Common sage or Salvia officinalis is a perennial shrub that belongs to the same family as mint. It is mainly used for cooking meals or for concocting herbal teas. Besides its culinary use, common sage is also accepted as a medicinal herb, especially in Oriental countries.
All species of sage are known for their anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial effects to the body. Some medical studies had proven that it can significantly enhance memory. In fact, many doctors recognize its effectiveness in increasing the cognitive ability of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
But, most studies about sage are particularly about its benefits to women. Because it is rich in estrogen, sage is proven to help women during the premenopausal and menopausal stage. It helps control hot flashes and night sweats of women during their menopausal stages. In Asian countries, sage is also used to cure female infertility because it helps stabilize the levels of female hormones.
As for lactating mothers, sage is known to help reduce the swelling of the breasts during the breastfeeding stage. It also helps reduce milk when mothers are trying to wean from breastfeeding.
As Treatment for Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is the enlargement of men’s breasts. It is commonly known as man boobs. Many medical and health factors can cause man boobs. One of these factors is the inflammation of the mammary glands.
Mammary glands are responsible for the production of breast milk in women. As the glands produce milk, the breasts are enlarged in order to hold the milk.
Men also have mammary glands. Due to hormonal imbalances, such as, an increase in estrogen and/or decrease in testosterone, the mammary glands may swell and cause the development of man boobs.
Though there is still no medical recognition, many herbalists believe that common sage can help cure man boobs. Recent studies show that due to the anti-inflammatory effect of sage in the body, it may reduce the swelling of the mammary glands in men. When the inflammation of the glands is controlled, the breast enlargement may be reduced.
However, some studies indicate that using common sage may not be effective. Instead, it may cause the breasts to become bigger. This is because common sage is known for its phytoestrogen, a natural substance that helps regulate or increase the production of estrogen. Estrogen is responsible for the development of breasts in women. Thus, introducing phytoestrogen to the male body, by using common sage, may develop breast enlargement instead of reducing or alleviating it.
Thus, experts suggest that before taking common sage pill, teas or any products in order to cure Gynecomastia, the man should first have the enlargement of his breast be examined by the doctor. The doctor may propose for the hormonal levels to be tested. This is to ensure that the cause of the development of man boobs or the inflammation of the mammary glands is not due to the sudden increase of estrogen.
If it is certain that the man boobs is not caused by the increase of estrogen, then, common sage and its products may be used to treat it.
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