Diabetics should not take sage in place of insulin, but drinking sage tea along with their regular medication is worth a try, says Dr. Anderson. Sage is a perennial evergreen shrub that reaches about 3 feet in height. Its leaves are velvety with long stalks. Sage can be propagated from seeds or cuttings. Sow seeds inch deep in spring.
Sage grows well in almost any soil but requires good drainage and full sun.
Harvest leaves before the flower buds open. Discard stems and stalks. Dry the leaves, then store them in airtight containers. Sage contains relatively high levels of one toxic chemical, thujone, but heating sage to make an infusion eliminates much of the chemical, so the risk from medicinal amounts is negligible. Sage oil may be poisonous and should not be ingested.