Sage-Salvia officinalis seeds for sale

Sage-Salvia officinalis
Family        :  Labiatae
Hindi          :  Salvia, Sefakus
Malayalam  :  Salvi tulasi
Cahmerian  :  Green leaf
Bengali       :  Bui tulasi
Panjabi       :  Sathi
Arabic        :  Mayameeah
Chineese     :  Shu wei cao
Czech         :  Salvej
Dutch         :  Salie
French       :  Sauge
German      : Salbei
Italian         : Salvia
Spanish       :Salvia

Sage is a native of Mediterranean area. It grows wild in the Dalmatian region of Yugoslavia. It is cultivated in Kashmir, Yugoslavia, Italy, Albania, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, England, Canada and USA.

Chemical constituents :  Volatile oil, resin, tannin and a bitter principle. The oil is composed of camphore, salvene, cineol and pinene. The fresh leaves provide appreciable amounts of vitamin A and C.

Medicinal use of Sage : Sage has a very long history of effective medicinal use and is an important domestic herbal remedy for disorders of the digestive system. Its antiseptic qualities make it an effective gargle for the mouth where it can heal sore throats, ulcers etc. The leaves applied to an aching tooth will often relieve the pain. The whole herb is antihydrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, galactofuge, stimulant, tonic and vasodilator. Sage is also used internally in the treatment of excessive lactation, night sweats, excessive salivation (as in Parkinson's disease), profuse perspiration (as in TB), anxiety, depression, female sterility and menopausal problems. Many herbalists believe that the purple-leafed forms of this species are more potent medicinally. This remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women or to people who have epileptic fits. The plant is toxic in excess or when taken for extended periods - though the toxic dose is very large. Externally, it is used to treat insect bites, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal discharge. The leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use. The essential oil from the plant is used in small doses to remove heavy collections of mucous from the respiratory organs and mixed in embrocations for treating rheumatism. In larger doses, however, it can cause epileptic fits, giddiness etc. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is "Tonic".

Other uses : Sage is one of the most popular expensive herbs in culinary preparations in the west. It helps counteract the harmful richness of foods like pork, goose, duck and oily fish. It also combines well with dairy foods, bean and pea soups. Dried and powdered leaves are mixed with cooked vegetables and sprinkled on cheese dishes. fresh  sage leaves are used in salads and sandwiches.

Description of the plant:
Plant : Evergreen Shrub
Height : 60-120 cm (2/4 feet)
Flovering : June to August
Scent : Scented Shrub

Habitat of the herb : Dry banks and stony places, usually in limestone areas and often where there is very little soil.

Edible parts of Sage : Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked. A very common herb, the strongly aromatic leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods. They are an aid to digestion and so are often used with heavy, oily foods. They impart a sausage-like flavour to savoury dishes. The young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw, boiled, pickled or used in sandwiches. The flowers can also be sprinkled on salads to add colour and fragrance. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves, it is said to improve the digestion. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used commercially to flavour ice cream, sweets, baked goods etc.

Other uses of the herb : The leaves make excellent tooth cleaners, simply rub the top side of the leaf over the teeth and gums. The purple-leafed form of sage has tougher leaves and is better for cleaning the teeth. The leaves have antiseptic properties and can heal diseased gums. An essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery, hair shampoos (it is good for dark hair) and as a food flavouring. It is a very effective "fixer" in perfumes, and is also used to flavour toothpastes and is added to bio-activating cosmetics. The plant (the flowers?) is an alternative ingredient of "QR" herbal compost activator. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost. The growing or dried plant is said to repel insects, it is especially useful when grown amongst cabbages and carrots. It was formerly used as a strewing herb and has been burnt in rooms to fumigate them. A good dense ground cover plant for sunny positions, though it needs weeding for the first year or two. They are best spaced about 60cm apart each way.

Propagation of Sage : Seed - sow March/April or September in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year.

