(NaturalHealth365) Sage has long been used as a flavorful and aromatic spice in the Mediterranean countries. It has also been valued as a medicinal herb in that region for thousands of years.  And, now, modern science has discovered the many benefits of sage including, better cognitive function.

Studies on sage have shown it to be full of beneficial biological compounds. These healthy substances are found in every part of the plant, from its leaves to its resins to its essential oil.  This means using any part of the sage plant has the potential to have a healing effect on a wide range of conditions.

Editor’s note: There are many other essential oils that can help with brain function – click here to get a full list from a past article on NaturalHealth365.

Sage offers hope for Alzheimer’s disease patients

A February 2003 study in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics showed a strong memory improving benefit of sage extract.  Subjects between the ages of 65 and 80 with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease were given either 60 sage extract drops a day for four months, or a placebo.

At the end of the study, those patients who received the sage extract had significantly improved memory than when they began the study, and their memories were far better than those who received the placebo.

Cognitive improvements were found even in healthy older people.

It’s not just people with Alzheimer’s who can enjoy the cognitive benefits of sage. A study published in Life Extension Magazine, in February 2015, showed cognitive function and attention spans improved in healthy older individuals throughout the day on the days they were given sage extract; comparatively, those who were given a placebo showed declining cognitive function throughout the day.

All of the volunteers were 65 years of age or older and had no diagnosed memory disorders.

Even young people can enjoy the cognitive benefits of sage

Researchers in the UK tested sage on 20 young adult volunteers who had no memory issues.  Some participants were given sage essential oil and some were given a placebo; different dosages of sage were delivered to participants, as well.

Results showed those taking the sage had a significantly better word recall ability than those taking a placebo.  And, yes, this result was confirmed with a second study of 24 young adult volunteers.

All of these studies show that sage has a powerful ability to improve memory in people of any age. It can also improve memory in those who already have memory issues, such as Alzheimer’s patients.

The improvements in memory in all of the groups tested was significant. The ‘big question’: Will this open the door for doctors to start using sage as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

Hopefully, in the near future, we’ll see more healthcare providers using sage to help young people to boost memory performance when needed, such as for a test at school.  Only time will tell.

Scientists now know what the people of the Mediterranean have known for a very long time.  Sage is a powerful medicinal herb, and its memory enhancing abilities are strong and real.

So, the next time you need a little memory boost, reach for a bottle of sage extract and see what this beautiful plant can do for you.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
LEF.org
NIH.gov