Red Sage
Salvia miltiorrhiza
1:3 Ethanol/Distilled H2O Spagyric tincture of AAA grade Red Sage root, with plant salts added.
Planetary ruler: Mars

Physical Effects*:
The potent red colour of this spagyric denotes is strong affinity with the blood, being used to cleanse, nourish and activate blood – removing blockages and stasis. Its blood unblocking and moving properties make it a potent herb for women’s menstrual health, being indicated for irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), amenorrhea (absence of periods), post-partum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, and can abate the development of scar tissue that occours with endometriosis. Whilst Dan Shen imbues the blood with much vigour it is actually blood cooling, many gynaecological blood issues occour because of an excess of blood heat in that area. Blood stagnancy can be responsible for cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and pains in the heart, chest (including angina pectoris), upper digestive regions, and abdomen, Dan Shen has the ability to ease this pain by getting blood moving again – subsequently reducing blood pressure due to blockages. Red Sage was the top ranked herb in a study of remedies used to treat cardiovascular disease in Taiwan and Beijing. Traumatic injuries, arthritis and rheumatism can all create and be worsened by blood stasis around the area of concern, again, by moving this blood, pain is reduced and healing occours faster. The herb may be applicable for those experiencing excessive or painful swelling, potentially enabling the body to purge toxins that may be causing it, such pains and swelling include mastitis, carbuncles, abscesses and sores. Sometimes excessive fire in the system can cause restlessness and insomnia, Red sage can be used to cool that heat, easing fevers, reslestness, delirium, insomnia, palpitations, throbbing and scarlet tongue. Red Sage is considered nootropic as it cools restlessness, heat and inflammation that hinder focus, it Enhances memory through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, as well as BuChE and BACE1; is Neuroprotective, increases oxygenation of the brain and has been shown to defend against Alzheimer’s disease. It’s blood oxygenating, anti-inflammatory, and heat reducing qualities also make it a useful endurance herb.  Red Sage is one of the most prominent herbs in Lyme disease treatment protocols, protecting blood cells from Babesia and Ehrlichia which are common co-infections of Lyme, it reduces neurological damage, protects neurons from demyelination, reduces muscle wastage and weakness that these bacteria can cause. Interestingly this herb modulates the cytokine cascade which reduces inflammation and prevents many viruses (including Lyme) from being able to locate and enter target cells as well as accumulate nutrients and reproduce. 

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Emotional/Spiritual Effects*:
Confidence is what Red Sage bestows, yet it tones down brazen tendencies that would make one leap into something before they’re fully prepared, thence bringing you back to strategize the most optimum way forward in terms of energy expenditure, after which you may stride forward with grounded foresight. On a deeper level Red Sage asks us to look at our reasons behind our strivings, where are we really being motivated from? For if it is from a desire to come out on top, or to ‘win’ in a way that is more self-serving than honouring of everyone’s needs, then ultimately we are on a fool’s errand, that will only lead to the fatigue and frustration born of the severing that is unhealthy individualism. There is a context where embodying the warrior energy is relevant, and that is, in service of the heavens that wish to manifest on earth. Often people enact warrior behaviours, or enact them to excess because they have unresolved wounds which are motivating fiery behaviours aligned with the notion that ‘offence is the best defence’ – i.e by constantly trying striving to complete the external ‘missions’ of life, one avoids looking at the areas of work that need to be completed internally. People often underestimate their capacity to complete what is required of them, or just their energy with which to life, this underestimation occours because there are subconscious thoughtforms, paradigms, shadows and wounds that cause tension and drain us… self-permitted and self-perpetuated parasites essentially. Red Sage dives deep within our psyche to extract these parasitic forms, brings them to the surface, and with warm, fatherly sternness asks us to look at them, disseminate them, find the solutions and the true truths buried therein – rather than the false truths our ego may have opted for when we were less resourced to meet the matter head on.

Cautions/Contraindications:
-Bleeding disorders & surgery: Red sage may decrease the ability of the blood to clot, thus dangerous bleeding may occour – avoid using medicine 2 weeks before until 2 weeks after surgery.
-Low Blood Pressure: Red Sage may lower blood pressure, thus those on blood pressure lowering medications or who have low blood pressure already should proceed with caution.
-Digoxin (lanoxin): In combination with Red Sage, Digoxin may cause the heart to beat with too much intensity, and cause other side effects.
-Warfarin: When combined with Red Sage this drug may increase the likelihood of dangerous bleeding and severe bruising.
-Anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs: In combination with Red Sage these kind of drugs may increase the likelihood of bruising and/or severe bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.