Description
Salvia militiorrhiza
Evergreen perennial herb of the Sage genus of the Labiatae (mint) family, native to Native to China and Japan, growing in grassy places in forests, hillsides, and along stream banks from 90 to 1,200 m asl. Graceful branching stems 30-60cm long, bearing attractive flowers in mid summer in bicolour whorls – light purple/lavender corollas with a dark purple calyx.
Chinese Sage is a popular medicinal herb in China (known as Dānshēn), Korea and Japan, and was published for the first time approximately 2000 years ago during the Eastern Han Dynasty in “The Herbal Classic of Sheng Nong.” More recently many pharmacological studies have been carried out, focusing on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects, and the antioxidative, neuroprotective, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic activities. The research results strongly support the notion that Chinese Sage has beneficial therapeutic properties and has a potential of being an effective adaptogenic remedy. It operates by increasing blood flow and improving heart and blood function, and is used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, osteoporosis, hepatitis, cirrhosis, chronic renal failure, pain, insomnia, diabetes and its related chronic complications.
The medicinal parts used are the dried roots and rhizomes, which are bright red (miltiorrhiza means ‘red ochre root’). These pigments in the root also yield a dye, which has strong antibacterial and deodorizing properties on the cloth dyed.
Chinese Sage prefers at least half a day of shade, especially in hotter parts of the country, and requires well drained soil. Hardy to -10 degrees C. May die back in winter in colder parts of the country but in Hawke’s Bay it is evergreen.
9cm pot. Certified organic plant.
Freight: full list of freight and packing charges
Photos: Kahikatea Farm
