Ever wondered where the word “clary sage” comes from and what it means? It comes from the Latin word “clarus”, which means “clear”. Owing to this term, clary sage has often been used to help improve eyesight and vision as well as to address related conditions of tired or strained eyes.

The essential oil of clary sage is extracted from the perennial herb that is native to the northern Mediterranean and some parts of North Africa and Central Asia. it is scientifically known as Salvia sclarea. Besides improving vision, the oil of clary sage possesses other benefits as well. In fact, it is considered to be one of the top essential oils for hormones, especially for women! Read on to find out more on what clary sage essential oil can do for your health.

Health Benefits of Clary Sage Essential Oil:

1. Offers Menstrual Comfort

Clary sage oil is great for women who experience menstrual discomfort such as menstrual cramps, bloating, mood swings and food cravings. Since it has antispasmodic qualities, it is helpful in treating the convulsions and contractions of the uterine walls and for soothing throbbing headaches.

A 2012 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that an aromatherapy massage of clary sage was helpful in reducing menstrual pain in Korean high school girls.

This is also in part due to the fact that clary sage regulates hormonal levels because they contain natural phytoestrogens. Specifically, these plant-based compounds regulate estrogen levels and ensure the longevity of the uterus by decreasing the risks of incurring uterine and ovarian cancer, as well as other women problems like infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome and estrogen-based cancers.

How to Use it: Dilute 5 drops of clary sage oil with 5 drops of a carrier oil (such as coconut or jojoba oil) and massage onto the abdominal area.

2. Helps Alleviate Depression

Like some essential oils out there, clary sage oil can also be used in aromatherapy to alleviate depression and melancholic feelings. It serves to boost your emotional moods and induces positive, optimistic feelings within your soul. It can provide a mental boost to your confidence and helps soothe away stress, tension and anxiety which are all potential contributors to depression.

A 2010 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that clary sage could be developed as a therapeutic agent for patients with depression, seeing how clary sage oil exhibited the strongest anti-stressor effect in the forced swim test in the rats.

Another 2014 research study published in the Journal of Phytotherapy Research found that clary sage oil has antidepressant-like effects after testing it on 22 menopausal women in their 50s who voluntarily took part in the study. This is also brought about by the fact that clary sage oil helps to regulate hormone levels, thus keeping your emotional health and mood in check too.

How to Use it: Diffuse 2-3 drops of the oil into a diffuser or vaporizer. You can even add 3-5 drops of clary sage oil to a tub of warm, bathing water to relax and destress yourself.

3. Relieves Insomnia

Because clary sage oil is also a sedative and a brilliant calming agent, people suffering from insomnia do not need to rely on sleeping pills any longer. It induces relaxation, a sense of calmness and peace within you, and rids any anxiety, stress and tension that is lingering. It calms your nerves and thus, gives you the good night’s rest you deserve!

How to Use it: Diffuse 2-3 drops of the oil into a diffuser and put it on your bedside table. Alternatively, you can take a warm, clary sage bath by adding a few drops into the tub of warm, bathing water just before bedtime.

4. Aids the Digestive System

Clary sage oil also improves the digestive system. Being a stomachic, it promotes the timely and regular secretion of digestive enzymes and bile, so as to allow for the proper breakdown and eventual absorption of food into the bloodstream. This thus helps to prevent indigestion and diarrhea.

Furthermore, its antispasmodic properties also serve to mitigate the risks of unnecessary cramping and convulsions of the gastrointestinal walls and linings, hence preventing ulcers and stomach cramps. Its carminative properties enable it to eliminate gas from your stomach and intestines, thus relieving indigestion.

Besides all those beneficial impacts, clary sage oil seeks to regulate bowel movements as well, thus relieving constipation and getting rid of harmful toxins which will accumulate if they are not timely discharged out of the body. As such, clary sage oil is the ultimate booster for your digestive problems as it helps prevent and treat a myriad of stomach and digestive problems.

How to Use it: You can combine clary sage oil and equal parts of a carrier oil together to create a massage blend and gently rub onto your abdomens. Alternatively, you can add 3-5 drops of the oil in a hot compress.

5. Helps Kill Bacteria and Infections

Clary sage oil also has bactericidal and antimicrobial attributes, thus making it a great antibacterial and antiseptic agent. It helps to kill off bacteria, viruses and germs internally and externally when you have incurred a wound, cut or scrape. Ultimately, it prevents wounds from becoming infected or becoming septic, thus accelerating the healing process.

A 2015 study published in Postepy Dermatol Alergol found that clary sage oil was active against the antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain of S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. xylosus, which are common clinical strains arising from wound infections. As such, clary sage oil is undoubtedly a great addition to add in your first aid kits!

How to Use it: For healing of wounds, dilute with a carrier oil in a 1:1 ratio and apply onto the affected areas, while being careful to avoid open wounds, cuts and sores.

6. As Skin and Hair Care

Since it has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial qualities, clary sage oil is especially helpful in reducing skin inflammation, redness, irritation and alleviating many skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. It helps protect and heal the skin from bacterial and fungal infections and regulates the secretion of the sebaceous glands.

Not only the skin, clary sage oil also helps to regulate oil secretion for the hair, thus ensuring that your hair does not get too greasy or oily. With antimicrobial qualities, it can also help get rid of bacteria that leads to scalp problems, itch and irritation, thus helping to get rid of dandruff as well.

How to Use it: For hair health, mix 5-6 drops of clary sage oil and rosemary oil with a tablespoon of warm coconut oil and rub this mixture into your scalp before washing it off. For skincare, dilute the oil with a skin-friendly carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil in a 1:1 ratio and apply onto affected areas.

7. Promotes Heart Health

Besides all the abovementioned benefits, the oil is also great for lowering blood pressure levels naturally. Since it is a relaxant, it relaxes the brain and arteries, allowing blood to flow through it smoothly. This also increases the amount of oxygen that gets into the muscles, heart and other vital organs, which hence reduces the risks of cardiac arrests.

Additionally, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of clary sage work to reduce cholesterol levels naturally as it burns off the excess fats and improves circulation. As such, it mitigates the risks of getting heart attacks or even stroke.

How to Use it: You can diffuse the oil in a diffuser or vaporizer. Or, for internal use, add a drop of clary sage oil to a glass of water or mix it with a tablespoon of honey.

Safety Precautions:

• If you are considering taking clary sage essential oil internally, then ensure that you only purchase high-quality, top-grade, 100% pure organic clary sage essential oil from a reliable seller, and consult your doctor first before ingesting it internally.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is wise to avoid using clary sage oil as it might induce uterine contractions which may be dangerous.

• When using it topically, be sure to always dilute the oil with a carrier oil and perform a skin patch test first to ensure that you do not have any sensitive or allergic reactions.

• If you have pre-existing medical conditions and are under prescribed medication, then seek the advice of your doctor before using clary sage oil as a form of treatment, because it might interact with these medications.

• Avoid using clary sage oil during or after alcohol use.

• Avoid using clary sage essential oil on young children.

References:

Hur MH, et al., “Aromatherapy massage on the abdomen for alleviating menstrual pain in high school girls: a preliminary controlled clinical study”, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2012)

Seol GH, et al., “Antidepressant-like effect of Salvia sclarea is explained by modulation of dopamine activities in rats”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2010); 130(1)

Lee KB, Cho E, Kang YS, “Changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine and cortisol plasma levels in menopausal women after inhalation of clary sage oil” Journal of Phytotherapy Research (2014); 28(11)

Monika Sienkiewicz, et al., “The effect of clary sage oil on staphylococci responsible for wound infections”, Postepy Dermatol Alergol (2015); 32(1)