SAFFLOWER / Carthamus tinctorius.

Used toTreat: Baldness: as it is a Vasodilator and opens up Blood Vessels to allow nutrients to get to the Hair Follicles. Massage the Scalp with Safflower Oil or grind up a few Tablespoons of whole Seeds and add the Powder to a herbal Shampoo. Cholesterol: to lower. 

Actions: Most efficacious Emmenagogue known.

Cultivation: A large Crocus with bold flowers with the Pistils of the Flowers used. Also a cake flavouring and clothe dye. Used to Treat: Amenorrhoea: High Blood Pressure: Menstrual Conditions: best used to relieve.  

SAGE - Garden Sage / Red Sage / Salvia officinalis. Mint Labiatae Family. NB: Do not use during Pregnancy. N.B: contains Thujone a compound taken in high doses may cause Convulsions. Culinary & Medicinal herb. Actions: Leaves: Anti - Spasmodic, Aromatic, Astringent, Carminative, Cooling, Cordial, Digestive, Disinfectant, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Haemostatic, Nervine, Stimulant, Tonic and Vulnerary. Constituents: Leaves: Albumen, Bitter Principle, Gum, Mucilage, Nitrates, Pentosan, Phosphoric Acid, Tannin, Resin, Saponin, Starch and Volatile Oil.

Cultivation: A beautiful evergreen strong perennial plant 30 - 40cm high with branching stems that are woody as the base with grey - green leaves 3 - 5cm long and 12cm wide. Has fine mauve or purple flowers at the end of the stems 40 - 60cm high in late Summer or Autumn and sometimes in Spring and likes full Sun in light to medium, well drained and rather dry moderately rich soil. Grown by seeds and cuttings with seedlings in Spring or Autumn in punnets transplanted when 7 - 10cm high into a prepared bed 50 - 60cm apart. Tip cuttings can be taken in early Summer after they have hardened and plant out when the roots are developed in late Summer or early Autumn. Prune the older plants as they become woody and renew older plants from seed or cuttings when 3 year old. Feed regularly when growing rapidly and use the whole herb above the ground, Leaves, Oil and Roots. Plant the Seed in Spring or grow from cuttings in Spring & Autumn or by layering in Spring and Summer 25cm apart and they tolerate a wide variety of soils and moisture but like full Sun. Pick the Leaves for drying before Flowering. As a Perennial small quantities of Leaves can be picked all year round. The fresh or dried Leaves are used with Bread, Cheese, Dumplings, Eggs, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Scones, Soup, Veal and Vegetable dishes  Other varieties with yellow, purple or variegated leaves and different coloured flowers are grown for ornamental reasons. Bunches can be dried to scent a pantry. A Culinary herb especially in Meat dishes it assists with Digestion and to break down the Fat. Aromatic Honey: to make steep a few Sage Leaves in pure, natural Honey and it will also have added Digestive properties. Dried Herb: 1 - 2 teaspoons of dried crushed Leaves can be sprinkled over food for the same effect as the Tea. Mouth Wash: 2 teaspoons of Leaves in 1/2 Litre of water and bring to the boil and allow to stand covered for 15 minutes. Gargle deeply with the hot Tea and include Honey to take away the Bitter taste, if required, for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day. Sage Milk: Same as for the Tea using Milk instead of water and drink before retiring for a sound sleep. Sitz Bath: Used for Women with Abdominal problems and anyone with weak Nerves. Steep 2 x heaped double handfuls of Leaves in cold water overnight and bring to the boil the next day and add the Liquid to the Bath. Tea: A refreshing Tonic. Pour 1 cup of boiling water onto 1 teaspoon of dried or 2 teaspoons of fresh Leaves and Infuse for 10 minutes. Dosage: 1 cup 3 x times a day for 3 weeks then miss a week. Tincture: 2 - 4ml x 3 times a day.

Horses: N.B: Requires specialist prescription  - Do not give to Pregnant Mares! As a Culinary herb it also has remarkable restorative powers used as part of a mixture to rehabilitate very sick or injured Horses and for Nerve debility such as Stringhalt and to improve concentration in Nervous Horses.

