Uses for White Sage

White sage, an herbal member of the mint family, has been a staple cleansing agent of Native Americans for hundreds of years. You too can use white sage to cleanse your house of negative energies and spirits, cleanse your body of a wide variety of ailments and cleanse your hair and scalp of impurities and gray hair.

Food

White sage can be eaten cooked or raw. You can peel the ripened stem tops and eat them raw or eat the whole young stalks raw. You can also use raw or toasted white sage seeds as a spice or grind them into a powder and mix them into wheat or oat cereals. White sage seeds can also be soaked in water overnight and drunk as its own beverage or be added to fruit juice.

Medicine

White sage tea is an herbal decoction that is used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including menopausal and menstrual ailments, sore gums, inflamed throats, excessive sweating, bad breath, poor digestion and skin disorders. White sage can also stop milk production in human mammary glands. White sage tea can be made by placing 1 cup of hot water over 1 tsp. of dried or 2 tsp. of fresh sage leaves. Then, the mixture is covered and steeped for approximately 10 minutes and then strained and drunk, usually one to two cups daily.

Smudging

White sage is often used to release negative energy from homes, offices, attics and even people. This process is called smudging. White sage smudging is performed by lighting the sage with a candle or match and letting the smoke seep through the infected surroundings. As the smoke seeps through the area, it latches on to negative energies and neutralizes them out of the area, leaving the place cleansed and re-energized.

Hair

White sage leaves can be crushed and placed in water and used as a hair dye, straightener and shampoo. White sage oil can be used to cover gray and bring out natural highlights in dark hair. One noted aromatherapy sage shampoo calls for 3 drops of sage oil mixed with 2 drops of rosemary oil, 2 drops of thyme oil and 1 oz. of regular shampoo. You then apply the mixture to your hair, let it sit for two minutes and then rinse off. The essential oils can also be added to any conditioner and left on your hair for two additional minutes. This recipe must be used over time to experience results.

Bug Repellant

White sage is also an ingredient in a highly effective bug repellant, called Green Bug Juice, that can also be used as a skin toner and softener and insect bite salve. The recipe calls for mixing 1 tbsp. of white sage to 30 drops of spearmint oil, 45 drops of lemongrass oil, 1 tbsp. of southernwood, 1 tbsp. of rue, 1 tsp. of eucalyptus oil, 1 tbsp. of pennyroyal, 1 tbsp. of tansy, ½ cup of wormwood and 8 oz. of cold-pressed olive oil. Once all of the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, apply to skin liberally.

References

• Plants for a Future: White Sage
• Grandma's Wisdom: Sage Tea
• Medicine Garden: Sacred White Sage

Resources

• Garden Guide: White Sage Plant Guide