Evidence supporting the use of: Sage
For the health condition: Body Odor

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Sage (Salvia officinalis) has a long history of traditional use for reducing body odor. Historical texts and folk medicine practices, especially in Europe, have recommended sage as a remedy for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and as a natural deodorant. The rationale behind this use is largely based on sage’s astringent properties, attributed to its tannin content, which can constrict skin and reduce sweat production. Additionally, sage contains essential oils such as thujone and camphor, which have mild antimicrobial effects, potentially inhibiting the growth of odor-causing bacteria on the skin.

From a scientific perspective, evidence supporting sage’s efficacy for body odor is limited but somewhat suggestive. A few small clinical trials and laboratory studies indicate that sage extracts may reduce sweating and possess antibacterial activity. For example, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial showed that sage tablets reduced excessive sweating in participants. However, direct evidence for sage’s ability to reduce body odor rather than just sweating is sparse, and most clinical studies focus on hyperhidrosis rather than odor itself. Modern topical products sometimes include sage extracts for their purported deodorizing effect, drawing on both traditional use and limited scientific findings. Overall, while the tradition is strong and the mechanistic rationale plausible, robust clinical validation is lacking, so the evidence is rated as moderate (2 out of 5).

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