Nootropic profile
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
A culinary herb with surprisingly robust clinical evidence for improving memory, attention, and mood through acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant mechanisms - studied in both young adults and older populations.
Best for
Educational only: this is not medical advice. Always check with a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement.
What is Sage (Salvia officinalis)?
Sage (Salvia officinalis), whose very name derives from the Latin "salvare" meaning "to save" or "to heal," has been associated with wisdom and cognitive enhancement since antiquity.
What it does for you
Community and editorial ratings, out of 5:
How to take it
- Dried leaf extract: 300-600 mg of standardised sage extract per day
- Essential oil capsules: 25-50 mcL of sage essential oil encapsulated (as used in several clinical trials)
- Tincture: 40-60 drops of sage tincture, 2-3 times daily
- Fresh/dried herb: Sage tea made from 1-2 teaspoons of dried leaves provides a gentler dose suitable for daily use
- Onset: Acute cognitive effects can be observed within 1-4 hours of a single dose. Cumulative benefits develop over weeks of daily use
Watch out for
- Safe at culinary and standard supplement doses: Sage has centuries of safe use as a food herb and traditional medicine
- Thujone content: Sage essential oil contains alpha-thujone, which is neurotoxic at high doses. Do not consume undiluted sage essential oil. Standardised...
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Sage may have uterotonic and anti-galactogenic (milk-reducing) effects. Avoid therapeutic doses during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Epilepsy: Thujone may lower seizure threshold at high doses. Those with epilepsy should consult their doctor
- Hormone-sensitive conditions: Mild oestrogenic activity - use caution with hormone-sensitive conditions
The science, if you're curious.
- Multiple constituents (rosmarinic acid, 1,8-cineole, alpha-thujone, camphor) inhibit AChE, increasing synaptic acetylcholine availability - the same...
- Also inhibits BuChE, a secondary cholinesterase that becomes increasingly important in advanced neurodegeneration
- Rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and carnosol provide potent protection against lipid peroxidation in neural membranes
- Inhibits COX-2 and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in brain tissue
Where to find it
- Standardised extracts: Available in capsule form from herbal supplement companies
- Essential oil capsules: Enteric-coated capsules containing measured doses of sage essential oil
- Dried sage: Widely available as a culinary herb for brewing tea
- Tinctures: Alcohol-based liquid extracts from herbal medicine suppliers
- Fresh sage: Easily grown in gardens and window boxes in temperate climates
Frequently asked
A culinary herb with surprisingly robust clinical evidence for improving memory, attention, and mood through acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant mechanisms - studied in both young adults and older populations.
The main benefits people report from Sage (Salvia officinalis) are: Anxiety & Calm, Cognitive Enhancement, Focus, Longevity, Memory, Mood.
Dried leaf extract: 300-600 mg of standardised sage extract per dayEssential oil capsules: 25-50 mcL of sage essential oil encapsulated (as used in several clinical trials)Tincture: 40-60 drops of sage tincture, 2-3 times dailyFresh/dried herb: Sage tea made from 1-2 teaspoons of dried leaves provid...
Safe at culinary and standard supplement doses: Sage has centuries of safe use as a food herb and traditional medicineThujone content: Sage essential oil contains alpha-thujone, which is neurotoxic at high doses. Do not consume undiluted sage essential oil. Standardised...Pregnancy and breastfeeding...
Multiple constituents (rosmarinic acid, 1,8-cineole, alpha-thujone, camphor) inhibit AChE, increasing synaptic acetylcholine availability - the same...Also inhibits BuChE, a secondary cholinesterase that becomes increasingly important in advanced neurodegenerationRosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and...
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