on the nerves, and can help to strengthen the mind and memory. Sage has been used by herbalists to address depression, anxiety and nervousness. It is especially good for the frazzled feeling we sometimes get when life is too busy or hectic — sage is one of my top herbs for what I call “city-dweller syndrome.”  From my own personal experience with sage I have found it has a unique action that seems to feed and nourish the nervous system. When using sage during stressful times it helps me to feel less anxious and more grounded. It helps me feel more at peace with how things are, and to feel more connected with day-to-day reality, i.e. appreciating what is rather than what I want things to be. Many traditions have noted that sage has the ability to enhance one’s inner wisdom… and so the word “sage” is applied to a person who is wise. The flower essence is especially beautiful and illuminating for enhancing inner knowingness.

Sage is cleansing, clearing and purifying. White sage is often burned as an incense to clear the air and make a space feel new and refreshed.  The essential oils contained within the leaf make sage highly antiseptic, giving it many applications. I like to use strong sage tea at the onset of a cold, or for any respiratory infections or sore throats. It also makes a fantastic mouthwash which supports healthy gums and leaves a clean, aromatic feeling.

HOW TO USE

There are many ways to obtain the benefits of sage. Use the dried leaf as a spice in meat or stuffings (especially for Thanksgiving!) I like to drink sage tea with honey — just steep 1-2 teaspoons of the dried leaf in 8 oz. hot water for at least 10 minutes. Then add a spoonful of local honey and sip whenever you are feeling anxious or stressed, or if you are starting to feel a bit under the weather. 

Sage Flower Essence can be used as well, and is one of my favorite essences. It helps one to distill wisdom from experience, and is especially recommended for people who find it hard to find purpose and meaning in their life.

RECIPE: Fresh Sage Infused Honey

Herbal honeys are a delicious way to enjoy the benefits of herbs, especially highly aromatic plants like sage. This honey can be enjoyed by the spoonful, added to hot cups of tea, spread onto toast, or made into sauces and salad dressings.

Fill a small 8 oz. glass jar with finely chopped fresh sage leaves. When using fresh herbs I generally fill the jar about 3/4 full.

Cover with local honey, stirring well to ensure that any trapped air bubbles come to the surface.

Label the jar with the date and ingredients.

Let steep for at least 1 week (if you can bear to wait!) up to 4 weeks before using. 

If you wish you can strain out the sage leaves through a course strainer (you may have to gently heat up the honey to make it more runny). Or, you can just use the honey as is, sage leaves and all.

Use up within 4-5 months.

Notes:

Sage should be avoided during pregnancy since it can be stimulating to the uterus. It may also reduce the flow of milk during breast feeding and should be avoided by nursing mothers.
 

REFERENCES:

The Practice of Traditional Western Herbalism by Matthew Wood
The Floral Healer by Anne McIntyre
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/sages-05.html
http://www.methowvalleyherbs.com/2010/12/why-should-man-die-while-sage-grows-in.html

Steph Zabel is an herbalist and educator based in Somerville, MA who helps urban dwellers connect with the plant world.  She teaches herbal classes, is available for individual wellness sessions, and is also the founder of HERBSTALK, a community herbal conference.  Learn more about her work at: www.flowerfolkherbs.com and www.herbstalk.org.

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This blog post — Sage: The Wise One / Salvia officinalis  — is for general health information only. This blog post is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any health condition or problem. Users of this Web site should not rely on information provided on this Web site for their own health problems. Any questions regarding your own health should be addressed to your own physician or other healthcare provider.

Our Graceful Linden Tree: Tilia americana

By Steph Zabel
Herbalist, Ethnobotanist and Educator

This time of year as you walk around our city streets, you’re very likely to come across a beautiful tree filled with creamy white, fragrant flowers. Its aroma is so gorgeous that it makes both bees and hurried city folk slow down their pace.

This tree, which tends to go unnoticed when it's not in flower, is our graceful linden (Tilia americana). We are fortunate to have many lindens in our neighborhood — there are even a few streets named after this beauty.  Linden makes for an excellent city tree due to its ability to tolerate pollution and harsh urban environments. In addition, it is also an important food source for bees, a wonderful shade tree, and — with its heart-shaped leaves and delightful flowers — brings beauty wherever it grows.

Not surprisingly, linden is one of my favorite herbs to give to people. It has many healing virtues and is also a very safe and gentle remedy for people of all ages and constitutions. In Europe, it was traditionally used in baths for young children before bed to help them have a sound night’s sleep. Stressed-out adults can also benefit immensely from a linden bath.

But if a bath is not for you, a cup of linden tea will do the trick. Well-loved for its soothing properties, it is one of the herbalist’s favorite relaxing nervines, meaning that it helps to soothe and calm the nervous system. It truly is useful for any kind of anxiety or tension, whether it manifests as headaches, nervous tension, restlessness, tense muscles, or poor sleep. I mix it into bed-time blends to help people unwind after a long day and prepare for a deep night’s sleep. Even though linden is so gentle, I have personally found it to be a profound herb for anyone needing better sleep. It mixes beautifully with other relaxing herbs such as oats, skullcap or lavender. Linden seems to have an ability to help you feel how tired you truly are, so that you can finally get the sleep you need.

