Salvia comes from the Latin "to heal." We think of a wise person as being sage. Sage has a long history of use all throughout Europe and has ancient roots in Greek and Roman history. Most herbal books will have reference to the many uses of sage. It is a common herb and spice.
Also known as garden or meadow sage, it is a perennial plant that makes a welcome addition to any garden. It is considered to have astringent, antiseptic, carminative, and disinfectant properties. Its strong almost camphor like odor qualifies it as an aromatic herb. It is slightly bitter to the taste and warming in its energy.
There is much to say about sage, but for now, we focus on the aspects that apply to the head area. Herbalist John Gerard, in The Healing Herbs called sage "singularly good for the head and brain. It quickeneth the senses and memory, strengthens the sinews, restores health to those that have palsy, and taketh away shaky trembling of the members" (1). Due to the tannins, it also has great value as a mouth gargle for mouth sores such as cankers or cancerous type mouth lesions. It can be found in toothpastes and gargles for sore throats.
Sage has strong antiseptic properties. The abundant antioxidants help it to slow spoilage of some foods, thereby providing an herbal alternative to BHA and BHT. It is more than just a spice; you are actually adding much benefit to your food while enhancing your culinary creations. Topically it has applications for hair care in instances of dandruff, or hair that is falling out. It can also be found in wound creams and lotions. If you are unable to get to a place to clean and treat a wound, you can cover the wound with sage leaves until you can get the proper care.
There is a caution about using sage internally. It does contain a high level of thujone, which can be toxic. Reports say that heating the sage into an infusion eliminates much of the chemical. It is listed in the FDA's list of herbs generally regarded as safe.
Sources
1. The Healing Herbs by Michael Castleman. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA, 1991.
2. Indian Herbology of North America 12th edition, by Alma R. Hutchens. MERCO, Ottawa, Canada and Ann Arbor, MI, 1986