Sage oil properties and uses

People should listen to the centuries-old experience of using medicinal herbs even in our age of high technologies, because nature itself gives us beauty and health in its plants. One of them is sage. It is a versatile phyto-helper in many areas. This article will explain the properties of sage oil and how to use it.

People have learned about the miraculous properties of sage for a long time. The unpretentious plant grew on stony soil throughout Asia, in the Center and in the South of Europe, in the territory of the modern Caucasus. Due to the spicy aroma that essential oils impart to sage, it was originally used as a culinary seasoning, but soon they began to obtain the essential oil from the aerial part of the plant for beauty and medicinal purposes.

Aromatic sage oil has a bright, memorable scent. It captures freshness and nutty tones (especially in clary sage), as well as notes of camphor and amber. In addition to its unique aroma, sage oil concentrate has a number of beneficial properties.

• Anti-inflammatory action - the first and main property of sage oil, with the ensuing properties of an antiseptic, a natural antimicrobial and antibacterial agent. It is used for disinfection both externally on problem areas and for internal inflammation of a bacterial nature. It is also effective in fighting infections.
• Antifungal property... Camphor esters inhibit the growth and division of fungal infection cells.
• Antioxidant action... Restores skin elasticity, delaying internal and external aging processes.

• Antispasmodic. It is used for pain caused by spasms, to relieve muscle tension, to relieve coughs and cramps.
• Choleretic and digestion-improving action. Sage oil stimulates the outflow of bile and has a beneficial effect on the entire gastrointestinal tract: it reduces acidity in the stomach, relieves heartburn, helps prevent gastritis and ulcers, preventing the growth of pathogenic microflora in the intestines.
• Bronchodilator... For a long time, sage and its oil have been used for better sputum discharge, protection of the bronchi and lungs.
• Antipyretic. For colds with fever, sage oil can relieve them.
• Mild diuretic and laxative effect has an oil extract of sage due to the ability to remove excess fluid. This property can also lower high blood pressure.
• Stimulating and immunomodulating. The product activates the work of all internal systems and organs - liver, kidneys, circulatory and nervous systems, improves memory and brain activity. In women, it stimulates the production of female hormones, improves the cycle of menstruation, reduces their abundance, eliminates apathy and PMS syndromes. It helps the male body to produce testosterone.

Sage essential oil is obtained from the leaves and flowers of the plant using the steam distillation method. There are three varieties of this unique plant - medicinal sage, white and clary sage. The resulting oil ether from each of them differs in its properties and purpose. White sage oil extracts are used mainly in perfumery and aromatherapy; it is not widely used. Nutmeg oil combines aromatic and medicinal properties, and medicinal is the leader in the content of substances beneficial to health and beauty.

Despite modern chemical technology, the full composition of sage oils remains a mystery to scientists. More than 20 active substances contained in the plant pass into the created oil product. Among them, the following are known:

• salviol, sclareol, barniol - natural alcohol compounds that are powerful natural disinfectants;
• linelacetate - an ester compound used in perfumery to preserve the persistence of aromas;
• camphor, thujone, cineole, zedren - a number of aromatic substances that create a specific aroma of clary sage;
• fellandren, caryophyllene - the main constituents of essential oils;
• glycerides, flavonoids, alkaloids, several tannins.

Sage oil is used internally and externally for many health problems and to preserve beauty. It is used both as an independent ingredient in medical procedures and in combination with other oil esters. In folk recipes, oil from a medicinal and nutmeg plant can be used.

On wounds, cuts, abscesses, a thin layer of essential sage concentrate is applied. He is able to cure skin dermatitis, psoriasis.

During the respiratory season, sage oil is used for rinsing and inhaling. The active substances contained in it kill viruses and microbes (including staphylococci, streptococci with angina) in the nasopharynx, can be used to treat and prevent throat diseases. For daily 2-3 rinses, you need to stir 3-4 drops of oil in 200 ml of warm water with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and the same amount of honey.

If you exclude honey from this recipe, then such rinsing is effective for dental problems - gingivitis, periodontal disease. It relieves toothache, eliminates unpleasant odors.

