Contents
In any medieval cookbook, a recipe for sage sauce was sure to be mentioned. No wonder: such books were written by learned monks who knew well that this herb has a beneficial effect on digestion. Modern research has confirmed the findings of medieval healers: sage not only improves digestion, but also has bactericidal properties, which reduced the likelihood of getting sick in conditions where people ate unwashed vegetables and fruits.
Ancient Egyptian priests believed that sage prolongs youth and promotes conception. In ancient Greece, sage was called a sacred herb that warded off death. Sage tincture really helps with many diseases.
Healing properties of sage
Today, more than 700 species of sage are known. For the preparation of tinctures, sage is mainly used (Sālvia officinālis, Fig. 1). It is thermophilic and drought tolerant. It is specially grown in the Krasnodar Territory, the Caucasus and Ukraine.
Common sage (Salvia pratensis) is more common in the wild. In appearance, it is similar to medicinal sage. But medicinal sage flowers are blue-violet, and meadow sage flowers are dark purple, occasionally white or pink. In addition, medicinal sage leaves are smaller, but they smell much more intense.
In meadow sage there are much fewer useful substances than in medicinal. Tincture of meadow sage is used mainly for gargling, compresses from sciatica and against hair loss.
Sage contains:
- salvin – phytoncide, a natural antibiotic;
- thuyon – sharpens mental abilities and increases concentration;
- chlorogenic acid is a powerful antioxidant;
- flavonoids – strengthen the walls of blood vessels, accelerate regeneration and slow down aging;
- tannins – have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and hemostatic effect;
- vitamin C – improves immunity, strengthens teeth, treats bleeding gums, has flavonoid properties;
- estrogen – a phytohormone that normalizes metabolism, blood circulation and sweating;
- progesterone – helps cleanse the blood, has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, reduces premenstrual pain;
- camphor – relieves itching and irritation, anesthetizes, promotes sputum separation;
- vitamins B1 and B3 – have a positive effect on metabolic processes, normalize the state of the nervous system, eliminate the effects of stress;
- copper, zinc, manganese and other trace elements necessary for brain function.
Diseases in which tincture of sage officinalis is used:
- bleeding gums;
- flux;
- digestive disorders;
- depression, frequent mood swings, chronic fatigue syndrome;
- diseases of the throat and respiratory tract (except for dry cough);
- flu;
- ARI;
- atherosclerosis;
- low immunity;
- headaches, increased sweating during menopause;
- radiculitis;
- joint pain;
- hair loss.
Preparation of sage tincture
For tincture, sage leaves and the tops of stems with flowers are collected. It is best to collect medicinal raw materials during the flowering of sage: from mid-June to the end of July. But the leaves retain their healing power until the end of August, until they begin to turn yellow.
Dried and crushed sage can be infused with alcohol, vodka or wine. For oral administration, especially for diseases of the stomach, it is recommended to insist sage on vodka, high-quality purified double-distilled moonshine or medical alcohol diluted to 40 degrees. For gynecological problems (menopause, infertility) take a tincture of vodka or red wine.
Recipe for tincture of sage on vodka (moonshine)
To prepare the tincture you will need:
- 3 full tablespoons of dry sage (50 g);
- 500 ml of vodka (moonshine, diluted alcohol).
Sage is poured with vodka and put in a cool dark place (but not in the refrigerator), insist 30 days. In the first week, the tincture is shaken every 2-3 days. The finished medicine is filtered through several layers of gauze and stored in a place protected from light. The shelf life of the tincture is 3 years.
Recipe for tincture of sage in alcohol
Ingredients:
- 80 g sage;
- 500 ml of alcohol.
The tincture is prepared in the same way as in the previous case. It is used for rinsing the mouth with gum disease, for compresses. With atherosclerosis, stomach diseases and gynecological diseases, this tincture is not recommended.
Recipe for tincture of sage on wine
To prepare the medicine, only natural (by no means fortified) wine is used. It is strictly forbidden to make a tincture with wine from tetrapacks: it causes diarrhea.
Dry red grape wine is ideal. White grape wine tincture can provoke an allergic reaction. Redcurrant wine goes well with sage (without the addition of alcohol).
To prepare the tincture you need to take:
- 80 g sage;
- 1 liter of wine.
The medicine is insisted for a month in a cool dark place, then filtered.
Application of sage tincture
To strengthen immunity, improve digestion, with depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, it is recommended to drink sage tincture on wine according to the scheme:
- 2 times a day (morning and evening) take a tablespoon half an hour after eating;
- course of treatment – a month;
- break between courses – a month;
- You can take up to 3 courses per year.
With atherosclerosis, they drink sage tincture on vodka:
- 3 times a day, 20 drops half an hour before meals;
- course of admission – 3 weeks;
- the interval between courses is a week;
- it is recommended to conduct 2-3 courses in a row, then – a break of at least 3 months.
Vodka tincture can be replaced with 1-2 teaspoons of wine tincture.
In the treatment of influenza, tonsillitis, acute respiratory infections, they drink 20-40 drops of sage tincture on vodka half an hour before meals. The medicine is taken until complete recovery.
For diseases of the throat, a wet cough, gargle with medicine. To do this, a teaspoon of vodka tincture is dissolved in a glass of water.
They also prepare an oral rinse for diseases of the teeth and gums. Rinse your mouth 2 times a day (morning and evening) after brushing your teeth.
The use of sage tincture in gynecological diseases
With menopause, it is recommended to drink 20 drops of sage tincture in vodka or 2 teaspoons of tincture in wine 2-3 times a day half an hour before meals. When menstruation begins, the medication is stopped, after them it is resumed.
In case of infertility, sage tincture is drunk according to the scheme:
- immediately after the end of menstruation – 20 drops of vodka tincture or 2 teaspoons of wine tincture 3 times a day half an hour before meals;
- the medication is stopped with the onset of ovulation;
- if conception did not occur, the medication is resumed on the first day after the end of the next menstruation;
- treatment can last 1-2 years.
Sage tincture on vodka for rubbing and compresses
With sciatica and pain in the joints, sage tincture with vodka (or diluted tincture with alcohol) is rubbed on sore spots, then they are wrapped warmly. Another option is vodka tincture compresses. For patients with sensitive skin, the tincture is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:1.
In case of a cold, the back and chest are rubbed with tincture, then the patient is wrapped up.
Sage tincture for hair loss
In case of hair loss, sage tincture on vodka is rubbed into the scalp daily. The course of treatment is 3 months.
Another medication option:
- 50 g sage;
- 250 ml of vodka;
- 250 ml apple cider vinegar.
The ingredients are mixed, infused for a month, then the tincture is filtered and stored in a cool, dark place. The medicine is intensively rubbed into the scalp 2 hours before washing, then the head is wrapped with a towel or a warm scarf.
Contraindications to taking sage tincture
Sage tincture is a strong choleretic agent. Therefore, it should not be taken by people with a removed gallbladder. It should also be borne in mind that the medicine greatly reduces blood sugar levels, which sometimes causes poor health.
Depending on the individual characteristics of the organism, the medicine can either increase or decrease the pressure. Therefore, the tincture is equally contraindicated in hypertensive and hypotensive patients.
Other diseases for which sage tincture should not be taken orally:
- tachycardia (the drug causes a rapid heartbeat);
- dry cough;
- epilepsy;
- kidney disease;
- diabetes;
- thyroid disease;
- endometriosis;
- pregnancy (tincture can provoke a miscarriage);
- breastfeeding (sage helps stop lactation);
- oncological diseases, including operated tumors;
- myoma;
- polycystic ovaries.
Before you start taking sage tincture, you should consult your doctor.