Botanical Name: Salvia Sclarea

Origin: France

Clary Sage Essential Oil is used in aromatherapy in preference to Sage Essential Oil (Salvia Officinalis) because, while Clary Sage shares many of the properties of Sage, the essential oil contains a far lower proportion of thujone and so does not present the risks of toxicity associated with the high level of thujone in Sage oil (up to 45% of some Sage oils). Various writers disagree about the derivation of the name Clary, some stating that it is a corruption of the Latin 'clams' meaning clear, and others that the Latin 'sclarea' is itself derived from the Greek 'skleria', meaning hardness, because the petals end in a hard point.

The plant is native to Italy, Syria and southern France, but will grow wherever the soil is dry enough. Damp soil will rot the roots. It is a dramatic plant growing to 2 or 3 feet, with tall flower spikes rising above hairy leaves. The flowers themselves are not very significant, but they are supported by yellow and purple bracts.

The essential oil is distilled from the flowers and flowering tips, and contains borneol, salviol, cineol, sclareol, salvene and salvone.

Clary Sage Essential Oil has a wonderfully nutty aroma, which is in itself far more agreeable to use in treatments than oil of Sage. It used to be called Muscatel sage in Germany, as the taste was thought to resemble that of Muscatel wine.

The effects of Clary Sage Essential Oil have been described as 'euphoric' though not everybody using it experiences such a heightened state. Most will simply become very relaxed, and probably drowsy, so it is unwise to give massage treatment with this oil to any patient who will eventually have to drive home after the consultation. Better to give them a little of the oil for use in baths at home.

From this it will be obvious that Clary Sage Essential Oil is helpful in all kinds of stress and tension. It is a powerful muscle relaxant, and of course it is especially useful where muscular tension arises from mental or emotional stress.

Clary is very valuable in treating asthma, as it both relaxes spasms in the bronchial tubes, and helps the anxiety and emotional tension often found in asthma sufferers. The same properties seem to me to be potentially useful for migraine sufferers who often hold a lot of underlying tension.

As it is relaxing, warming and antispasmodic it is helpful in digestive problems, especially cramps or griping colicky pains. Either gentle massage over the stomach and abdomen, or hot compresses of Clary will be very comforting. The same methods can be used to relieve menstrual cramps, as the antispasmodic action of Clary will quite quickly stop the uterine contractions that cause the pain. It will also help to regulate scanty or missing periods.

As well as being very relaxing. Clary is a powerful tonic, and this makes it very helpful in convalescence, especially after 'flu, when many people feel very debilitated, during depression and in the post-natal recovery period.

One of the useful actions of Clary is in preventing excessive sweating. When tuberculosis was widespread, Clary was used to combat the night sweats experienced by patients, as well as to strengthen their defence systems in the fight against the tuberculosis bacillus. In the same way, it can help to reduce excessive production of sebum, especially on the scalp, and can be put in a final rinsing water after shampooing, for people with very greasy hair and dandruff.