For inhalation, it is enough to inhale oil vapors directly from the bottle or by dropping a couple of drops into a special aroma pendant. In addition to the healing effect, inhalation of sage ether improves mood. For children and adults, it is effective to carry out 5-minute hot inhalation sessions twice a day - to breathe over a bowl of hot water and 2 drops of oil sage for 10-14 days during complex treatment or to prevent ARVI.

For young mothers who have decided to stop lactation, sage oil extract will help. To gradually reduce milk production, you need to drink 4-5 cups of tea a day with 2-3 drops of the miracle oil. Such a decision must be agreed with a specialist.

In the absence of contraindications, it is sufficient to ingest 1 drop of sage oil extract daily for 10-14 days, taking breaks of 1-1.5 months. A drop of ether is diluted with a few drops of any vegetable oil, the mixture is applied to a bread or crouton, and eaten. You can also add a drop directly to your tea. Ingestion of clary sage oil helps lower blood pressure, while the herbal extract increases it. The medicinal oil taken internally has a beneficial effect on the intestines, reduces gas formation, relieves spasms, and has a positive effect on the nervous, circulatory systems and the work of internal organs.

In matters of beauty, sage essential oil is recognized as a reliable assistant. Applying it to the face, you can achieve cleansing and narrowing of pores, reducing inflammation, acne, toning and rejuvenating the skin. At home, you can use the following recipes.

• For dry skin. Mix raw chicken egg yolk with honey (1/2 teaspoon), drip 2-3 drops of oil, evenly apply on the skin of the face and neck, keeping for 20-30 minutes. This mask will eliminate dryness and give softness after two use.
• For oily skin. In a bowl, pour the pulp of a banana, add 1 teaspoon of clay for the skin, 3-4 drops of sage oil, 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Leave on the skin for 20-25 minutes, repeat every other day. After 5-6 procedures, the skin will become dull, velvety without oily sheen.
• Lifting mask. Dry herbs - chamomile, lavender, sage, take 1 scoop, add a little boiling water to make a gruel, and 2-3 drops of sage oil. Apply the mixture warm to the skin while lying down, hold for 20 minutes. Plant extracts tone the skin, restore firmness and elasticity.

Also, sage oil returns shine, silkiness to hair, removes dandruff, especially if they are damaged by coloring and thermal procedures. The following hair recipes are most effective.

• Dry hair can be healed with the following mask: Mix 1 egg yolk with 1 spoonful of mayonnaise, 1 spoonful of brandy, 1/2 spoonful of honey, 5 drops of sage oil. Soak under a warming cap on hair for 30-40 minutes before washing.
• Normalizes oily hair essential oil combined with bergamot oil and citrus oil extracts. This mixture must be applied to the scalp once every 7-10 days.
• Reduce hair loss the following mixture, applied to the hair 2-3 times a week: onion juice - 2-3 tablespoons, burdock oil - 2 tablespoons, 4 drops of sage oil. Massage the heated mixture onto the scalp. This mask will additionally eliminate dandruff and accelerate hair growth.

As with any drug with a high content of active ingredients, sage essential oil also has contraindications. First of all, these include an allergic reaction of the body and intolerance to its components. Therefore, it is recommended to test the skin reaction before the first application of the oil product. The test consists of applying diluted sage oil (water or other vegetable oil 50-50) to the elbow area. You will need to monitor the condition of the skin within 24 hours.

If there is redness, itching and flaking, then you should not use sage oil externally. Before using sage essential oil inside, it is advisable to consult with a medical specialist about the advisability of taking it. Absolute contraindications for the internal use of sage oil are:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• children under 7 years of age;
• spasmodic blood pressure;
• epileptic seizures;
• dysfunction of the thyroid gland;
• exacerbation of kidney disease.

Positive reviews prevail among people who have used sage oil for different purposes. Most of the improvements have been seen with outdoor use. Women and girls talk about improving the condition of the skin of their hands, eliminating dryness after they have added 5-6 drops of oil to hand cream. Many people are helped by rinsing the throat at the first symptoms of the disease with this oil "healer", it also helps to reduce sweating. An important point remains the adherence to the dosage and the regularity of using the essential product.

However, you should be careful, because because of the potent components, sage ether can cause irritation and aggravation of health. Moreover, one should not independently make a decision to consume it inside without consulting a qualified specialist.

For information on how to make sage essential oil, see the next video.