Earthy, green, herbaceous, and euphoric. These are just a few words that describe the magical Clary sage. It's calming medicine lets you know all is well in the world. Find comfort knowing everything always has and will work out in the end. Channel inner calmness. Experience contentment with expressing yourself and your emotions. Clary Sage knows you are enough and is more than happy to teach you that as well.
Salvia sclarea
Clary Sage is one more medicinal member of the Lamiaceae, or mint, family. In typical mint fashion it is a highly aromatic plant with square shaped hair stems. More specifically she hails from the powerful magical genus Salvia. You may know this as the sage genus. Salvia comes from the latin for “good health”. This eventually evolved into the word sage also meaning wise. Sage is a very prolific genus containing over 900 individual species. Many of these are also powerfully medicinal.
One of the most famous Salvia members right now is Salvia apiana, or White Sage. White sage has been a sacred plant to numerous indiginous tribes in the Southwest region of the Americas. Not only is white sage an integral part of these peoples way of life, it is vital to the regional ecosystem. White sage is an important food source for bees, butterflies, and birds. Carpenter bees are the predominant pollinators of white sage. White sage is under threat of extinction due to the rise in smudge stick poaching, climate change, and wildfires. Please do not use white sage for smoke cleansing, or other rituals until it’s population has recovered. There are plenty of other substitutes that serve just fine and have healthy populations. Examples include: garden sage, wormwood, cedar, juniper, tulsi basil, rosemary, lemon balm, or clary sage. Palo Santo, one of the popular substitutes, is also going extinct due to over harvesting so please avoid this one as well.
Clary Sage is native to the Mediterranean region. In fact, the first time we hear of clary sage having medicinal properties is from the Greek philosopher Theophrastus around 4 BCE. Clary sage gets its distinct name from the Latin Clarus, meaning clear. In the Middle Ages Clary sage was known as “clear eyes” due to its use in removing foreign objects from the eyes.
This short lived biennial will grow to be 3 to 4 feet high and produces small lilac, pink, or light purple flowers. The large leaves and flowering tops are steam distilled to create the essential oil. The essential oil itself is a middle to base note. It has a sweet, earthy, fruity and floral aroma.
Propagation
Clary sage is happiest in full sun and grows well in sandy soil. She grows hardy in zones 5-8. She can be prone to root rot in wet soil, she prefers a drier climate than most. Make sure to let the soil dry out between waterings. Clary sage also prefers warm weather, so make sure to tuck her in during the cold winter months. If you have her in a container make sure to bring her inside when it gets cold.
If you want to propagate clary sage from seed, you’ll have to wait two years before she flowers. She is, however, a prolific self seeder, so you may not need to worry about it once she gets established. Like many of her mint family relatives, clary sage propagates easily by division once she is about three years old.
Properties of Clary Sage Essential Oil:
Antibacterial, Anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, deodorant, digestive, emmenagogue, hypotensive, nervine, sedative, tonic.
Integumentary System
Clary sage’s astringent nature makes her an ideal choice to use in skin care. She will soothe inflamed skin, especially in cases of acne. She will also help minimize varicose veins and wrinkles, making her a champion of mature skin. Astringency combined with her antibacterial nature make her useful in deodorant formulas as well.
In hair care clary sage can help fight dandruff. It’s ability as an astringent and tonic can help to slow and reduce hair loss.
Digestive System
Clary sage can be used to ease the symptoms of an upset stomach, and irritated digestive system. It is a good choice to help alleviate constipation.
Musculoskeletal
Clary sage is a powerful antispasmodic. This makes her a prime medicine to treat all sorts of muscle spasms and pains. Overworked and tired muscles love clary sage. She is such a good antispasmodic she is ideal for easing the most stubborn of cramps, including menstrual cramps. This leads us to:
Champion of Women
Clary sage is known for being one of the best oils for women. As an emmenagogue she encourages menstruation. This means you should not use her while you are pregnant. Basically the only time women shouldn’t use clary sage is while they are pregnant, until you are ready to go into labor. She can be a powerful ally during child birth to help promote contractions. One of her primary uses is to ease menstrual cramps. Studies indicate a massage blend including clary sage can be just as effective as acetaminophen for relief. She is known to be not only a remedy for all sorts of PMS symptoms, she also eases the effects of menopause.
Mind
Antidepressant, aphrodisiac, nervine, sedative
Clary sage is all about comfort and calm. She encourages euphoria, confidence, balance, and invokes a sense of tranquility. Clary sage actually can decrease cortisol levels. She is a potent nervine and a wonderful restorative to the nerves. She helps with symptoms of depression and anxiety, easing stress and replacing it with ease. Studies have shown clary sage to be more effective than even the mighty lavender at easing depression. Nervous tension and panic attacks are no match for clary sage’s medicine. While she is calming she is not a simple sedative. She will chill you out, but will not encourage fatigue. Clary sage is also an aphrodisiac, and that is certainly one method of stress reduction.
Energetic properties
As with many of her Salvia cousins, clary sage is known to clear negativity and enhance peace. It is a wonderful oil to use to create a healing space for yourself. One way clary sage helps you heal is by stimulating memories, so that you can release them. When you want to unload some of your inner baggage, clary sage is more than happy to help carry it away.
Clary sage is an intense oil for focus. This makes her helpful during meditation when you are seeking a purpose. She can provide the calm and clarity you need to find your path. Many times solutions to problems effortlessly appear when clary sage is around. She’s always down to lend you all the strength and comfort you need when dealing with problems.
Fun Facts About Clary Sage
Clary Sage used to be added to beer and wine to enhance their euphoric effects.
Most Clary Sage essential oil in the States comes from North Carolina.
Common Uses:
Patchouli is heavily used in the perfume and cosmetic industry. It is a fixative in fragrances, meaning it stabilizes the formula and helps the scent stick to your skin longer. The industry also prizes it for it’s calming, yet stimulating properties.
Patchouli is the base of our Maman Brigitte products. It is also now featured in our Root Chakra blend.
Precautions
Do not use during pregnancy. Do not use it while consuming alcohol. Do not use it with low blood pressure. Avoid if you have a history of estrogen dependent cancer.
This website is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, and please check with your doctor before using plants if you are pregnant, using medications or have other health conditions.
Shameless Product Promo
Clary sage has such magical medicine, we feature her in both the Papa Legba blend and in our newest Svadhisthana chakra blend.
Enhancing creativity, sexuality , aphrodisiac,
Papa Legba- CLARITY
Clary sage is one ingredient in the Papa Legba blend because he is the Loa of destiny. He is there to help you find your purpose. Clary sage is added for her contribution of clarity and focus into the blend. This blend is good for workspace diffusing, and helpful in easing some ADHD symptoms.
Svadhisthana- CREATE
Clary Sage has the ability to calm, while enhancing joy. She gives us the mental space needed to create and the fortitude to go with the flow. Clary sage is also an aphrodisiac, promoting all sorts of passions. She’s a natural fit into the sacral chakra.
References
A Review of the “Estrogenic” Essential Oils: Clary Sage Oil Part II
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320423
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_sclarea
18 Amazing Benefits of Clary Sage Essential Oil
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-407/clary-sage