Sage in pregnancy and breastfeeding

What NCCIH says about safety

Sage is likely safe in the amounts commonly found in foods, and larger amounts have been used safely for up to 8 weeks in research studies. However, some species of sage, including common sage (S. officinalis) , contain a component called thujone that can be toxic if consumed in large amounts; therefore, sage may be unsafe in high doses or if consumed for long periods of time. It may be unsafe to use sage during pregnancy because its component thujone may have harmful effects. If you’re considering using sage while pregnant, consult your health care provider. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use sage while breastfeeding.

Quoted in full from NCCIH so nothing is lost in summarising. Where they say “little is known”, that means the studies do not exist — not that the herb is known to be safe, and not that it is known to be harmful.

How much is actually known

Only small amounts of research have been done on the use of sage for health conditions, so definitive conclusions about its effects cannot be reached.

What the research has found

The results of a few small studies suggest that common sage might be helpful in reducing the frequency of hot flashes associated with menopause. A few studies suggest that common sage, Spanish sage, or a combination of the two may improve scores on tests of memory or other aspects of cognition in healthy people; however, the amount of evidence is small, and additional research would be needed before definite conclusions could be reached. It is uncertain whether sage affects cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease because very little research has been done on this topic in people. A few studies suggest that sage may have beneficial effects on levels of blood cholesterol and other lipids. There isn’t enough evidence to show whether sage has beneficial effects on blood glucose (sugar).

Before you take this

Dose and form change the answer completely. A culinary amount of a spice, a cup of tea, and a concentrated supplement extract are three different things, and most research is done on the last of them.

Supplements are also not regulated like medicines, so strength and purity vary between products. Bring the actual bottle to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist — that conversation is worth more than any page, including this one.