Clary sage (Salvia sclarea) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly for its calming and hormone-balancing effects. In folk and aromatherapy traditions, clary sage essential oil is often cited as a supportive agent for the adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing stress-related hormones such as cortisol. The rationale is that clary sage is thought to have adaptogenic or stress-mitigating properties, helping the body cope with emotional or physical stress and thus indirectly supporting adrenal function.

However, direct scientific studies specifically examining clary sage's effects on adrenal cortex function are lacking. Most supporting evidence is anecdotal or based on its general relaxing, anxiolytic, and mood-stabilizing effects observed in aromatherapy and small clinical trials. These effects are likely due to its major constituents, such as linalyl acetate and linalool, which have demonstrated mild sedative and anxiolytic actions in animal and limited human studies.

In summary, while clary sage is traditionally used to "support" the adrenal system by reducing stress and promoting relaxation, there is little direct scientific evidence confirming its efficacy on adrenal cortex health or hormone production. Its use in this context is justified by tradition rather than robust scientific validation.