Hello everyone!
Today I want to talk about using SAGE. Whatever I get a glut of in my garden is where my focus lies on using to its fullest capacity.
Sage grows all over the world - originating from the Mediterranean where it grows in rocky areas. Wild harvested has to be the best as always or homegrown coming a close second.
If you have a garden it is a great addition as it is attractive and useful - it’s very presence repels negative energy from around your home. You may be aware of sage smudge sticks that are burned to ritually cleanse bad energy from spaces. In a vegetable garden it can be useful in repelling unwanted insects - it is a hardy and drought tolerant plant and once planted will grow and thrive with little to no assistance so a perfect addition in a permaculture garden.
Therefore if you should find yourself with more sage than you can possible make into sage and onion stuffing ( a delicious way to use sage I must add ), then check out my sage honey for one thing...
Making Sage Infused Honey.....
Some recipes will say chop the sage into finest pieces - but with total reverence for this wondrous spirit plant I was not about to do that so I placed the washed and dried leaves whole into a small jar until half full and proceeded to fill the other half with raw local honey.
I did this 10 days ago and already it has taken on the most wonderful flavor - the combination of this herb with honey is absolutely stunning!
The honey not only tastes amazing but can be used to ward off colds, flu and sore throats and it eases congestion. It is anti bacterial, astringent and antibiotic and can be used topically on wounds and surgeries to super speed healing and lessen scar tissue. In this respect it is similar to the well known Manuka Honey.
It is great for oral hygiene... a spoonful of sage honey swooshed around the mouth is extremely beneficial if you suffer with sensitive teeth and bleeding gums due to gingivitis. You could also use a mouthful of sage tea equally well if you are a sage tea drinker. There are so many ways to use and benefit from this wondrous herb.
( A side note here - coconut oil can also be used in this way orally, the process is known as “pulling" and it’s great for sensitive gums. )
Sage honey has a cleansing action on your blood, aids digestion as it contains both prebiotics and probiotics in the first three months after harvest and can be useful to ease stomach aches.
It can increase blood flow and interestingly is particularly beneficial if taken in early springtime.
Please note - Breast feeding mothers should avoid sage honey as it can dry up milk production if taken in excess.
