Clary Sage Essential Oil Benefits and Uses in Aromatherapy

The fragrance of clary sage essential oil (Salvia sclarea) has an abundance that "is captivating, full of prosperity of spirit," writes aromatherapist Valerie Ann Worwood in Aromatherapy for the Soul. The oil "brings realization that it's how much love we can pour into a second that counts." She goes on to state the emotional benefits of clary sage oil are to encourage balance, calm, grounding, confidence, regeneration, tranquility, restoration, and revitalization.

Basic Clary Sage Facts

Plant family: Lamiaceae.

Production: Steam distilled from the flowers and leaves of the plant.

Aroma: Herbaceous, earthy, slightly floral.

Perfume/Aromatic note: Middle.

Is clary sage safe to use during pregnancy? No, according to Aromatherapy and Massage for Mother and Baby and multiple other sources. However, the oil may be useful to help relieve pain during labor.

Is clary sage essential oil safe for children? Do not use with babies.

Cautions: Clary sage can make some people feel woozy and faint, so avoid using it when driving or needing to focus. Several sources warn against using clary sage when drinking alcohol.

Older aromatherapy books often suggest the oil may be estrogenic; however, evidence does not support that assertion. Aromatherapy expert Robert Tisserand has written a blog post, Is clary sage estrogenic?, about why the oil is not.

Main components: The main component of clary sage is linalyl acetate, ranging from about 45% to 66%, depending on the source of the oil. The next most abundant component is linalool, ranging from about 9% to 19%. The component that caused some sources to list clary sage as estrogenic is sclareol. However, the oil typically contains only 0.1% to 0.4% sclareol, and Tisserand writes that no evidence shows sclareol is estrogenic.

Source: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Ed.

Clary Sage Essential Oil Benefits

Physically, clary sage essential oil restores hypotonic/weak conditions and relaxes hypertonic/tense conditions, according to Aromatica: A Clinical Guide to Essential Oil Therapeutics, Vol. I. Psychologically, clary sage calms the mind, promotes relaxation and mild euphoria, and promotes emotional stability and renewal.

Benefits commonly attributed to clary sage include easing menstrual cramps and pain, PMS, and menopausal problems, including hot flashes. The oil also helps with muscle issues, including relieving tension, aches, pain, fatigue, and spasm.

Other physical conditions that may benefit from clary sage include high blood pressure, asthma, throat infections, indigestion, flatulence, and migraine headaches.

Emotionally, the oil helps relieve stress-related conditions and depression, especially those related to hormones. The oil may also help manage memory problems, insomnia, nervousness, and anxiety.

In skin and hair care, this essential oil is especially useful for mature skin and hair, acne-prone skin, inflamed conditions, and dandruff. The oil may also help relieve boils, hair loss, oily skin and hair, and wrinkles.

Sources:

• Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
• The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (updated edition)

Clary Sage in TCM and Ayurveda

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the essential function of clary sage oil is to nourish the Blood and Yin, descend the Yang, and calm the Shen, according to Aromatica.

• Aroma energy: Green, sweet, woody.
• Movement: Circulating, stabilizing.
• Warmth: Neutral to cool.
• Meridian tropism: Heart, Liver, Kidney.
• Five-element affinity: Fire, Wood.

Clary sage strengthens depleted Qi-energy and circulates stuck Qi-energy, according to Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit. Use the oil to relieve PMS tension, menstrual pain, muscle stiffness and spasm, headache, migraine, and tired, aching legs. The oil can both strengthen and circulate Lung Qi. Psychologically, the essential oil creates a balance between stimulation and relaxation.

Ayurveda and Aromatherapy:

• The rasa (taste) of clary sage is sweet, bitter, pungent; the vipaka (aftertaste) is pungent, and the virya (energy) is warming/neutral.
• The oil balances vata, kapha, and pitta.
• Tissues most affected by the oil are skin, nerve, and reproductive.
• Indications for this essential oil include menstrual cramps, PMS, menopausal symptoms, weak digestion, flatulence, headache, psychological tension, fear, and swollen tissue.