Used to Treat: Ague - Malarial Fever: use Sage Tea. Alzheimer's Disease: inhibits the Enzyme that breaks down Acetylcholine and has many Anti - Oxidants. Appetite: promotes. Asthma: Bacteria: destroys invading Bacteria but not beneficial Bacteria. Bad Breath: Gargle several times a day with a warm Tea. Baldness: Blood Cleanser: Body Odour: Canker Sores: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Cramps: Cuts & Scrapes: crush a Leaf and apply to the wound before washing and bandaging. Debility - Confusion: and to increase Longevity. Deodorant: natural. Diarrhoea: Dyspepsia: Fever: cools. Flu: Gargle: with a strong Tea. Glandular Disorders: Gingivitis: Gums: rub Sage Leaves on to strengthen or use as a Mouth - Wash for Bleeding, Infected or Inflamed. Grey Hair: use a strong Infusion to rinse to make grey Hair darker. Or simmer 2 Tablespoons of Sage in 1 cup of water for 30 minutes then cover and steep for up to 3 hours and strain. Add 2 Tablespoons of Rum and rub it in to the Hair at the Roots 2 - 3 times each week and store in a glass container with a lid in the refrigerator shaking well before use. Head Aches: eases. Infectious Disease: it is very beneficial for Human Cells. Inflammation: Used for the Mouth, Throat & Tonsils with the Volatile Oil soothing the Mucous Membranes. Kidney Conditions: as a remedy. Laryngitis: used as a Gargle: Limbs - Trembling: Memory: improves. Menopause: beneficial due to slight Oestrogen content. Menstruation: promotes. Mouth Ulcers: use a strong Tea as a Mouth - Wash if Bleeding or Infected. Muscular Tension - Pain: as a Tea to ease. Nervous System: Warming. Nervous Tension - Pain: as a Tea to ease. Night Sweats: beneficial due to slight Oestrogen content. Perspiration: natural Anti - Perspirant that can cut Perspiration by up to 30%. Pharyngitis: used as a Gargle. Pleurisy: Pneumonia: Pregnancy - Breast Feeding: reduces the production of Milk during weaning. Purify the Air: by burning Sage Oil in a sick room. Spring Tonic: Quinsy: used as a Gargle. Rheumatism: as a Tea to ease. Senses: quickens.  Sore Throat: Combined with Onions has a beneficial effect. Spinal Cord Disorders: Teeth: Sage Leaves rubbed on whitens. Tongue: if inflamed used as a Mouth - Wash. Tonsillitis: used as a Gargle. Wounds: used as a Compress for those slow healing, as it has Anti - Septic properties. Wrinkles: Yeast Infections:

SAGE, Pineapple / Salvia rutilans. Cultivation: Thrives in dry, exposed, sunny spots in a well - drained Lime soil and requires little fertiliser. Half - hardy Perennial to 1.3m high 1m wide. Prune hard in late Winter to shape.  Edible Flowers with sweet nectar and Pineapple flavour. Add to Sorbets, Fruit Salads, Fruit Compotes, Salads, Desserts & Flans. Red Flowers display from Summer to Autumn. Flower Companions: Make an appetising garnish with Borage Flowers, Orange Calendula Petals & Red Pineapple Sage Flowers. Leaves: Tea - Brew fresh Leaves of Pineapple Sage, Lime Geranium and Lemon Balm.  

SALAD BURNET / see Burnet.

SALAD CHERVIL / Chervil / French Parsley. 

SALEP / Orchis mascula. Europe and Britain. Cultivation: A strong erect herb with the Roots used. Used to Treat: Debility - Senility: excellent food for Invalids and one of the best dietary aids for the Senile. Kidney Conditions: originally used for this Condition. 

SAMPHIRE / Crithmum maritimum. England in Saline conditions. Actions: Diuretic. Cultivation: A small herb that prefers rock shelter with the Leaves used. Used to Treat: Kidneys: Diuretic with beneficial Kidney action. Weight: to lose. 

