Sage

Safety information

Toxicity: Leaf infusions/extracts generally well tolerated. Thujone-containing essential oil and high-dose/prolonged use can cause tachycardia, heat sensation, vertigo, and (in excess) seizures - alcoholic extracts and oil carry maximum thujone limits. | Leaf as culinary herb/tea is safe in normal amounts. The volatile oil contains thujone; Grieve calls the oil a violent epileptiform convulsant and notes prolonged smelling causes intoxication/giddiness. Excessive/prolonged high-dose oil or strong-tea use is unsafe. | Mild — contains thujone (avoid medicinal doses long-term). | Adverse reactions likely only with overdose (>15 g leaf/dose) or prolonged use — thujone can cause tachycardia, hot flashes, convulsions, dizziness. | Sage contains thujone; high or prolonged doses of the essential-oil-rich plant can be neurotoxic/convulsant. | Mild for culinary/tea use. Essential oil and high-dose/prolonged extracts are a concern due to thujone (Dalmatian sage oil high in α/β-thujone); GABA-A antagonist/neurotoxin → convulsions at high doses.

Contraindications: Avoid medicinal/high doses and the essential oil in pregnancy and breastfeeding (thujone; sage may also reduce milk supply - traditionally used to wean). Epilepsy: avoid thujone-rich preparations. EMA: mostly adults/adolescents. | None specified by source. Modern: avoid concentrated sage oil and prolonged high-dose use in pregnancy/breastfeeding and epilepsy (thujone). | Avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy, breastfeeding, or epilepsy. | Stimulates the uterus — avoid during pregnancy; avoid prolonged high-dose use. | Pregnancy and breastfeeding (thujone; and sage is anti-galactagogue - the book itself uses it to stop milk); epilepsy; high-dose/long-term internal use. | PREGNANCY and lactation — avoid medicinal/high doses (thujone; traditional emmenagogue; may reduce milk supply). Avoid in epilepsy/seizure disorders. Not for prolonged high-dose use.

Interactions: Theoretical additive effects with anticonvulsants, sedatives, antidiabetic/blood-pressure drugs; possible interaction at high doses - consult provider. | None specified by source. | None specifically noted. | None specifically named (thujone additive with other thujone herbs implied). | May lower seizure threshold; additive sedation; may lower blood glucose. (Safety gate.) | Theoretical additive sedation with CNS depressants; possible additive hypoglycemia; may interact with anticonvulsants (lowers seizure threshold) and anticoagulants (vitamin K / coumarin-type effects).

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid medicinal/high doses and essential oil in pregnancy and breastfeeding (thujone; galactifuge). | Avoid concentrated oil and prolonged high-dose use (modern). | Avoid medicinal doses in pregnancy. | Avoid during pregnancy (uterine stimulant). | Contraindicated (thujone; anti-galactagogue). | Avoid medicinal/high doses (thujone; traditional emmenagogue; may reduce milk supply).