Sage Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

This article is about the sage plant; for other uses see Sage (disambiguation)

Salvia
Salvia fruticosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Salvia
Species
Salvia aethiopis L. Salvia amissa Epling Salvia apiana Jepson Salvia argentea L. Salvia arizonica Gray Salvia azurea Michx. Salvia ballotiflora Benth. Salvia X bernardina Parish Salvia blogdettii Chapm. Salvia brandegeei Munz Salvia carduacea Benth. Salvia chapmanii Gray Salvia clevelandii Greene Salvia coccinea P.J. Buchoz Salvia columbariae Benth. Salvia davidsonii Greenm. Salvia divinorum Epling & Jativa Salvia dolichantha Whitehouse Salvia dorrii Abrams Salvia elegans Salvia engelmannii Gray Salvia eremostachya Jepson Salvia farinacea Benth. Salvia fruticosa Mill. Salvia funerea M.E. Jones Salvia glutinosa L. Salvia greatae Brandeg. Salvia greggii Gray Salvia henryi Gray Salvia hispanica L. Salvia lemmonii Gray Salvia leptophylla Benth. Salvia leucophylla Greene Salvia longistyla Benth. Salvia lycioides Gray Salvia lyrata L. Salvia mellifera Greene Salvia micrantha Vahl Salvia microphylla Benth. Salvia misella Kunth Salvia mohavensis Greene Salvia munzii Epling Salvia nemorosa L. Salvia nutans L. Salvia occidentalis Sw. Salvia officinalis L. Salvia pachyphylla Epling Salvia X palmeri Gray Salvia parryi Gray S. penstemonoides Kunth & Bouché Salvia pinguifolia Woot. & Standl. Salvia potus Epling Salvia pratensis L. Salvia reflexa Hornem. Salvia regla Cav. Salvia riparia Kunth Salvia roemeriana Scheele Salvia sclarea L. Salvia serotina L. Salvia sonomensis Greene Salvia spathacea Greene Salvia splendens Sellow Salvia subincisa Benth. Salvia summa A. Nels. Salvia X superba Stapf Salvia X sylvestris L. Salvia texana Torr. Salvia thomasiana Urban Salvia tiliifolia Vahl Salvia urticifolia L. Salvia vaseyi Parish Salvia verbenacea L. Salvia verticillata L. Salvia vinacea Woot. & Standl. ... and dozens more. Ref: ITIS 32680 2002-09-06

Sage is a term used for plants of the genus Salvia. When used without modifiers it generally refers to the common sage, but can be used with modifiers to refer to any member of the genus. However, the ornamental species are still most commonly referred to as Salvias. This genus includes shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. They are grown as herbs and for ornament.

The name Salvia comes from salveo, salvare = to heal.

Some Artemisia species are sometimes called sages, a shortened version of sagebrush, which is a more appropriate term for them. They generally taste vile, and have no place on the spice shelf, although many of them are used medicinally. This misnaming has gone rather far in smudging: smudge bundles are made with various grey-leaved species of Artemisia and sold as "whitesage" smudges. The true whitesage is Salvia apiana, which has a delightful scent when burned.

Table of contents

1 Medicinal uses 1.1 Aromatic sages 1.2 Non-aromatic sages 1.3 Chia sages 1.4 Salvia divinorum 2 Culinary uses

Medicinal uses

Medicinally, there are several types of Salvia:

• the aromatic ones (usually strongly scented leaves, and with herbal value)
• the 'non-aromatic' (these have little herbal value, but many still have a scent)
• Chia sages
• Salvia divinorum

Aromatic sages

• Salvia apiana, White sage, California white sage, a perennial at home in the mountains of Southern California, sometimes found in the desert of southern Arizona,
• Salvia candelabrum, a blue-flowering scented sage,
• Salvia clevelandii, Blue sage, Cleveland sage, Fragrant sage, with a very strong scent, found either delightful or disgusting,
• Salvia fulgens, Cardinal sage, Mexican red sage, a red-flowering perennial,
• Salvia greggii, Autumn sage, a red-flowered sage with a very strong scent,
• Salvia lyrata, Lyre-leaved sage, Lyreleaf sage, Cancerweed, a purple-flowering perennial,
• Salvia officinalis, common sage; this is "the" sage. There are several varieties.
• Salvia pratensis, Meadow clary, Meadow sage, a blue-flowering species,
• Salvia sclarea, Clary (or Clary sage), a biennial sage with enormous (for sages) flower spikes, quite showy, and quite tasty in teas,
• Salvia verticillata, Whorled clary, Lilac sage, a white- or blue-flowering perennial with the scent of Clary.

The aromatic sages strengthen the lungs; they can therefore be used in teas or tinctures to prevent coughs: 2-3 cups a day for 1-2 months, repeat yearly. Less aromatic species of Salvia are run-of-the-mill mint-family anti-inflammatories, which means that they can be used for pretty much any infection or inflammation, and will give at least some relief.

Salvia officinalis, as a cold tea, will stop sweating, while the same tea, drunk hot, will produce sweating. Cold and hot teas will also either stop or enhance milk production.

Salvia apiana, white sage, is a very strong general anti-inflammatory, used as tea or tincture. The tincture has a very nice scent; it can be used as a perfume. This species is the famous whitesage of smudge sticks.

Salvia elegans (old: S. rutilans), Pineapple sage, is a tender perennial with pineapple-scented leaves. Medicinally, this is perhaps closest to the scented geraniums, sweet-smelling Pelargonium species.

Salvia miltiorrhiza, Red sage, is used medicinally in Traditional Chinese medicine.

Non-aromatic sages

The non-aromatic ages are not considered medicinal. You'll find species like

• Salvia argentea, Silver sage, usually a showy-flowered biennial, it's named for the color of its foliage,
• Salvia azurea, Blue sage, Azure blue sage; this species has very big bright blue flowers; it's quite showy
• Salvia coccinea, Blood sage, a scarlet-flowered tender perennial,
• Salvia farinacea, Mealycup sage, grown as an annual in temperate climates, it will survive mild winters,
• Salvia horminum, (syn.: S. viridis), Painted sage, Clary, an annual with showy blue, pink or white flower bracts,
• Salvia patens, a blue-flowering annual,
• Salvia splendens, Scarlet sage, a red-flowering annual,
• Salvia x superba, a purple-flowering perennial.

Chia sages

• Salvia arizonica, Arizona sage, Desert indigo sage, a purple-flowering annual, native to Texas,
• Salvia carnosa, a blue-flowering annual, native to the Arizona desert,
• Salvia columbariae, Chia, Chia sage, California chia, a blue-flowering annual, native to California desert,
• Salvia polystachya, Chia sage, Chia seed,
• Salvia potus, Chia.

The seeds of these species are used as bulk laxatives, much like the seeds of Psyllium (Plantago spp.) or linseed.

Chia has been important in the diet of desert Indians. It is still used for its mucilaginous qualities by Mexican natives.

Salvia divinorum

Salvia divinorum, Diviner's sage, Yerba de la Pastora (sometimes called just salvia). This plant differs from all the other sages; it is a Mexican visionary herb, which cannot be grown from seed.

Classification: Sages are members of the mint family, Lamiaceae.

Culinary uses

As an herb, sage is considered to have a slight peppery flavor. In Western cooking, it is used for flavoring fatty meats(especially as a marinade), cheeses, and some drinks. In Britain and Flanders, sage is used with onion for poultry or pork stuffing and also in sauces. In French cuisine, sage is used for cooking white meat and in vegetable soups. Germans often use it in sausage dishes. Sage is also common in Italian cooking. In the Balkans and the Middle East, it is used when roasting mutton.

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