Beyond its wonderful soothing qualities, linden is a plant that supports a healthy heart.  As noted above, linden helps to relax us when we are feeling tense, so it has traditionally been used for the emotional causes behind hypertension and heart palpitations. With its supportive, opening and calming properties linden can help to address emotional issues and stress that may manifest as physical imbalances.

Linden is also a demulcent herb: high in mucilage it imparts a cooling and soothing quality on dry and irritated tissues. This soothing, anti-inflammatory action works on both our internal tissues and our external skin - you use it as a wash or a compress on itchy or inflamed skin.

This beautiful, gentle tree has so much to offer us: from anxiety and stress, to tense hearts and minds, to troubled sleep - it is is a beautiful balm that grows right on our city streets.

HOW TO USE:

Linden Sun Tea
Linden makes for a delicious cold-brewed tea. This method is perfect in the summer time when it is too hot to boil water.

To Brew:
Place 1 heaping handful of dried linden leaves and flowers in a glass quart-sized jar. Cover with cold water and stir. Place on the cap then set in a sunny windowsill for 3-4 hours. Strain out the herb. Chill in the refrigerator if desired or drink at room temperature. The longer it steeps the more the mucilaginous quality (which makes the liquid viscous) will be drawn out.

Soothing Linden Sleep Blend:
2 Tblsp. linden
2 Tblsp. oat tops or oat straw
1 Tblsp. skullcap
1/2 Tblsp. chamomile
pinch of lavender

Blend all herbs together, then use 1 heaping spoonful per mug of hot water. Let steep at least 10 minutes, then strain. Best enjoyed at dusk.

Steph Zabel is an herbalist and educator based in Somerville, MA who helps urban dwellers connect with the plant world.  She teaches herbal classes, is available for individual wellness sessions, and is also the founder of HERBSTALK, a community herbal conference.  Learn more about her work at: www.flowerfolkherbs.com and www.herbstalk.org.

REFERENCES:

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/linden

http://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/linden-flower-tea-benefits.html

http://www.healthy.net/Materia_Medica/Linden_Herbal_Materia_Medica/240

http://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/tilia.html

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This blog post — Our Graceful Linden Tree  — is for general health information only. This blog post is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any health condition or problem. Users of this Web site should not rely on information provided on this Web site for their own health problems. Any questions regarding your own health should be addressed to your own physician or other healthcare provider.

Solomon's Seal: A Medicine Cabinet Must-Have

Maribeth, our resident staff "herbalist-in-training" wrote this beautiful blog post on the versatile herb Solomon's Seal, a plant that does not often get the limelight! 

True Solomon's Seal has been captivating my attention over the past few years while living in New England. As a plant that is not written about much in the western world, it makes me so happy to see our customers taking a strong interest in such a useful herb. 

In 1597, herbalist John Gerard wrote about Polygonatum biflorum, stating "common experience teacheth, that in the world there is not to be found another herbe comparable to it." 

Often considered a "miracle plant," many herbalists and healers throughout Asia, Europe, and North America consider True Solomon's Seal to be a must have in one's medicine cabinet. It is well known that Native Americans used the plant as a nutritive food and medicine and that the rhizome is still used as a trail food today. Also known as King Solomon's Seal, the plant has roots in Hebrew folklore. The scar left on the rootstock after the stem dies back resembles the seal that King Solomon used for his magical endeavors. 

Magic? Perhaps. But Solomon's Seal is truly a versatile plant.

Known mostly for its action on tendons, joints, ligaments, and the musculoskeletal system, it is said that Solomon's Seal has a kind of intelligence that allows it the "ability to restore proper tension to the ligaments, regardless of whether they need to be loosened or tightened." As a yin tonic, Solomon's Seal is a restorative, nourishing, moisturizing, and lubricating tonic herb. These actions can be seen especially in the tendons, joints, ligaments, bone, connective tissue, cartilage, throat, and mucosa lining of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and reproductive system of both men and women. It is said that Native Americans also used the plant to help moderate intestinal inflammation. Galen recommended the herb to "remove freckles, spots, and marks for a fresh, fair, and lovely skin."* 

My body seems to crave Solomon's Seal to help restore moisture, lubrication, and proper movement to the many corners of my body after the especially long winters we experience here in the north east. I have also used a few drops of the tincture, or an infused oil, to remedy a chronic bruised tailbone and for the wear my knees experienced from being a ballerina. I imagine anyone who is partaking in intense physical activities would benefit from the protecting and healing qualities of Solomon's Seal. 

True Solomon's Seal is found in the U.S. throughout the eastern woodlands and into the Midwest. It's important to learn how to properly identify True Solomon's Seal from False Solomon's Seal as they do grow near each other. As the herb has often been over harvested and is constantly at risk, it's important to be very mindful when wild harvesting! However, Solomon's Seal grows very well in shaded gardens, as I've seen all over Cambridge and Somerville! 

Here at the store we carry a 2 oz. tincture by David Winston of Herbalist & Alchemist, who finds it particularly effective for complaints of the respiratory system as well as injuries to the joints, tendons, and cartilage.

REFERENCES:
The Earthwise Herbal by Matthew Wood
Herbcraft.org: Jim McDonald
Solomonsseal.net

*This blog post — Solomon's Seal: A Medicine Cabinet Must-Have  — is for general health information only. This blog post is not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of any health condition or problem. Users of this Web site should not rely on information provided on this Web site for their own health problems. Any questions regarding your own health should be addressed to your own physician or other healthcare provider.