Sage

You may recall the scene in Zorba the Greek where Anthony Quinn refuses an offer for sage tea and calls instead for rum. This, we must say, was not a sage decision, since Greeks have traditionally drunk this tea-and benefited from it. Sage has been shown to soothe sore throats, fight diabetes and even control perspiration.

Throughout the ages, sage has had so many uses that it gained a reputation as a panacea or cure-all. "If one consults enough herbals…every sickness known to humanity will be listed as being cured by sage," writes herb expert Varro Tyler, Ph.D.

Does sage live up to its sterling reputation? The answer is a qualified yes. Sage is no cure-all, but it has much to offer.

Healing with Sage:

To make sage tea, pour a cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves and steep for 10 minutes. This herb can:

• Soothe a sore throat: Because of its antiseptic qualities, sage takes the sting out of a raw throat, says Dr. Tyler. In fact, sage is used extensively for that purpose in Germany. To use it, make sage tea, allow it to cool until warm, then gargle.

• Control perspiration: Several studies show that sage cuts perspiration by as much as 50 percent, with the effect peaking 2 hours after ingestion. A sage-based antiperspirant is available in Germany, but sage tea may also do the trick.

• Help wounds heal faster: Sage is active against several infection-causing bacteria in test tube studies, supporting its age-old use in treating wounds. For cuts and scrapes, make a poultice of crushed sage and apply it to the wound just before washing and bandaging it.

• Preserve food: Like rosemary, sage contains powerful antioxidants, which slow spoilage of meat and other foods.

• Aid digestion: Like most culinary spices, sage has the power to relax the muscles lining the digestive tract. For this reason, it may soothe tummy trouble.

• Help diabetics control blood sugar levels: In people with adult-onset (Type II) diabetes, the hormone insulin doesn't work as efficiently as it should. Insulin helps the body's cells use glucose-the simple sugar your body burns as fuel. Laboratory studies indicate that sage may boost insulin's action two-to-fivefold, says Richard Anderson, Ph.D., lead scientist in vitamin and mineral nutrition at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland. Diabetics should not take sage in place of insulin, but drinking sage tea along with their regular medication is worth a try, says Dr. Anderson.

Grow Your Own:

Sage is a perennial evergreen shrub that reaches about 3 feet in height. Its leaves are velvety with long stalks. Sage can be propagated from seeds or cuttings. Sow seeds ½ inch deep in spring. Sage grows well in almost any soil but requires good drainage and full sun. Harvest leaves before the flower buds open. Discard stems and stalks. Dry the leaves, then store them in airtight containers.

Safety Considerations:

Sage contains relatively high levels of one toxic chemical, thujone, but heating sage to make an infusion eliminates much of the chemical, so the risk from medicinal amounts is negligible. Sage oil may be poisonous and should not be ingested.

There have been reports of inflammation of the lips and the lining of the mouth form ingestion of sage tea. If either occurs, discontinue use.

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