Our news is full of threatening super bacteria strains that the latest arsenal of antibiotics is powerless to stop. The over-prescription of antibiotics has given birth to varieties of resistant bacteria that no longer die off in droves when attacked by prescription drugs. Yet right in our kitchens lie some of the most powerful antibiotics nature has ever created. They are easy to use and they won’t harm your immune system. They aid your digestion instead of killing off the beneficial microflora that succumbs to antibiotics. In short, they improve your health. But most importantly, they are still effective against all kinds of bacteria.
The secret to good health starts with noticing the first signs that your body is out of balance and using herbs that can stop a cold, sore throat, cough or flu in its tracks before it becomes firmly established. In the next few newsletters, I’ll tell you about several of them, giving you simple ways to use antibiotic herbs to get the best medicinal effects.
I’d like to begin with sage, an herb revered by native cultures in both the Mediterranean and the Americas for the powerful essential oil that permeates its leaves. You probably have sage in your kitchen spice cupboard to flavor your stuffing at Thanksgiving. In your natural food store, you may have seen sage wrapped tightly into a bundle called a smudge stick and perhaps you’ve even burned it in a ceremony. If you have an herb garden, then the soft leaves of sage in shades of purple, variegated yellow, or the typical pale silver green are likely among your foliage. Those of us who live and hike in the arid part of the West are familiar with many native varieties of sage that grow along trails, wafting aromatic scents across the path.
Sage is one of those familiar herbs that has touched all of our lives. Its history speaks of its importance to the native cultures where it grew indigenously. The hills along the Adriatic coast from Croatia to Greece are full of an abundance of sage. The ancient Greeks thought sage would bring immortality and its genus name “Salvia” comes from the Latin salvere, to be saved. Today, studies confirm the ancient belief that sage improves the memory. Sage oil taken in capsules has been shown to improve recall and attention in healthy adults and studies are ongoing to learn its effects on those suffering from Alzheimer’s.
In the Americas, numerous species of sage grow in the arid Southwest and many species of Artemesia are commonly referred to as sage.
Sage traditionally is used to purify sweat lodges by covering the ground where participants sit and its smoke is used in sacred ceremonies to prepare the participants and banish any negativity. Medicinally, Native Americans used an infusion of sage to cleanse wounds, fight respiratory infections, and reduce fevers.
Of all sages, Salvia apiana, or white sage, is held in the highest esteem. Noted for its white velvety leaves, white sage covers wide areas of California that fortunately have not yet been developed. It is still only wildcrafted so few sources of white sage exist commercially.
The most comprehensive official compendium for botanicals comes from the Germans whose health system not only encourages the use of herbs, but also pays for their prescription! Sage is listed as antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral. It is also known to inhibit perspiration. If you are a nursing mother, sage tea is not recommended because it has a reputation for drying up secretions including mother’s milk.
A few easy ways to use sage:
Sage Deodorant: Whenever I travel, I always include in my personal kit a bottle of sage deodorant. The essential oil of sage in a pleasant alcohol based spray has been my preferred deodorant for many years because its stops bacteria from growing, is simple to use, and I like the aromatic scent. But often on my trips, I’ve used my sage deodorant to heal infections and I’ve experienced it to be highly effective. Coral cuts in the tropics always fester. I’ve found sage is quicker than common bacterial ointments in clearing up infected cuts. Ever get infections in your pierced ears? I had a mean one I picked up swimming in Guatemala once. Nothing worked until I sprayed my earrings and ears with my sage deodorant. The infection went away quickly. It seems the feet always bare the brunt of traveling and a few sprays of my sage deodorant have saved many a foot infection from progressing. Scientific studies have found sage oil to be especially potent against staph infections. (see resources below to buy sage deodorant).
Sage Tea: Drink sage tea when you have a sore throat, cough or bronchitis. You’ll find it tastes soothing and feels so purifying. Gargle with sage tea to combat sore throats and inflamed gums. It will kill off throat infections and cleanse the mucous membranes. I’ve also been told that sage tea is effective against hot flashes due to its estrogenic properties. I can’t vouch from personal experience yet, but if any of you are suffering from fluctuating hormones in menopause, try adding sage tea to your program and let me know if it helps!
Sage tea can be quickly brewed even from the sage in your spice jar, which is the Mediterranean green sage or the true Salvia officinalis. I don’t recommend using ground sage because so much of the volatile oils have evaporated, but if you don’t have anything else, you’ll still benefit from it. Honey and lemon or lime juice added to sage tea makes it a very pleasing brew.
The Republic of Tea asked me to create a line of unique teas from various ecosystems around the world. Called The Earth Tea Collection, 10% of the sales for these five teas is given to Conservation International to protect ecosystems important to wildcrafted herbs. One of my favorites, Desert Sage, includes white sage leaves. I drink this tea to soothe my throat whenever I feel under attack from some cold, cough or flu trying to invade my system.
It is interesting to note that the Chinese once preferred sage tea so much to their black and green tea, that they would trade their choicest tea three to one for sage.
Fresh Sage leaves: Chop them and sprinkle over salads or add to soups, stuffing, white sauces, and gravies. Finely chopped sage can be added to butter for a delicious, healthy spread. I love cooking with fresh herbs as they are so flavorful. Use more of a fresh herb than the dried herb since dehydration makes the flavor of dry herbs more concentrated. Sage stimulates digestion and relieves gas so it makes the perfect complement to a meal.
Essential oil of Sage: The essential oil that permeates sage leaves can fight off bacteria and fungus. Add several drops to a couple of tablespoons of a base like almond oil to create an antibacterial, antifungal oil for external use. Rub the oil on your chest for respiratory infections or apply to skin rashes and fungal infections of the nails. Essential oils are powerful so use sparingly for striking results!
In today’s modern life, sage can be used as a deodorant, to purify our homes or flavor our dishes. But in helping us wean ourselves from our dependence on antibiotics, sage gives us its most powerful gift.
Resources:
Sage deodorant is available in natural food stores from Weleda, the Swiss herbal company founded by Rudolf Steiner. Or you can order it on line click here
Desert Sage Tea: Available in loose leaf tins only. Order from Teeccino click here
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