Spiritual and Energetic Benefits of Clary Sage

Subtle Aromatherapy: Clary sage enhances dreaming and strengthens the inner eye to help you see more clearly. Do not use alcohol and clary sage together because it may cause nightmares rather than revealing dreams.

The Essential Guide to Aromatherapy and Vibrational Healing: Spiritually, use clary sage for contemplation, meditation, prayer, and to support intuition. Mentally, the essential oil helps you release judgement. Emotionally, the oil relaxes, comforts, and grounds. It's especially useful for calming emotional outbursts caused by PMS, menopause, or other hormone-related conditions.

Aromatherapy and Subtle Energy Techniques: Clary sage calms, uplifts, and restores. The oil is especially useful for the sixth chakra to increase dreaming, support intuition, and strengthen the inner eye to see more clearly.

Mixing Essential Oils for Magic: Clary sage helps focus the mind, strengthen memory, bring clarity of purpose, enhance creativity, and develop intuition.

Clary Sage Essential Oil Uses and Blends

Suggested essential oils to blend with clary sage, according to Aromatica:

• For menstrual cramps, PMS, or menopause symptoms: rose.
• For congestive menstrual cramps, varicose veins, or hemorrhoids: geranium.
• For nervous burnout with anxiety and tension: lavender.

Diffuser Blends

• Stress Relief: 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil + 2 drops clary sage
• Uplifting Blend: 3 drops bergamot essential oil + 2 drops clary sage
• Joyful Blend: 2 drops frankincense essential oil + 2 drops orange essential oil + 1 drop clary sage
  

Relaxing Shower Gel

• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap or unscented natural shower gel
• 11 drops clary sage essential oil
  
• 11 drops frankincense essential oil
• 22 drops lavender essential oil
  

Add the essential oils to the castile soap or shower gel and mix well. Store in a squeeze bottle.

Relaxing Bath Salts

• 1 cup sea salt
• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 3 drops clary sage essential oil
  
• 3 drops ylang ylang essential oil
• 3 drops orange essential oil

Mix all the ingredients together and store in a container. Add one teaspoon to a warm bath to help you relax.

Throat Ease Blend

• 2 teaspoons carrier oil
• 3 drops clary sage
  
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil

Mix the carrier oil and essential oils. Store in a dark glass bottle. Massage on the neck and chest to help ease a sore throat.

Adapted from 100 Amazing Blends and Uses of Essential Oils

Blends for Women

Menstrual Cramps

1. Combine 6 drops clary sage essential oil with 1 tablespoon evening primrose oil.
2. In a clockwise direction, massage the blend over your lower abdomen.
3. Place a warm, moist hand towel over the abdomen for 10 to 15 minutes.
   

Source: 150 Ways to Use Essential Oils

Menopausal Bath For Sleep

• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 2 tablespoons Epsom salt
• 2 drops clary sage
• 2 drops geranium essential oil
• 1 drop lavender essential oil
  

1. Combine the salts with the essential oils.
2. Add one tablespoon of the blend to warm bath water in the evening for tranquil sleep.
3. Store the rest of the blend in a glass jar for other stressful days.
   

Menopause Relaxation Massage Blend

• 2 tablespoons almond oil
• 1 drop clary sage
• 1 drop neroli essential oil
• 1 drop spikenard essential oil

1. Combine the essential oils with the almond oil in a suitable bottle.
2. Massage a small amount of the blend externally over the location of the ovaries and on the mid to lower back.
   

Source: Elizabeth Ashley. "Menopausal Personality Changes and Anxiety." NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Autumn 2016.3, p. 49.

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About the Author

Carol Wiley is a retired massage therapist and freelance writer. She uses her deep interest in aromatherapy and essential oils to research their benefits and uses and bring you summaries and blends with links to more resources.

If you find this site useful, you can show your support by buying through my affiliate links. The site is a labor of love, and I appreciate any income that helps keep it up and running.

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Photo Credit: Buendia22 / CC BY-SA

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