Alyssum, elecampane, sage and greek name: φασκόμηλο
It is a perennial herbaceous plant, aromatic, up to 60 cm tall with erect stems, with numerous felty branches and belongs to the genus Angiosperms. It flowers in May-August. Its scientific name is derived from the Latin verb 'Salvare' meaning to heal.
It grows in bare, dry and rocky places on the islands and mainland Greece, up to 1500 meters.
The alyssfacia is known since ancient times and its decoction was used as a polypharmacy, as an emollient, expectorant, antimicrobial, etc.
It has been extolled by Hippocrates, Dioscorides Galen and Aetius and is probably the carcass of Theophrastus.
In the Hippocratic Collection, the elephant is mentioned in the books "Per Gynaecis Physios", "Gynaecion tò Proton", "Gynaecion tò Deuteron", "Per Nusa tò Deuteron" and is also found as a diuretic and emmenagogue.
According to Dioscorides it is a diuretic, healing plague.
According to Gennadius, the wine of Dioscorides is produced from the elelisfacon and is a warming winter drink for the common people.
Its therapeutic action is due to the presence of a high concentration of phenolic acids in the leaves with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal action. Sage extracts contain high concentrations of rosmarinic acid, which is known for its antioxidant action, and has an astringent effect thanks to the tannins it contains.
Antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue, antipyretic
Pharmaceutical forms
The leaves, either green or dried, as a decoction with boiling water ("tea") and as an alcoholic extract ("tincture").
Also dried leaves in powder form, as tablets, capsules or jelly beans.
Pharmacological and therapeutic applications
By mouth, in cases of neurological disorders (vertigo, muscle tremor), as an antidepressant and as a memory improver in elderly people.
It is beneficial in amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea.
Method of processing the medicinal herb
For domestic use, the leaves either fresh or dried, for the preparation of infusions. For industrial use, the powder of the dried leaves.
Adverse actions
Generally it is a plant well tolerated by the human body. Consumption of large amounts of sage can cause stomach upset, diarrhoea and a tendency to vomit. Also, the use of the plant can cause allergic reactions.
