How to Make Herbal Tea With Sage
Sage is a traditional herbal remedy used to treat several minor ailments. According to the "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines," sage can be used to treat digestive problems such as upset stomach and diarrhea, irritation of the throat or gums, and by breastfeeding women to correct an oversupply of breast milk. Because sage tea occasionally causes serious side effects (see Warnings), limit your consumption to one or two cups per day.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage or 1 tsp. dried sage leaves
- Tea ball or sieve
- Lemon wedge (optional)
- Honey or other sweetener (optional)
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1
Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a teapot, kettle, or small saucepan. Although you'll only need about six ounces of water, some will evaporate as you heat it.
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2
Put the sage into a tea ball or place it directly into the tea cup.
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3
Pour boiling water over the tea ball or sage in the cup. Allow the tea to steep for about five minutes. The longer you steep the tea, the stronger it will be. Very strong sage tea may be unpleasantly bitter, but tea that is too weak may not have therapeutic benefits.
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4
Remove the tea ball from the cup if you're using one. Otherwise, use a sieve to strain the sage from the water.
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5
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and honey or other sweetener if desired.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Don't use powdered dry sage to make sage tea; you won't be able to strain out the "sludge" in the cup. Sage tea can be consumed hot or cold. Cold sage tea is said to work better for inflammation in the gums or throat, whereas the steam from hot sage tea can relieve congestion.
According to the "Physician's Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines," sage tea is generally safe, but you should consult your doctor before drinking it if you have any chronic medical conditions or are pregnant. Rarely, excessive consumption of sage tea may cause seizures. Sage tea can also cause a drug interaction if combined with phenobarbital.
