Clary Sage Essential Oil Benefits & Uses
Clary sage essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the buds and leaves of the clary sage plant whose scientific name is Salvia sclarea. The medicinal use of Clary sage, especially as a vision improver, goes back thousands of years.
Clary sage is one of the most healthful essential oils with antidepressant, antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also a nerve tonic and sedative with soothing and warming components.
It has several uses in the cosmetic industry. It is a common ingredient in many herbal soaps, deodorants, face wash, shampoos, and other hygiene products, thanks to its pleasant aroma and antiseptic properties. Another popular use of this herb is for improving female reproductive health.
Health Benefits Of Clary Sage Essential
Here are our top 11 ways to use Clary sage essential:
1. Help Overcome Stress And Anxiety
Chronic stress and anxiety can seriously affect our physical and mental well-being. They often rob us of restful sleep, further aggravating the situation. Lack of sleep invariably affects our performance the following day, besides increasing the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and depression.
Clary sage oil has a calming, mildly sedating effect on the nervous system, which is very useful in reducing anxiety and insomnia. It has a balancing effect on hormones and can help regulate the stress hormone cortisol.
2. Relieves Depression
Clary sage oil can boost self-esteem, confidence, hope, and mental strength, thereby efficiently fighting depression. This can be very helpful for forms of depression due to failure in career or personal life, insecurity, loneliness, stagnation, the death of a friend or loved one, and many other reasons. Clary sage oil also relieves anxiety. As an antidepressant, it can be systematically administered to patients suffering from acute depression who are undergoing rehabilitation.
3. Stimulates And Improve Digestion
This oil also maintains the health of the stomach and regulates secretion of digestive juices. In this way, it prevents stomach disorders and helps stimulate efficient absorption of nutrients, digestion of food, and regulation of bowel movements. The antispasmodic effect of the oil also suppresses painful muscle spasms and its carminative effect reduces the formation of gas, preventing bloating and heartburn. It also helps in the healing of stomach ulcers.
4. Promotes Bowel Regularity: Constipation Relief
In the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TMC) and Ayurveda, it is believed that most diseases have its origin in the stomach. Many toxins enter the body through food, and many more are produced during digestion. Food should not remain in the digestive tract longer than necessary because these toxins can then damage the intestinal walls, increase the risk of abnormal growths, and enter the bloodstream, which can trigger strong immune responses.
Clary sage essential oil can improve digestion and promote timely elimination of wastes, thus reducing the risk of such diseases.
5. Skin And Scalp Care
Clary sage essential oil contains an ester called linalyl acetate, which reduces skin inflammation and heals rashes. Furthermore, it balances and regulates the production of natural oils in the skin, reducing both oily and dry skin and making your skin look young and beautiful. It also regulates the function of sebaceous glands, and helps control and eliminate acne and dandruff.
It is recommended to be used directly or mixed with a carrier agent like almond oil to facilitate maximum absorption and effect.
6. Treats Bacterial And Fungal Infections
Clary sage hinders the growth and spread of bacterial and fungal infections; it can also stop the dangerous behavior of bacteria entering our body through water or food. Clary sage oil also displays wide-ranging antibacterial and anti-fungal property when applied externally on cuts and wounds.
7. Improve Oral Health
The astringent and antimicrobial properties of clary sage oil make it excellent for improving oral hygiene. If you have problems like halitosis, red and swollen gums, or bleeding from the gums while brushing or flossing, regular use of this essential oil may bring about dramatic changes. It can act against various bacteria that cause bad breath and dental caries. Besides reducing the total bacterial load in the mouth, the astringency helps reduce inflammation of the gums and prevents gum disease.
You should mix a few drops of clary sage essential oil and coconut oil in powdered sea salt to make a paste. Massage this mixture into your gums and rinse with warm water.
8. Natural Deodorant
Buying synthetic deodorants is not only expensive but they also negatively impact the environment. Their pleasant smell only lasts for a short time. Moreover, sometimes they produce skin irritation and allergies. Clary sage oil can be a far better choice as a deodorant because, in diluted form, it serves as an efficient deodorant without any side effects. It is natural, so it doesn’t impact the environment, and its effects last for a longer time.
9. Helps Relieve Menstrual Problems
If you are having troubles with irregular, obstructed or painful menses, you can try clary sage oil. It simply stimulates the opening of obstructed menses and makes them regular, while easing the pain. It cures dizziness and mental irritation during menses in cases of the post-menopause syndrome.
Furthermore, it can help reduce the symptoms and negative effects associated with menstruation like cramping, bloating, mood swings, and cravings for food, by balancing the hormones that run rampant during this time for women.
10. Helps Relieve Asthma And Respiratory Problems
Clary sage essential oil is traditionally used to treat respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Inhaling the vapors can open up airways and sinuses and reduce congestion. Since it relaxes the bronchial tubes, asthma sufferers find clary sage very helpful.
11. Reduce High Blood Pressure
Clary sage oil is very effective in reducing blood pressure by relaxing the veins and arteries, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis. By reducing blood pressure, it widens the blood vessels and allows for increased circulation, resulting in increased oxygenation to the muscles and organ system, boosting your overall metabolic performance.
How To Use Clary Sage Oil?
Research has found positive effects of clary sage oil when inhaled, taken via the mouth, and applied directly to inflamed areas of the body. Just make sure to select 100 percent essential oil.
1. Aromatherapy:
Around 2 to 3 drops of clary sage oil can be mixed with water and other essential oils and diffused into the air via an essential oil burner. When vaporized, clary sage oil can help to fight bacteria and other germs in the air.
2. Clary Sage Oil for Skin:
Add about 6 drops of clary sage oil to 1 oz. of carrier oil, such as coconut oil.
Rub directly onto a wounded area, or massage into skin.
Add 3 to 5 drops of essential oil to the bathwater to soothe sore muscles and improve mood.
When rubbed onto an injured area, it can have a direct antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic effect.
3. Clary Sage Oil for Oral Use:
Add around 1 to 2 drops of 100 percent essential oil to tea, smoothies, or food for a soothing effect, and to help reduce inflammation in the gums. The Natural Standard Herb and Supplement Guide state that 1/2 to 1 drop can be taken orally one to three times daily.
