Common sage

Taraxacum officinale Web.

Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is a medicinal and culinary herb with a long history in the Mediterranean region. Its aromatic leaves have been valued for centuries—both in cooking and in herbal medicine. Sage is traditionally used to treat ailments of the mouth and throat, gastrointestinal complaints, and excessive sweating. Due to its long history of use and its potential for further research, common sage was selected as the Medicinal Plant of the Year for 2023.

Profile

  • Botanical name: Salvia officinalis L.
  • German name: Common sage, culinary sage, garden sage
  • Plant family: Lamiaceae
  • Origin: Mediterranean region
  • Occurrence: originally found in hot macchia regions; especially on sunny limestone slopes in the Dalmatian region
  • Cultivation: including Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Hungary, Germany, and France
  • Growth habit: perennial subshrub
  • Height: about 40 to 80 centimeters
  • Flowering season: May through July
  • Part of the plant used: Leaves and young shoots
  • Special feature: The Latin name Salvia highlights the plant's importance as a medicinal plant.

Common sage is a highly branched subshrub. The lower parts of the plant become woody. The erect stems bear many lateral branches covered with felt-like hairs. The leaves are simple, ovate to oblong, and taper toward the petiole. The leaf margins are finely serrated.

Depending on the variety, the leaves range in color from gray-green to silver-green, purple-violet to light gray, yellow-green, or multicolored. Young leaves have a felt-like covering on the upper surface, while older leaves usually appear wrinkled and more bare. The undersides are covered with white, felt-like hairs. The young, velvety leaves in particular are aromatic and are valued as a spice and medicinal herb.

The light blue to blue-violet flowers of the Lamiaceae family appear starting in late May. They grow in loose spikes and, depending on the variety, can also be white, red, or pink. The flowering period lasts from May through July. For use as a culinary and medicinal herb, harvesting should ideally begin before flowering.

Use at A.Vogel

Pharmaceuticals

A.Vogel Sore Throat Lozenges

For the short-term treatment of acute inflammation of the mouth and throat.

Related health topics:

  • Sore Throat, Runny Nose, and Cough
  • Mouth & Teeth
  • Digestion, Liver & Intestines
  • Women
  • Menopause
  • Skin Care