Clary Sage

Species name: Salvia sclarea.

Also known as: Clary sage essential oil is also known as muscatel sage, clear eye, cleareye, clary, clary wort, see bright and eye bright (but not to be confused with the common herb also called eyebright (Euphrasia).

Clary sage essential oil is a biennial herb that is native to southern Europe, cultivated for the production of the essential oil in France and Russia.

Interestingly, it was known in the middle ages as 'Oculus Christi' which translates to the 'Eye of Christ' and was extremely valued as medicine during that time.

This essential oil is extracted via steam distillation from flowers found on the top of the plant, and occasionally the leaves are ground and distilled as well.

Home Remedies using Clary Sage Essential Oil:

Clary Sage Essential Oil has multiple benefits. It is an effective aid for the female constitution, including menstrual and menopausal complaints. 

It is also a good complexion aid. The essential oil ranges from clear in color to yellow. It has a sweet herb scent, and is watery in texture. 

Occasionally, the ground leaf is included in the distillation of the essential oil. When it is, the oil is green in color and thicker.

Benefits of Clary Sage Essential Oil:

Clary sage essential oil has been used for its antidepressant properties, as an aid to prevent convulsions, as an antispasmodic to ease nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

It is also used to clean wounds, scrapes, abrasions, and burns, is purported to have aphrodisiacal qualities, and is an astringent, aids digestion, is effective to prevent unpleasant odors, promotes blood flow to and from the pelvic region, and as a uterine tonic.

Clary sage essential oil is used to calm stress and relieve insomnia. 

It is a good tonic for the womb and female functions. It is effective for painful periods, menstruation that is too light, and helps make child birth less painful. 

Clary sage essential oil therapy is helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms such as irritability, hot flushes, night sweats, heart palpitations, and headaches. It also helps relieve muscle aches, aids in digestion, kidney problems and soothes inflammation of the skin.

Clary sage oil's greatest therapeutic benefit is its calming effect on the nerves, and its beneficial properties for female functions, kidneys, and as a carminitive.

Clary sage essential oil is also beneficial for skin conditions like acne, and eases muscles and joints aches.

Clary sage essential oil can be used in vapor therapy and in oil diffusers or added to the bath.  It is effective in combating tension, depression, anxiety, and stress.

• Clary sage can be blended with carrier oil for massage purposes, diluted in a steamy bath to ease muscle and joint aches, to sooth depression, anxiety, menstrual problems, premenstrual syndrome, multiple sclerosis symptoms, cramps, stress, and insomnia.

• Clary sage essential oil is used in a cream or lotion, it can benefit skin problems, back pain, can neutralize body odors, and cramps. It is very good at balancing the production of oil in the skin to clear the complexion.

Clary sage blends very well with citrus oils, juniper, lavender, and jasmine oils.

Side Effects of Clary Sage Essential Oil:

Clary sage oil can exaggerate the effects of alcohol, so it should be avoided when drinking alcoholic beverages.

It is considered non-toxic and is not noted as an essential oil that causes sensitization, but when used in large doses can cause headaches. 

It must also be avoided during pregnancy.