sage

General

Complementary/Alternative Medicine: This monograph describes a natural or herbal product that is not subject to FDA guidelines for medicines. Patients and clinicians are advised to read package labels carefully to ensure safe and efficacious use.

Pronunciation:
seyj

Trade Name(s)

• Salvia officinalis
• common sage
• garden sage

Ther. Class.
anti-Alzheimers's agents
anti-infectives

Common Uses

• Alzheimer's disease.
• Herpes labialis.

Action

Sage leaf and volatile oil contain active constituents that have antioxidant, CNS depressant, estrogenic, anti-inflammatory and anticholinesterase activity. It may also have hypoglycemic activity. Sage also contains camphor which can cause neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in high doses.

Therapeutic Effect(s):

Improved cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Unknown

Distribution: Unknown

Metabolism and Excretion: Unknown

Half-life: Unknown

TIME/ACTION PROFILE

Contraindication/Precautions

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity;
• Pregnancy and lactation.

Use Cautiously in:

• Seizure disorders;
• Hypertension;
• Diabetes

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

CV: hypertension

CNS: dizziness, agitation, seizures (high doses)

GI: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hepatotoxicity (high doses)

Resp: wheezing

* CAPITALS indicate life-threatening.
Underline indicate most frequent.

Interactions

Natural Drug Interaction

• Additive effects with  hypoglycemic agents and  CNS depressants.
• May interfere with the effectiveness of  anticonvulsants..

Natural-Natural:

• Additive effects with herbs that have hypoglycemic potential such as  fenugreek garlic ginsengand  psyllium. .
• Additive effects with herbs that have sedative properties such as  5–HTP kava St. John's wort valerian and others.

Route/Dosage

PO (Adults):  Alzheimer's disease– 1 gram/day of extract.

Topical (Adults):  Herpes labialis– apply cream with 23 mg/gram of sage extract every 2–4 hours while awake starting within 1 day of the first symptoms and continuing for 10 to 14 days.

Availability

Extract:
Cream : 23 mg/gram sage extract in combination with rhubarb extract

Assessment

• Monitor BP periodically during therapy.
• Alzheimer's disease: Assess memory and cognitive function periodically during therapy.
• Herpes labialis: Assess lesions prior to and periodically during therapy.

Lab Test Considerations:

Monitor: blood glucose periodically during therapy.

Potential Diagnoses

• Deficient knowledge, related to disease process and medication regimen (Patient/Family/Teaching) 

Implementation

• PO Administer as directed.
• Topical Apply to lesions every 2–4 hrs while awake.

Patient/Family Teaching

• Instruct patient how to take or administer sage.
• Instruct patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and to consult with health care professional before taking other medications.
• Advice female patient to avoid taking more than is in normal food intake. Notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding.

Evaluation/Desired Outcomes

• Improved cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
• Healing of lesions in herpes labialis.