Page 38 - the NOISE November 2013

Sage
Salvia officinalis purpurescens
Primary Quality: Wholeness
Fall is in the air, and brings along with it a flavorful bouquet of invigorating aromas. The temperature is getting cooler as we naturally begin to engage in thoughts of making stews, burning scented candles such as cinnamon and clove, sage and lavender, baking pumpkin pies, roasting turkeys, and raking leaves.
I hold fond memories of sitting around bonfires and burning leaves, toasting smores, singing, laughing, and enjoying the good com- pany of friends and family. This is the Season to bring in the energies of warmth and fire, fun and laughter, embracing all the bounty that is in our lives to be grateful for.
Fall brings a completion in and of itself, offer- ing us that place deep within ourselves to bring all of the parts, all of our loose ends together to build our nest eggs and to prepare for winter.
Curt’s and my friends, a pair of elder red tail hawks have returned to their Home Tree in the Verde Valley to prepare for their winter nest reminding me it’s time to prepare to settle in, light some candles, sit by the woodstove with my afghan and a good book, and drink a cup of hot Sage tea.
In ancient times and throughout history on many continents, Sage was revered for its pow- ers of immortality and longevity, honoring its ability to increase mental capacity.
The Chinese have acquired a taste for Sage tea and its medicinal properties of strengthen- ing the digestive system and providing an over- all calming effect.
The Romans used the Sages as a sacred herb, gathered for ceremony and smudging, as did various Native American tribes here in Arizona and throughout the USA.
Sages contain volatile oils, tannins, terpene, camphor, and salvene. One to three drops of Sage essential oil diliuted in water can be used to remove mucous from the respiratory organs, and it is a useful ingredient in lotions or salves to treat rheumatism.
Herbalists of today use Sage to treat variety of conditions, including; to reduce anxiety and to soothe the nerves, to restore mental alert- ness, to decrease inflammation, for sore throats, tonsillitis, mouth irritations and sores, sexual debility, hot flashes, irregular menses and menopause, phlegm, mucous, coughs, fevers, flu, sore gums, headaches, spasms, lung con- gestion, and more.
As a culinary herb, Sage is lemony, slightly minty, spicy, and somewhat bitter. Fresh flow- ers and young leaves can be eaten in salads, and the dried herb is used in a variety of meat and vegetable dishes, soups, and seasonings. What a distinct treat it is to sprinkle Sage leaves
and flowers on a roasting turkey in the oven for Thanksgiving!
Sage also dries well and makes a striking and fragrant herbal wreath, especially a culinary wreath for the kitchen.
Aromatically, Sage is an ingredient in per- fumes, oils, soaps, and cosmetics.
The network of intricate, pebbly veins on the leaves of Sage resemble small bumps on a tongue. The soft, velvety, hairy leaves call to mind the soft hairs lining the mucous mem- branes. The deep-throated flowers look like an open mouth with lips and tongue. These signa- tures relate to the mouth and the throat. It you put a leaf in your mouth and breathe it in, you’ll feel a cooling sensation in your throat and then a warming feeling. It also has a drying effect. It’s no wonder that the Sages are used to treat mouth sores and irritations, tonsillitis, and ex- cessive mucous discharges.
To me, Sage is one of those plants that be- long in our family medicine kit and in our kitch- en. Using Sage as a tea, as a culinary herb, in a candle, or to burn as a smudge offers a cleans- ing effect and lifts my spirit to prepare for the turning of the Seasons, for the cycling of the Fall and for the preparation of entry into Winter.
As a Flower Essence, Sage teaches whole- life balance, integrating all of who we are into practical applications of daily living. It helps us to be conscientious about the sounds we make and how we make them, the words we choose and how we say them, and the ways we express ourselves and communicate with others.
Sage Flower Essence is useful in times of transitions and life-cycle changes as well as Seasonal changes by helping us to redirect ourselves to that place deep inside that brings peace, balance, contentment, and wholeness.
Sage Tea Recipe
Bring a pan of water to a boil then remove from the heat. Place 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried Sage into the pan of water and let steep for about 20 minutes. Add a slice of lemon and a pinch of honey to taste. Enjoy!
A special thanks to Sandi O’Connor for her wis- dom, sharing, and support in writing this article. Sandi is a co-facilitator at The Center for Plant Studies & Healing Arts.
| Rhonda PallasDowney is the founder of Living Flower Essences and the Center for Plant Studies & Healing
Arts. Author of The Healing Power of Flowers and Voices of Flowers and
has produced a new video: A Jour- ney into Plants & Flowers in Sedona & the Verde Valley of the Southwest.. info@centerpsha.com livingfloweressences.com
38 • november 2013 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us