How to prepare sage

Salvia officinalis is a low perennial shrub that reaches heights up to 75 cm Circulated on the Mediterranean coast in mountainous areas with dry climate. In home gardens it is grown as a spice and for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal properties of sage

Due to the presence of tannins and essential oils sage has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Decoction of plant is used for rinsing of the mouth, throat colds, sore throat, with catarrh of the respiratory tract. It is used as an external agent for hair loss, inflammatory skin diseases, ulcers and festering wounds, for the treatment of frostbite, minor burns.

Sage leaves have a spicy smell and a bitter, spicy flavor, so use them as a condiment, adding to sauces, fish, meat dishes, soups. Very well the sage with rosemary.

In medicine a tincture of sage leaves used in the form of douches, you can drink it at reduced level of estrogen, slow-growing endometrium. Shared bath or an application of sage to help with intervertebral osteochondrosis, deforming osteoarthritis, sciatica, chronic metabolic degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the joints. The infusion of sage is used for peptic ulcer the digestive tract, for the treatment of gastritis, inflammation of the bladder, it is well reduces the blood pressure.

How to prepare sage to make an infusion

Sage leaves are harvested two times in June (during budding) and in September (after the regrowth of the plants). You need to collect it in the morning, in dry weather. The workpiece is carried out in two ways. In the first method, the leaves need tearing by hand and immediately drying. In the second method should be cut off herbaceous plants at a height of about 10 cm from the ground, then you need to dry harvested sage, and then separate the leaves from the stems obnalichivanie.

Raw material drying is carried out under the awning in the open air or in well-ventilated areas. The plant can be dried in special kilns at a temperature not exceeding 35oC in order to avoid losses of essential oils. Store the sage in a dry cool place.

To prepare an infusion of sage leaves for ingestion, add a tablespoon of raw two cups of boiling water, leave it for 50-60 minutes, strain and take 1/2 Cup three times a day before meals. Infusion of sage leaves for external use (lotions, rinses, washing) is prepared as follows: pour 2 tablespoons of raw materials Cup of boiling water, leave for 20-30 minutes and strain.

Do not take sage with a strong cough and inflammation of the kidneys.

To prepare for douching pour 4 tablespoons of raw materials Cup of boiling water, leave for 10-15 minutes, strain and dilute with cold boiled water to 1 liter. Sage, infused with 70% alcohol, prepared in a ratio of 1:10. This tincture should be taken three times a day 20 drops.