Sage is an herb that most people use once a year when they make stuffing or dressing for their Thanksgiving turkey. (I guess that’s mostly true for those of us in the States.)

Sage, however, has benefits apart from seasoning the turkey.

Research has shown that sage or sage extract can benefit the brain in a number of ways.

And, you know, the healthier your brain, the easier it is to manage your ADHD symptoms. 🙂

A study published in Pharmacological Biochemical Behavior found that students who took sage extract scored higher on cognitive tests than the students who were given a placebo. Furthermore, the effects were noticed immediately.

Sage is useful as a memory enhancer as well. In fact many drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease contain extracts from the roots of Danshen sage.

Sage, like rosemary and thyme, helps the brain retain an adequate supply of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is vital to proper brain function. Neurotransmitters are how information travels through the brain.

Sage has also shown positive effects on anxiety, attention and mood.

And ladies over a certain age…. it seems to help hot flashes as well. 😉

You can use fresh sage and even grow it yourself. It’s very easy. (Says the woman whose kids say the only thing she can grow is mold. If I can grow sage, you can.)

You can also find sage as an extract in many drugstores and at health food stores.

Here is one of my favorite ways to use sage:

Add a row of fresh sage leaves to a boneless, skinless chicken breasts. (I don’t cook using measurements, so you’re on your own here.) Usually 3 – 4 leaves works.

Wrap chicken in 1 or 2 slices of bacon.

Saute in an oven proof skillet until the outside is cooked.

Add some chicken broth and a bit of lemon juice. I like to add some capers, too. You want just enough for a little bit of sauce.

Bring to a boil. You can continue this way until the inside of the chicken is done, or finish it in a 350 oven for about 15 – 20 minutes.

Enjoy!