Lycoris radiata vs Spanish Sage

Side-by-side comparison of medicinal herbs

Herb

Lycoris radiata

Nootropic

Salvia lavandulaefolia

Nootropic

Lycoris radiata

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Spanish Sage

❌ Not recommended in pregnancy

❌ Not recommended while nursing

Description

Autumn-blooming bulb of East Asia with spidery red flowers, source of galantamine used for Alzheimers.

Spanish perennial sage related to common sage but lacking thujone; studied for Alzheimer's and cognitive enhancement as safer alternative.

Active Compounds

lycorine, galantamine, lycoricidine, narciclasine, alkaloids

cineole, camphor, linalool, alpha-pinene, borneol

Traditional Uses

Traditional Chinese and Japanese folk medicine for pain and infections, Used in Japanese culture associated with death and afterlife

Cognitive conditions in Spanish folk medicine, Memory support, Respiratory conditions, Used in Spanish traditional medicine for fevers

Modern Uses

Galantamine source for Alzheimers treatment, Anticancer research, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial

Cognitive enhancement research (Alzheimer's studies), Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory

Adult Dosage

Pharmaceutical galantamine extraction only; raw plant toxic

300–600 mg standardized extract daily; 2–3 g dried leaves as tea

Contraindications

All conditions without pharmaceutical processing, Pregnancy, Children

Pregnancy, Estrogen-sensitive conditions

Side Effects

Nausea, Vomiting, Respiratory paralysis from lycorine

GI upset, Dizziness in high doses

Drug Interactions

0 known interactions

Reviewed by: HerbAlly Editorial Team, Medical herbalists and healthcare professionals

Sources: WHO Monographs · NCCIH · PubMed · Commission E