Do you use any herbs in cooking? Many people do but don't give it much thought. Take sage. Most people use it a couple times a year maybe, when making stuffing. But herbalists use sage a lot more frequently.
Sage comes from the Mediterranean. There is a variety from Central America also, but this one is not as widely used for good reason - it can cause hallucination. People from that region of Central America use the herb for religious purposes.
Sage has been recognized as an important herb for a long time. In Ancient Rome, sage was considered so sacred that there were rituals you had to perform before harvesting it. Also, the person who was to harvest the sage had to make a food sacrifice and be wearing clean clothing.
They also had to have clean feet to be able to harvest the sage. For the actual harvesting, they had to use a special knife made of something other than iron. This had a simple reason - iron can react with sage.
Sage has a history in China as well. The Chinese discovered sage tea, right around when the Dutch discovered Chinese tea. This resulted in a lucrative trade system being set up. The Dutch would trade one part of sage for four parts Chinese tea. Clearly, the trade was in the Dutch traders' favor. They could then sell the tea for a huge profit.
We herbalists are also big fans of sage. For instance, I'll use sage to help someone who is having a flare up of irritable bowel syndrome. To serve up the sage, I'll simmer the leaves in beef broth for maybe twenty minutes. Chicken broth works just as well, the broth isn't therapeutic but is used for flavor because many people don't enjoy sage tea straight.
Sage is great for helping to wean a child. If a nursing mother is given sage tea, it will help dry up her milk - sage has a natural drying effect. This helps wean the child without harming them. You can also use the drying properties of sage to combat sweating issues, or night sweats from menopause.
You should talk with your doctor before using any herb therapeutically (food amount usage, like as a 'spice,' doesn't require a doctor's advice). Your doctor can advise you on what is best for your own personal circumstances and medical history.
Sage comes from the Mediterranean. There is a variety from Central America also, but this one is not as widely used for good reason - it can cause hallucination. People from that region of Central America use the herb for religious purposes.
Sage has been recognized as an important herb for a long time. In Ancient Rome, sage was considered so sacred that there were rituals you had to perform before harvesting it. Also, the person who was to harvest the sage had to make a food sacrifice and be wearing clean clothing.
They also had to have clean feet to be able to harvest the sage. For the actual harvesting, they had to use a special knife made of something other than iron. This had a simple reason - iron can react with sage.
Sage has a history in China as well. The Chinese discovered sage tea, right around when the Dutch discovered Chinese tea. This resulted in a lucrative trade system being set up. The Dutch would trade one part of sage for four parts Chinese tea. Clearly, the trade was in the Dutch traders' favor. They could then sell the tea for a huge profit.
We herbalists are also big fans of sage. For instance, I'll use sage to help someone who is having a flare up of irritable bowel syndrome. To serve up the sage, I'll simmer the leaves in beef broth for maybe twenty minutes. Chicken broth works just as well, the broth isn't therapeutic but is used for flavor because many people don't enjoy sage tea straight.
Sage is great for helping to wean a child. If a nursing mother is given sage tea, it will help dry up her milk - sage has a natural drying effect. This helps wean the child without harming them. You can also use the drying properties of sage to combat sweating issues, or night sweats from menopause.
You should talk with your doctor before using any herb therapeutically (food amount usage, like as a 'spice,' doesn't require a doctor's advice). Your doctor can advise you on what is best for your own personal circumstances and medical history.
About the Author:
Besides herbal remedies, the author also frequently writes on cat catnip toys and the da bird cat toy.
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