Herb & Spice Fact of the Day

Sage, or Salvia is a perennial shrub with woody stems and greenish-grey leaves. 

It has been used since ancient times for warding off evil, for snake bites and for supposedly increasing fertility in women. 

It has a savory, slightly peppery flavor and is a common ingredient in Italian, Balkan and Middle-Eastern cooking. In American cooking, Sage & Onion stuffing is often used for roasting Chicken and Turkey. Dried leaves are often used as a rub for meats and cheeses. 

Sage tea, is used is several parts of the world as a domestic remedy for the common cold. There is evidence to show that Sage is effective as an anti-perspirant, antibiotic, antifungal, astringent, antispasmodic, and estrogenic. There is also some evidence to show that Sage may be effective in the management of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and also in management of hyperlipidemia. Active ingredients incude essential oils (e.g. cineole, borneol, thujone), organic acids (e.g. tannic, oleic, ursonic), niacin, nicotinamide, flavones, flavonoids and estrogenic compounds.