| Salvia stenophylla | |
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S. stenophylla
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| Binomial name | |
| Salvia stenophylla | |
Salvia stenophylla (Blue Mountain sage) is a perennial shrub native to a wide area in South Africa, growing on grassy or stony slopes, and in open countryside or among shrubs. It has been used traditionally as a disinfectant, by burning it in huts after sickness, and also mixed with tobacco for smoking. Its specific epithet, stenophylla, refers to the narrow leaves.[1]
Salvia stenophylla is a many-branched and upright shrub that reaches up to 2 feet (0.61 m) tall and wide in the wild, less in cultivation. The stems are square and lightly covered with hairs. The leaves are long and narrow with deep lobes. They have a strong fragrance and are rough when touched. The sparsely spaced leaves are pinnatid, growing up to 2 inches (5.1 cm) long and .5 inches (1.3 cm) wide, with ten pairs of narrow segments that have glands. These glands give off a wood-like aroma when brushed. The stem and leaves of the plant are where the essential oils are acquired from. The tiny pale blue flowers appear during the summer months.[2] They grow in whorls of six to eight, and are held in a calyx that is hairy and covered with oil glands.[1]
The leaves of Blue Mountain sage can be made into a tea and used to soothe digestive problems, colds, coughs, chest congestion, and relieve breathing issues. It may be put on wounds such as scrapes, sores, and bites giving relief by providing a cooling sensation. It also contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. The leaves of this plant are natural insect repellants when burned.[3][4]
The essential oil from Blue Mountain sage is straw-like in color. Some of the uses of this oil are to promote clarity, relieve stress, endorse relaxation, massages, aroma lamps, putting it in baths, diffusers, light bulb rings, and in steam rooms and saunas. Diffusing the aroma through the air is the most popular way of using the oils on a daily basis. Another way it is commonly used is the direct palm inhalation, which is diluting the oil in the palms of the hands and holding them to the mouth and nose while inhaling. This method is used to purify the sinuses and provide bronchial relief.[5] The oil can be blended with basil, bergamot, cypress, geranium, ginger, lavender, lemon, vetivert, and ylang-ylang. This is a method of creating new flavors and scents from the original aroma.[4]
The most abundant compounds in the Blue Mountain sage oils consist of: α-bisabolol (46.5%), limonene (38.1%), δ-3-carene (24.9%), γ-terpinene (20.3%), p-cymene (18.4%) and (E)-nerolidol (53.6%). Salvia repens oils accumulated major compounds like (E)-nerolidol (25.2%), ledol (25.4%), camphor (12.7%), β-caryophyllene( (13.6%) and p-phellandrene (22.2%). Salvia runcinata oils had (E)-nerolidol (72%), α-bisabolol (41.1%), limonene (24.1%), α-pinene (45%) and β-pinene (15%) and 26% of guaiol in large percentages.[6]
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