Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) is a flowering herb deriving from the Mediterranean Basin, Northern Africa and Central Asia and it grows in high-temperature areas. Its name derives from the Latin word “Clarus” which means cleansing or clarifying. Another name for clary sage is “clear eye” and “eye bright” since people were using it for treating the eyes. In the past, when a foreign piece would stick in someone’s eye, they would put the seed of the plant on the eye to attract and stick to the piece to remove it efficiently. In this article, we’ll discuss the 7 benefits of clary sage essential oil and also its uses.
Nowadays people use clary sage in medicine, fragrances and flavourings. It has many benefits for relieving several conditions such as stress, anxiety, wound healing, infections and depression. Also, it has anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties.
Clare sage essential oil has a clean and rejuvenating aroma that can help calm your mind and improve sleep quality. This essential oil is extracted through steam distillation which uses the “heart” of the plant. The basic components of this essential oil are sclareol, neryl acetate, linalool, geraniol and caryophyllene and it has also ester in high concentrations.
7 Benefits Of Clary Sage Essential Oil
1. Relieves Stress & Anxiety
Aromatherapy can calm the mind and decrease anxiety. The olfactory system highly influences the part of the brain that controls emotions. That is the reason why scents can generate memories and elicit negative and positive feelings.
A study was conducted on women that went through a stressful medical test. The results showed that inhaling clary sage essential oil relieved stress and reduced blood pressure.
Another study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food tested the effects of ingesting clary sage oil on anxiety-like behaviour in mice. They found that the addition of clary sage oil to the food of mice helped in decreasing the dominant and anxiety-like behaviour suggesting the anxiolytic properties of clary sage oil.
2. Antimicrobial Activity
Clary sage essential oil is used in medicine to prevent microbial growth and to heal wound infections. You can dilute it and put it on and around wounds to sanitise the area. Due to its activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it can prevent wound infections if you apply it on small wounds, bruises, cuts or abrasions.
In a published study, clary sage oil helped in treating serious wound infections induced by various strains of Staphylococcus bacteria. In this study, swabs were taken from the infected wounds of 61 people and each had recurrent difficult-to-treat wound infections that antibiotics couldn’t heal. The wounds were caused by burns, diabetes or surgical procedures. Testing clary sage oil showed significant antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant strains and was suggested to be an adjunct therapy in wound infections.
According to another study, clary sage essential oil has antibacterial benefits that were effective against all strains of bacteria tested. Also, this essential oil seemed to inhibit the growth of E. coli greatly and attacked bacteria cells in many ways.
One more research indicated that a few chemical elements of clary sage essential oil have anti-fungal properties.
Moreover, in a 2017 study, they compared the antibacterial and antifungal benefits of six different essential oils and they saw that clary sage had these benefits.
3. Natural Antidepressant
Via the olfactory nerves in the nose, the aromatic molecules of essential oils travel to the limbic system of the brain. This stimulates the brain’s hippocampus and amygdala, which results in positive memories, emotions, and a decrease in blood pressure.
The most important instrument in the fight against depression is mental positivity. Clary sage’s use is also to increase mental clarity. It is popular that clary sage essential oil enhances cognitive processes.
Furthermore, another study investigated the effects of clary sage in menopausal women participants. Researchers found that when participants inhaled clary sage essential oil, cortisol, the stress hormone, was reduced. Clary sage oil was also described to have an antidepressant-like effect.
Another study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology examined the antidepressant and stress-fighting effects of many essential oils. In the study they used clary sage, chamomile, rosemary and lavender. The results indicated that among all the oils tested, clary sage essential oil had the most powerful anti-stress result. The researchers deduced that the oil could be successful in treating depression and that the effect of the oil was related to the feel-good hormone, dopamine.
4. Relieves Menopause Symptoms
Sclareol, a compound found in clary sage oil, mimics the actions of estrogen in the body. Clary sage may therefore be useful in lessening some menopausal symptoms. According to several studies, applying diluted clary sage oil on the bottoms of the feet can decrease hot flashes.
5. Relieves Menstrual Cramps
48 women who suffered from unpleasant menstruation and cramps were the subjects of a brief study. Between menstrual cycles, they gave women a lotion containing clary sage oil and other essential oils to rub over their lower abdomens every day. Compared to the control group, the cream-using women experienced a significant decrease in menstrual cramps.
6. Reduces Blood Pressure
According to a 2013 study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, women with urinary incontinence who were undergoing evaluation experienced considerably lower blood pressure and calmer breathing after inhaling clary sage oil. The study supports the claim that inhaling clary sage oil could be a useful method to improve relaxation.
7. Antioxidant
Additionally, alpha-terpineol, a substance with confirmed antioxidant effects, can be found in clary sage oil. It acts as a subtly protective shield against the body’s rising levels of free radicals, which cause oxidative stress and catastrophic ailments. Applying clary sage to the body neutralises free radicals, preventing many chronic illnesses.
How To Use Sage Essential Oil
Aromatherapy:
You can use an essential oil diffuser to diffuse 2 to 3 drops of clary sage oil into the air together with water and other essential oils. Clary sage oil can assist in the battle against bacteria and other respiratory pathogens when it is evaporated.
Skin:
You can mix clary sage oil with 1 oz. of a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and use it topically or massage it into the skin after you add around 6 drops. To relieve painful muscles and elevate mood, add 3 to 5 drops of essential oil to the bathwater. It can have a direct analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic action when applied to an injured area.
Oral:
To soothe the gums and to help minimise gum inflammation, add 1–2 drops of pure essential oil to tea, smoothies, or food. According to the Natural Standard Herb and Supplement Guide, you may ingest 25–50 microliters (or 1/2–1 drop) one–three times per day.
Final Thoughts
Benefits of Clary sage oil can offer a variety of health advantages, according to a significant body of studies. These advantages include anti-depressant and anti-stress properties that are probably related to the dopamine hormone. Clary sage may be a useful natural treatment for depressive disorders due to these effects. Also demonstrated to lower blood pressure, ease anxiety, and function as a fantastic all-around stress reliever is clary sage oil.
Lastly, it has been demonstrated that clary sage oil possesses great anti-inflammatory, moderate antibacterial, and anaesthetic qualities. Yet, it is important to keep in mind that clary sage oil appears to treat inflammation rather than prevent it.
Without your doctor’s approval, you shouldn’t use clary sage oil directly in your mouth, nose, or eyes. To determine whether you are sensitive to this essential oil, perform a patch test.
To find out more about sage essential oil you can read this article, WebMD and Curie.