Sage-Salvia officinalis seeds
No: of seeds : 100/packet

Min. order: 20-30 packets
Available : January to December
Price: INR: 550/-US$12

More details: Jammu and Kashmir Medicinal Plants Introduction Centre
POB: 667 GPO Srinagar SGR JK 190001
(Via New Delhi-India)
Ph: 01933-223705, 09858986794
e-mail: jkmpic@gmail.com, jkmpic@yahoo.in
home: http://jkmpic.blogspot.com

Medicinal plants in Kashmir Himalayas

By: Johan Simith 

Sage cashmerina

Growing medicinal herbs can be a great and interesting hobby, that can even gradually turn in a business if one starts to grow these natural remedies in somewhat larger quantities. The science and overall knowledge related to the process of growing medicinal herbs has been studied for years, so you probably shouldn’t have any problems growing these interesting herbal remedies on your own. They are healthy, look nice, and are relatively easy to take care of.

If one wishes to start growing medicinal plants, healthy plants which are grown easily, are a good choice to start with. A reliable supplier or herbalist should probably be able to help you out. One can start growing plants from seeds or from cuttings. No matter which you choose, try to get them from a source which hasn’t already treated it chemically.

It is best to start growing herbs before spring. There are certain guidelines which should help you grow your own herbs. Always use fertile soil. Rich soil will encourage healthy growth of your plants. One must also ensure proper drainage of the plants. Wet and soaked herbs can develop certain fungal infections, which can harm your plants. One should also have in mind that they should also be kept on the south side the your house, garden, or apartment in order for your plants to get the most sunlight. From time to time one needs to repot the medicinal plants so that they could have the room they need to grow.

Luckily, for those of you who are interested in finding out more about medicinal herbs, there are sites online like plantsmedicinal.com, where one can find additional tips on many different medicinal herbs, along with the many different diseases and conditions that they can treat. For more details about cultivation of medicinal plants http://jkmpic.blogspot.com

India has dispatched roughly 60,000 troops to its border with China

By Johan Simth

Click here Sage seed

Srinagar, 11 June: In the last few days, India has dispatched roughly 60,000 troops to its border with China, the scene of enduring territorial disputes between the two countries.

J.J. Singh, the Indian governor of the controversial area, said the move was intended to “meet future security challenges” from China. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh claimed, despite cooperative India-China relations, his government would make no concessions to China on territorial disputes.

The tough posture Singh’s new government has taken may win some applause among India’s domestic nationalists. But it is dangerous if it is based on a false anticipation that China will cave in.

India has long held contradictory views on China. Another big Asian country, India is frustrated that China’s rise has captured much of the world’s attention. Proud of its “advanced political system,” India feels superior to China. However, it faces a disappointing domestic situation which is unstable compared with China’s.

India likes to brag about its sustainable development, but worries that it is being left behind by China. China is seen in India as both a potential threat and a competitor to surpass.

But India can’t actually compete with China in a number of areas, like international influence, overall national power and economic scale. India apparently has not yet realized this.

Indian politicians these days seem to think their country would be doing China a huge favor simply by not joining the “ring around China” established by the US and Japan.

India’s growing power would have a significant impact on the balance of this equation, which has led India to think that fear and gratitude for its restraint will cause China to defer to it on territorial disputes.

But this is wishful thinking, as China won’t make any compromises in its border disputes with India. And while China wishes to coexist peacefully with India, this desire isn’t born out of fear.

India’s current course can only lead to a rivalry between the two countries. India needs to consider whether or not it can afford the consequences of a potential confrontation with China. It should also be asking itself why it hasn’t forged the stable and friendly relationship with China that China enjoys with many of India’s neighbors, like Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Any aggressive moves will certainly not aid the development of good relations with China. India should examine its attitude and preconceptions; it will need to adjust if it hopes to cooperate with China and achieve a mutually beneficial outcome. (Writer-South Asia)