Sage has a longstanding reputation in British herbal texts as an agent that has memory enhancing properties. However there was little evidence regarding the effectiveness of aromatherapy sage from trial studies. Until recently, that is. A few years ago, 2 experiments utilized a placebo-controlled, double-blind study with young volunteers. They were given internal doses of Spanish Sage at 3 different levels. Even at the lowest level and with a 7- day wash-out period between testing, the volunteers showed significant improvement regarding word recall in both experiments.

These tests used a specific variety of Sage, salvia lavandulaefolia, also known as
Spanish Sage. This is different than salvia officinalis, also known as Dalmatian Sage or Sage vulgaris, the most commonly used sage essential oil.