Family Herbal - Electric Scotland

FAMILY HERBAL. 297
*jnd covered with a brown rough bark ; the smaller
branches are reddish, the leaves are oblong and
broad ; they stand on long foot stalks, and are of
a singular rough surface, and of a reddish colour.
The flowers grow on stalks that rise only at that
season of the year, and stand up a great deal above
the rest of the surface of the plant ; they are large
and blue, and arc of the
figure
of the dead nettle
flowers, only they grape vastly more. The whole
plant has a pleasant smell. The leaves and tops
are used, and they are best fresh the common
;
way of taking them is in infusion, or in form j of
what is called sage tea, is better than any other :
they are a cordial, and all good against diseases of
the nerves : they promote perspiration, and throw
anv thing out which ought to appear upon the skin.
The juice
of sage works by urine, and promotes
the menses.
Sage of Virtue. Salvia minor.
Another shrubby plant, very like the former
in its manner of growth, but wanting its red colour.
It is a foot or two in height, and very bushy. The
stem is woody. The branches are numerous. The
leaves are oblong, narrower than in common sage,
:md of a whitish green colour : there is often a
pair of small leaves at the base of each larger.
The flowers grow in the same manner as in the
red sage, but they are smaller. The whole plant
has a pleasant smell.
The green tops are used ; and their virtues are
much the same with those of the former, but they
are less. It got into use from an opinion that the
other was too hot, but this was idle.
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