Reader, Merry Christmas!
I hope you and your family are enjoying all that the holiday season has to offer. My holiday wish for you and yours is a year filled with joy, hope – and of course, vibrant good health.
As we celebrate the season, I'm reminded of an old legend regarding one of my favorite herbs and the Virgin Mary…
The story says that this plant protected and hid Mary and baby Jesus when they were forced to flee Bethlehem and escape King Herod's army.
According to folklore, once the soldiers passed by, Mary turned to the plant and blessed it for its good deed.
Since then, Salvia officinalis – or sage – has been revered for having restorative powers.
Perhaps because of this association with Mary and Jesus, sage has become a favorite spice at the holidays. But I make sure to use it all year long.
Our ancestors treasured this herb. They believed those who used it never grew old. So they nicknamed it the "holy herb of immortality."
Their appreciation makes sense, although they may not have known why. But today research proves the incredible health benefits of the plant – including the way it can lower blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes.
In one study, sage extract was found to lower blood glucose levels in animals with type 1 diabetes by activating a specific receptor called PPARΞ³. When this receptor is activated, it can help remove excess free fatty acids in the blood, which in turn, improves insulin sensitivity.1
A second study, this time in mice with type 2 diabetes, found that sage tea is as effective as the Big Pharma drug Metformin in balancing blood sugar.2 And a 2018 animal study found sage lowered blood sugar as well as the diabetes drug Avandia.
Human research had even more positive benefits.
In a clinical trial of 40 people with diabetes, researchers gave participants sage leaf extract daily for three months. By the end of the trial, the patients had lower fasting glucose, lower average glucose levels, and lower triglycerides.3
But sage does much more than balance your blood sugar. It also: - Protects against Alzheimer's. Sage stops the breakdown of a chemical messenger called acetylcholine.4 This neurotransmitter is directly involved in memory and levels fall as Alzheimer's progresses. The herb has also been shown to improve memory in older adults by 60%.5
- Fights certain kinds of cancers. Studies found that sage extract can suppress the growth of cancer cells and stimulate apoptosis, or cell death, in colon, liver, breast, and skin cancer.6
- Supports bone health. Sage contains a large amount of bone-boosting vitamin K. Too little of this nutrient is linked to bone thinning and fractures.
- Lowers inflammation. Sage is high in rosmarinic acid (RosA), a powerful anti-inflammatory. A recent study found that RosA can significantly reduce arthritis pain, improve breathing in asthma patients, lower inflammation of the colon, and relieve pancreatitis.7
- Ease menopause symptoms. Sage has been used to treat menopause symptoms for hundreds of years. Modern science found that using sage daily significantly reduced the number and intensity of hot flashes over eight weeks.8
With so many benefits, you can see why it makes sense to use sage year-round. I recommend adding fresh sage leaves to your meals every day. I like to include this herb in my eggs, on top of soups, and in sauces. Brew A Cup Of Healthy Herbal Sage Tea But one of the easiest ways to get enough of the incredible health benefits from sage is by making tea. It's fast, easy, and earthy. I like adding a bit of organic honey and lemon. Ingredients: - 1 Tbsp fresh sage leaves, or 1 tsp dried sage
- 1 cup water
- 1 lemon wedge
- Honey to taste
Directions: - Bring water to a boil in a small pan
- Remove from heat and add sage.
- Let steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain into a cup, add lemon and honey, and enjoy.
Note: Don't drink more than 5 cups of sage tea a day. Overdoing it can cause stomach upset.
Of course, you can also supplement. I suggest taking 500 mg three times a day. To Your Good Health, 
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References: - Christensen K, et al. "Activation of the nuclear receptor PPARΞ³ by metabolites isolated from sage (Salvia officinalis L.)." J Ethnopharmacol . 2010 Oct 28;132(1):127-33.
- Lima C, et al. "Metformin-like effect of Salvia officinalis (common sage): is it useful in diabetes prevention?" Br J Nutr. 2006 Aug;96(2):326-33.
- Kianbakht S and Dabaghain F. "Improved glycemic control and lipid profile in hyperlipidemic type 2 diabetic patients consuming Salvia officinalis L. leaf extract: a randomized placebo. Controlled clinical trial." Complement Ther Med. 2013 Oct;21(5):441-6.
- Akhondzadeh S, et al. "Salvia officinalis extract in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: a double blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial." J Clin Pharm Ther. 2003 Feb;28(1):53-9.
- Scholey AB, Tildesley NT, Ballard CG, et al. An extract of Salvia (sage) with anticholinesterase properties improves memory and attention in healthy older volunteers. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2008 May;198(1):127-39.
- "Medicinal property of sage (saliva) for curing illnesses...and cancer." https://www.acanceresearch.com/cancer-research/medicinal-property-of-sage-saliva-for-curing-illnesses-such-as-obesity-diabetes-depression-dementia-lupus-autism-heart-disease-and.php?aid=8089. Accessed on December 24, 2024.
- Luo C, et al. "A review of the anti-inflammatory effects of rosmarinic acid on inflammatory diseases." Front Pharmacol. 2020; 11: 153.
- Bommer S, et al. "First time proof of sage's tolerability and efficacy in menopausal women with hot flushes." Adv Ther. 2011 Jun;28(6):490-500.
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