What is clary sage essential oil?

Clary sage is a perennial herb, and his scientific name is Salvia sclarea. We derive Clary name from the Latin word means clear. In middle ages, People knew it as the “Oculus Christi” or “eye of the Christ.” We can extract Clary sage essential oil using steam distillation process.

It is native to the Mediterranean along with some area of South Asia and North Africa. The plant reaches 4 to 4 meter in height. And it has long been used as an improving vision and other health benefits for eyes. For its growth, It favors the relatively high temperature. From several hundred years, many peoples mainly used it in tea as a flavoring agent.

Benefits of clary sage essential oil: 

Clary sage oil used from many centuries due to its high number of health benefits. Today, its benefits have recognized by modern science which is the following:

1. For anxiety, stress, and depression:

Chronic stress and anxiety can seriously lead to much other health issues as it retards our mental and physical health. Stress often causes insomnia which further deteriorates our mental health. Sometimes a lack of sleep also affects our heart health and may cause metabolic diseases.

As a natural hormones balancer, clary sage essential oil help regulate the various stress hormones like cortisol, Adrenaline, etc.

In a study published in Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2010, they gave rats clary sage essential oil, lavender oil, chamomile, and rosemary oil. After the study period, rats who have given clary sage essential oil has shown a maximum reduction in stress hormones. Thus, clary sage oil has the maximum anti-stress properties than all the oil taken in the study.

2. improve digestion and helps in detoxification:

Today, everything we eat contains chemicals which by one mean or other toxifies our body and causes many health issues. All these toxins stores in the stomach. Traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurveda believes that all the diseases originate in the stomach.

Many toxins which enter the stomach through food and liquids substance we drink. If these toxins stay for a more extended period in the digestive tract, then it causes damage to intestinal walls and may enter the bloodstream. If they come into the blood, it may harm or abrupt the functioning of other organs.

Clary sage essential oil improves digestion by regulating the secretion of digestive juices like bile and gastric juice. Also, it helps in the timely elimination of various toxin that enters through food or produced inside the body. Thus, by eliminating the virus from the body and regulating the digestive juice production, it helps stimulates the absorption of nutrients. Therefore, it speeds up the metabolism process which reduces bloating, cramps and indigestion.

3. Anti-bacterial properties:

Clary sage oil hinders the growth and spread of bacterial and fungal infections. It can also stop the dangerous behavior of bacteria entering our body through water and food. It can also be a useful remedy to treat wounds and cuts if no other antibiotic and antifungal medicine work.

In a study published in Advances in Dermatology and Allergology in 2015, the lab test was performed on the swab was taken from 61 patients who have severe to treat by using any antibiotics. All the patient with wounds and cuts have an infection caused by several strains of Staphylococcus bacteria. The study result shows that clary sage was active against all sort of disease caused by several strains of Staphylococcus bacteria [2]. Thus, clary sage oil may have properties therapeutically against wounds and cuts infection when other antibiotics don’t work. Always dilute it with carriers oil before applying it on bruises and cuts.

4. Help in PMS:

PMS means premature menstrual syndrome. As it names stand, it says all the things that occur to women before their periods like

• Mood swings
• Stress and anxiety
• Bad skin
• Bloating
• Cramps
• Hot flashes
• Irritability
• Acne
• Fatigue
• Bloating
• Swelling of breasts

All these symptoms vary by women. Mild exercise or pain relief tablets can reduce most of the time pain during PMS, but some women experience worst PMS. Most of these symptoms occur because of hormones changes in women. Usually, it starts 1 to 2 weeks before the periods. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMOD) is a severe form of PMS.

Clary sage oil reduces or eliminates the symptoms and discomfort of PMS. Clary sage oil helps balance out estrogen level as sometimes its level goes high. Also, it also has anti-spasmodic benefits which mean if you have any of the abdominal cramping, clary sage oil help relieve that.

In a study published in 2012, they have taken Korean high school women who were experienced menstrual pain. Some of these women massaged his abdomen with clary sage oil while other women had taken acetaminophen. After the study period, it was observed that clary sage oil gives more significant relief from the menstrual pain than what acetaminophen could provide [3].

Safety tips:

• don’t use it during pregnancy as it is so powerful which alter and change hormones there.
• Don’t use it orally. Rub two to five drops on the abdomen and combine with a carrier oil before its use. You may apply it on feet or pulse points to help balance hormones.

5. Natural skin care and scalp benefits:

Clary sage essential oil contains a linalyl acetate that helps it reduces skin inflammation and heals rashes. It makes your skin look young by reducing oily patches which may cause acne as it regulates the production of natural oil.

A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2017 claims it has significant anti-inflammatory effects in the rats. The researches concluded that clary sage extract could be an effective treatment for all the gums infections which damages gum and jawbone. But clary sage oil has no preventive effects if used three days before the disease [4].

It also regulates the function of the sebaceous gland and helps control and eliminate acne and dandruff. It is beneficial to use it directly or mix with transporting agent like almond oil to facilitate absorption and maximum effects.

6. Reduce cholesterol:

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood; you need it to keep your cells healthy. Cholesterol is carried around your body by protein in your blood. When cholesterol and protein combine they form lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins: One is right for your health, and the other is bad.

Non-HDL, take cholesterol from the liver to the cells that need it. Too much non-HDL creates a buildup of fatty deposits which narrow your arteries. It limits the circulation of blood and oxygen and leads to increased risk of a heart attack or stroke. It is why we call it as bad cholesterol.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) remove excess cholesterol from the cell take it to the liver where it is broken down and removed from your body. It is why HDL is known as good cholesterol.

Clary sage oil due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties protect cardio health. It also improves blood circulation. Lower inflammatory condition and improved flow are the two factors for lower bad cholesterol. Thus clary sage essential oil helps us in lowering bad cholesterol.

7. It relieves insomnia:

For many peoples, stress is temporary as its causes are quickly resolved. Sometimes, stress leads to insomnia as it’s not fixed soon. Clary sage oil is an effective remedy for insomnia because it induces the feeling of calmness and helps us get rid of the stress and anxiety due to its natural sedative properties.

In a study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2017, researcher53 nurses were taken who have a rotating night shift of women. They were divided into two groups of 27 nurses, and 23 nurses where they were massaged using the mixture lavender oils, grapefruit extract, clary sage, and neroli and control group are placed on placebo. The essential oil group shows significant improvement in the sleep of the working nurses [4].

How to use clary sage oil?

1. For eye care, add two to three drop of clary sage oil to a clean and warm washed cloth. Then press the fabric over two eyes for over 10 minutes.
2. We may apply two to three drops on your feet or pulse points.
3.  You may apply one or two drops of the clary sage oil on your pillow for restful sleep.
4. For improving digestion, massage the abdomen with equal parts clary sage and carrier oil or use a hot compress with 3-5 drops of clary sage oil soaked into it.
5. For hair growth, massage equal parts of clary sage oil and rosemary oil into your scalp while showering.
6. Apply it on your skin by mixing it with other carrier oil. Just don’t apply it directly on your skin.
7. You may spray it in your room for calmness and as a room freshener by mixing a few drops of it in water.

Precautions:

Avoid using clary sage oil during pregnancy as it causes a contraction which may affect child health. So it is always best practice to consult with your doctor before using clary sage oil. As it lowers blood pressure and ease stress, it is not good for a patient who has consistently low blood pressure.

You may like to read about Upper back pain symptoms and causes.