We make several products that have clary sage essential oil in them and our Lavender Sage scent blend is one of our most popular. People are very familiar with lavender and some of its benefits, but not so much the benefits of clary sage. I wanted to introduce you to them, but before we get into the benefits of clary sage let’s take a brief look at where it came from.
Brief History of Clary Sage
Clary sage (salvia sclarea) has been used since way back in ancient Greece and Rome for its healing properties and nice smell. It was thought to help vision, reduce swelling, and help digestion. Greek physician Dioscorides recommended it for eye problems in the 1st century AD. Romans added it to wine believing it improved eyesight and digestion.
In the Middle Ages, clary sage was grown in monastery gardens all over Europe. It was used to flavor beers and wines, which people thought made you feel intoxicated and amorous! Medieval healers said it could warm the body, help digestion, and relieve childbirth pains. The seeds were super valuable to medieval spice merchants.
Later on in the Renaissance, clary sage was key for clarifying beers and wines, which led to its name in English. The oils were also used to stimulate appetite and help women’s reproductive health issues. In the 17th century, clary sage oil became popular in perfumes and soaps.
Nowadays, clary sage is still prized in herbal medicine for relaxing, anti-inflammatory properties. The oil is common in aromatherapy, skincare, and fragrances. While the vision-enhancing effects are questionable, clary sage clearly has a long history as both a healing herb and aromatic plant.
The Plant – Clary Sage
The plant Clary Sage is a stout perennial herb growing up to about 3 ft. hight with large, hairy leaves. They are green with a hint of purple and small blue flowers. There are many different varieties of sage including common sage, spanish sage, white sage and even a pineapple sage.
The primary varieties of sage used for essential oils are Spanish Sage (salvia lavandulifolia), Common Sage (salvia officinalis) and Clary Sage (salvia sclarea). We only use Clary Sage essential oil in our products. Read the next section for the reason why.
As a side note: White Sage is the variety used in smudging for “cleansing” during rituals.
Characteristics of Clary Sage Essential Oil
Clary Sage essential oil is typically colorless or a pale yellow with a slightly sweet, nutty herbaceous scent. It is extracted by steam distillation from the flowering tops and leaves of the plant.
Some of the aromatherapy actions attributed to clary sage essential oil include the following actions. These actions are what create the benefits of clary sage that I list below as well as even more that I don’t cover in this post.
Some of the primary actions of clary sage are antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, baxtericidal, deodorant, hypotensive, regulator (of seborrhea), sedative and tonic.
Clary Sage essential oil is the most gentle and safest of the sage essential oils. It is considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Nevertheless there are some safety notes you should be aware of. It should be avoided during preganancy. You should not use clary sage oil while drinking alcohol as it can increase the effects of alcohol.
5 Benefits of Clary Sage Essential Oil
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety – Clary sage has a soothing, relaxing effect on both the mind and body. It can help relieve feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Promotes Skin Health – Clary sage has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that make it beneficial for treating acne, dermatitis, oily skin, and inflammation. It also regulates oil production.
- Supports Hormonal Balance – Clary sage may help balance estrogen levels in women and address issues like PMS, menopause, and cramping. It has a regulating effect on hormones.
- Improves Sleep – The calming qualities of clary sage help promote deeper, more restful sleep. It may also induce lucid dreaming. Many use it as a natural remedy for insomnia.
- Boosts Circulation – Clary sage improves circulation when applied topically, which can relieve muscle cramps, numbness, and pain. It may also reduce appearance of varicose veins.
- Promotes Hair Health: Clary sage oil can be used in hair care products to strengthen hair and reduce dandruff. It’s known for improving hair texture and promoting a healthy scalp.
Our Products with Clary Sage
We make a Lavender Sage blend that contains essential oils of lavender, clary sage and patchouli in both Soap and Skin Care Products. We also make a Lime & Sage Soap that has a blend of lime, clary sage and pettigrain essential oils and is one of my personal favorite scent blends. This soap also is one of the two we make with no soybean oil.
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Salt Glow Body Scrub$25.00 – $40.00 — or subscribe and save up to 10% -
Lime & Sage Soap$14.00 — or subscribe and save up to 10%
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Bodacious Body Oil with Essential Oils$15.00 – $30.00
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Lavender Sage Soap$14.00 — or subscribe and save up to 10%
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References
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless
Thank you for sharing this informative blog post. I found the information to be very helpful and well-researched.
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