Sage
Salvia officinalis
Family: Labiatae / Lamiaceae (mint family)
Common Names: garden sage, common sage, Salbei (In German)
Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is a small evergreen
subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flower.
Its name Salvia comes from latin "salvare" > to heal,
so even back in the very old days this plant was used as healing plant.
There are many medicinal uses for this important herb.
Modern research has confirmed antiseptic, estrogenic, anti-inflammatory,
and anti-microbial properties in extracts from sage. It is used in gargles
to treat most types of sore throat. To make the tea just pour some boiling
water over a few sage leaves in a tea cup and leave it for a few minutes,
then gargle or drink it with some honey. For more uses see this
page.
There are many other plants in the Sage plant family
here are 2 more images :
Sage with red leafs, Purpurascens
(Rotblättriger Salbei)
Sage in the tropics
