The sages (or salvias) are an extremely diverse genus of plants, ranging from garden sage (Salvia officinalis) to the deeply psychedelic “Salvia” (Salvia divinorum).
Red sage (herein RS) is a deeply taprooted perennial member of the sage group. The substantial roots are an intense red color.
RS is an herb well known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), but was popularized in the west in part by Stephen Harrod Buhner in his book “Healing Lyme” where RS is featured as a part of his core lyme disease herbal protocol.
Buhner describes RS as a “cytokine adaptogen” which “…modulates cytokine expression during abnormal states. If cytokine activity is inappropriately high, it lowers it; if inappropriately low, it raises it”. I find this normalizing concept so amazing; japanese knotweed is another phenomenal herbal normalizer (for the nervous system).
Considered hardy to Zone 5. Likes anywhere from full sun to part shade, and ideally well drained soil to allow it’s thick taproot to thrive. The tops, including the flower stalks, grow to about 2 feet tall each year.
