Popular Uses for the Sage Plant

Cuisine

Sage is a great herb to pair with meat, as well as and vegetarian protein dishes such as tofu and tempeh. For Americans, the smell of sage is often reminiscent of Thanksgiving turkey, and it is true that sage pairs especially well with fowl such as chicken, turkey, and Cornish hen.

Health-Promoting

Sage is especially popular among herbal enthusiasts as an herb for the throat. It is antiviral and can be steeped in a throat-comfort tea. If the taste of sage as a tea is a bit too much for you, consider adding salt to the mixture and gargling it for throat health. The taste may be a bit off-putting, but the results are impressive!

Cleansing

"Smudging" is a popular use for the sage plant, and its cleansing properties will leave your home smelling and feeling fresh. To smudge with sage, simply bundle up dried sage leaves in a "wand" or "stick", you may want to wrap twine around it every inch or so, so that the leaves will hold together. Light the end of the bundle with a match and then blow it out immediately, the sage bundle will let off a clean, only mildly smoky fragrance. Wave the bundle around rooms in your home that are musty or "close"-feeling for a refreshing cleansing ritual.

Beauty

The sage plant is a pretty, low-maintenance addition to your garden and also grows very well in pots for indoor use. Sage, like most herbs, loves sunlight, so make sure to put it on a sunny windowsill and water it occasionally.