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Sage. |
| Sage (Labiatae, Salvia officinalis) It is written that "the desire of Sage is to make men immortal," and throughout history the legendary powers of sage to bring longevity to man have been touted. In China it is asked in proverb, "How can a man grow old who has sage in his garden?"So prized was this herb by the Chinese that the Dutch found that three chests of tea could be traded for just one of sage leaves. The name salvia coming from the Latin, "to be in good health," also reflects upon its benevolent reputation. The Romans also used this herb judiciously in their ceremonies.Herbalists have used this herb to soothe and soften broken skin and wounds. It is known to be both of minor importance as a natural antiseptic agent. It is splendidly beneficial for the hair, too, adding fullness and body, naturally conditioning and strengthening the follicle while cleansing the root.Interestingly, it has also been found to naturally contain a moderate percentage of estrogen (needed female sex-hormone) which latter substance has been used medicinally in moderate doses, being found useful for normalizing menses and relieving symptoms of menopause. |