05/01/2021
Here's a new one for ya! Let's see how many have seen it.
Lyre Leaf Sage ~ Salvia lyrata
Its a perennial and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is native to Eastern and Central United States. This specimen was found in Harrison County, IN, while foraging.
Fun Bee Fact
Lyre Leaf Sage is especially loved by bees. The plant is designed with a platform on the lower lip of the flower, so when the bee in search of pollen, lands on the platform, the bee's weight tips the stamens, which dump their precious load of pollen all over the bee.
Power: Peace, Strength, Uplifting
Deity: Gaia, The Little People
The essence of this amazing overlooked medicinal particularly her flowers is uplifting, helpful in brightening the spirits when low and overworked, especially for those who ignore the call for rest. Moreover, this plant is for those who selflessly serve but ignore the call to serve themselves. Its applications are wide and varied, it can be used as a hydrosol, consumed as a tea, its essential oil diffused, decoction used in a ritual bath or its aerials burned when one needs to be more in tune with their innate need to rest and rejuvenate.
Edible Uses
Lyre Leaf Sage is closely related to Common Garden Sage with a milder taste, it is less earthy and musky compared to common sage, with a light minty flavor. Therefore, it can be used any way one would use any edible sage. Once used as a common pot-herb, used in many preparations in cooking, cooked or served raw, tossed in salads, the leaf or flower is edible. Can be used in stir-fry as well as using to cook tougher cuts of meat, it will help to tenderise and cut the otherwise long cooking times.
It is wonderful chopped and added to ground meat, or made into meatballs, used in tzatziki, used instead of mint for cocktails, made into syrup, cordials, and can be used for flavoring alcohol.
Medicinal Uses and Actions
Its herbal actions include; anxiolytic, anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, anti-diarrhea, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, mildly laxative, nervine, restorative, stimulant, and tonic.
Its medicinal indications include; Internally, allergies, asthma, anxiety, canker sores, colds, cough, fever, flu, digestion issues, gently loosens phlegm in the lungs, mouth infections, nervous disorders, PMS, restorative for recovery of serious illness or surgery, and sore throat. Externally, infection, insect stings, poison ivy, scrapes, skin cancer, sores, venomous bites, warts, and wounds.
Photo Credit, Shannon Nava, 2021.
