Lindenleaf sage
StarSalvia tiliifolia
Synonyms: Salvia fimbriata, Salvia obvallata, Salvia psilophylla
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
Lindenleaf sage has a long history of folk medicinal use in Mexico, where the Tarahumara and other peoples valued the aromatic leaves in infusions for gastrointestinal complaints, stomachache, and diarrhoea. The mucilaginous seeds, like those of related chia, were soaked in water and the resulting gel placed in the eye to flush out foreign matter and soothe irritation (Pennington, 1963; Bye, 1986).
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Botanical Description
Salvia tiliifolia, the lindenleaf sage or Tarahumara chia, is an annual herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to the highlands of Mexico and Central and South America, and now widely naturalized as a weed elsewhere. It grows erect, 30–120 cm tall, with square, branching stems that are hairy and often tinged purple. The opposite leaves are broadly ovate to triangular, resembling those of linden (Tilia), with toothed margins, long petioles, and a soft pubescence; they are aromatic when crushed. The small flowers are borne in interrupted whorls along slender terminal racemes; each two-lipped corolla is pale blue to violet, about 6–9 mm long, with the hooded upper lip and a spreading lower lip. The calyx is bell-shaped and persistent. The fruit consists of four small smooth nutlets (mericarps) that become highly mucilaginous when wetted, a trait shared with related chia species. Flowering occurs in the warm and rainy season.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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