PDR for Herbal Medicines

656 /SAGE PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages.

Pregnancy: Sage preparations should not be taken during

pregnancy.

OVERDOSAGE

A sense of heat, tachycardia, feelings of vertigo and

epileptiform convulsions can occur following extended

intake of ethanolic extracts of the drug or volatile oil, or

through overdosage (corresponding to more than 15 g of the

sage leaves). ,.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Cut herb for infusions, alcoholic

extracts, and distillates for gargles, rinses, and other topical

applications such as compresses or poultices. The pressed

juice of fresh plants is also used. In folk medicine, Sage is

used internally as an antihidrotic infusion and "medicinal

cigarettes" are used for asthma.

How Supplied: Sage is available as an alcohol-free 1:1 liquid.

Preparation: ' v

Tincture — prepared 1:10 with 70% ethanol.

Liquid extract — 1:1 with 45% euianol.

The formulas for several "generic" folk medicine decoc-

tions and infusions follows.

Decoction No. 1 — One spoonful of powdered drug scalded

with 1 cup of water, quickly strained, and sweetened.

Decoction No. 2 — 15 g of the fresh leaves with 200 ml of

water heated for 3 minutes.

Infusion No.l — Scald 20 g dried leaves with 1 liter water,

steep for 15 minutes, strain, press, and sweeten if required.

Infusion No. 2 — Pour 1 liter boiling water over 50 g drug,

strain after 15 minutes and sweeten with honey.

Antihidrotic infusion — Scald 20 g of the dried leaves wiuh 1

liter water, steep 15 minutes, strain, compress and sweeten if

required.

Cardiac insufficiency — A tonic infusion is prepared by

pouring 1 liter boiling water over 50 g of the drug, strain

after 15 minutes, sweeten with sugar or honey.

Diabetes — Prepare a fortified wine made by boiling 100 g

of the leaves with one liter wine for 2 minutes.

Inflammation of the bronchial mucous membranes — An
expectorant honey is made by mixing 50 g of the powdered
drug with 80 g of honey.

Nervous exhaustion — A fortified wine is manufactured

using an 8-day maceration of 100 g of the leaves with one

liter of wine.

Tumors — The drug is worked into an ointment base or

pounded into a paste together with salt and vinegar to make

an adhesive paste.

Wounds — The drug is prepared as a cleanser or rinse to

heal wounds using a wine made by heating 100 g of the

leaves with 0.5 liter white wine for 1 minute.

Daily Dosage: The average daily internal dose is 4 to 6 g of

the drug; 0.1 to 0.3 g of the essentia] oil; 2.5 to 7.5 g of the

tincture; 1.5 to 3 g of the liquid extract.

Antihidrotic — 0.25 g of the powdered drug (spoonful or

capsules) taken before meals for excessive perspiration and

nervous complaints.

Cardiac insufficiency — 1 glass of the tonic infusion can be

taken 4 times daily. The decoction dosage (using No. 1 or

No. 2) is 1 glass at hourly intervals.

Diabetes — 1 glass of the wine preparation after meals.

'Halitosis — The leaves may be chewed occasionally.

Inflammation of the bronchial mucous membranes — 1

spoonful of the expectorant in the morning and at bedtime.

Nervous complaints — 0.25 g of the powdered drug

(spoonful or capsules) before meals.

Externally, the following dosages/applications are often

used:

Antihidrotic infusion — 200 ml of infusion 1 to three times

daily.

Gargles and rinses — 2.5 g of the drug or 2 to 3 drops of

essential oil in 100 ml of water as infusion or 5 g of the

alcoholic extract in 1 glass of water.

Inflamed mucous membranes — Undiluted alcohol extract is

applied repeatedly.

Homeopathic Dosage: 5 drops, 1 tablet or 10 globules every

30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic);

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB1), Special doses must be prepared for children.

Storage: Sage leaves are to be protected from light and

humidity in sealed containers. Storage duration of coarsely

cut drug is 18 months; powder, maximum 24 hours. The

tincture is stored in tightly sealed containers away from light.

The liquid extract may be kept for up to 2 years.

LITERATURE

Brieskorn CH, Bichele W, (1971) Dtsch Apoth Ztg 111:141.