SANDALWOOD / Santalum album. Malaysia. Actions: Diuretic. Cultivation: elegant tree of medium size with the Wood Raspings used.

Used to Treat: Bladder Inflammation: as a Diuretic. Cosmetics: the Oil has an entrancing perfume. 

SANICLE / Butterwort / Sanicula europaea. Britain. Actions: Astringent. Cultivation: A small herb with bold green leaves. Used to Treat: Chilblains: as a Lotion. Dropsy: Leucorrhoea: as an Astringent. Skin - Rough: as a Lotion.  

SARSAPARILLA / Jamaican Sarsaparilla / Smilax ornata. South America. Used to Treat: Blood: as it eliminates Urea and Uric Acid from the Blood and as an Alterative it has specific qualities as a Blood Purifier - one of the best. Endocrine System: An important Alterative herb especially in relation to Sexual and Reproductive areas. Genital Organs: regenerative effects. Gout: as it eliminates Urea and Uric Acid from the Blood. Health: as a beverage. Psoriasis: as it eliminates Urea and Uric Acid from the Blood. Rheumatism: as it eliminates Urea and Uric Acid from the Blood. Skin: improves the health. Syphilis: original cure.

SASSAFRAS / Sassafras variifolium. Pacific coast & North America. Actions: originally as an Aphrodisiac, strong Stimulant. Cultivation: An average sized shrub found in mountainous regions with the Bark and Roots used.

Used to Treat: Arthritis: Specific. Rheumatism:  Specific. 

SASSY BARK (Poisonous) Erythrophloeum guineense. West Africa. N.B: Poisonous and should only be used on specialist prescription. Actions: Laxative but is mainly used as a Narcotic. Cultivation: A small stunted looking tree with the Bark alone used. Its smoke stupefies anyone breathing it in.

SAVORY, Summer / Satureia hortensis / Labiatae Family. Cultivation: Delicious tasting Leaves with peppery flavour, a hot spicy bite and aroma used in Potpourri or posies. Summer variety needs to be close to Bee - hives. A small shrubby annual plant 5- 60cm high with upright stems bearing pairs of oblong, bronze - green Leaves and terminal clusters of pink flowers with the Leaves used and is also used as a flavouring herb. Likes full Sun in a light to medium, well drained, moderately rich soil, and is frost susceptible. Propagated by Seeds sown direct in clumps 15cm apart and thinned out to the strongest seedling in Spring and then sow every 2 - 3 weeks until mid - Summer and harvest as the plant commences flowering. Use fresh or dried Leaves as a flavouring for cooked Beans, Pea & Bean Soups and Seafood cocktails and can also be mixed with Bread crumbs for coating Fish, Pork or Veal fillets before frying and the crushed dried Leaves can be used as a substitute for Pepper. Honey:  Tea: brew the Leaves.

Use dto Treat: Aphrodisiac: Bath: to calm and sooth as a Tea included. Bowels: expels Wind. Colic: especially for Children. Coughs: Digestive Tract: as it has a Stimulating & Tonic effect especially with Beans as it contains chemicals that soothe. Ear Ache:  Eyes - Runny: Flatulence: for quick relief. Indigestion: for quick relief. Inflammation: as a Poultice. Insect Bites and Stings: by rubbing the crushed Summer Savory Leaves to relieve the pain of of a Bee or Wasp sting. Nerves: as it is quieting as a Tea. Stomach - Upset: as it is soothing and expels Wind.

SAVORY / Pepper Herbs / Bean Herb / Satureja montana / Labiatae Family.

Cultivation: Perennial herb 3- 4-cm high with semi - prostrate, spreading stems bearing stiff, rounded Leaves in opposite pairs and a profusion of white to lavender flowers on terminal clusters in late Summer & Autumn. Likes full sun in a light, sandy, well drained, moderately rich soil with cuttings and seeds used to propagate in punnets in Spring or Autumn and transplant 30cm apart or take tip cuttings in early Summer. Used also in cooked Beans, Pea and Bean Soups and with Bread crumbs for frying Fish or Meat fillets.

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