what is sage

Sage is an herb that is native to the Mediterranean region and belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. It is a perennial, evergreen subshrub with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. Sage has a long history of medicinal and culinary use, and in modern times, it has been used as an ornamental garden plant. Some of the health benefits of sage include being high in antioxidants, aiding brain function, and lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Sage is also promoted for sore mouth or throat, memory loss, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and other conditions. However, little research has been done on the health effects of sage, and its effectiveness for these conditions has not been clearly shown. Sage is a staple herb in various cuisines around the world and is typically used in small amounts due to its strong aroma and earthy flavor. Sage is also used as a natural cleaning agent, pesticide, and ritual object in spiritual sage burning or smudging.