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Rosemary
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Rosemary is a small perennial shrub of the mint family. This compact
evergreen, with clusters of small light blue flowers and leaves
that yield a fragrant essential oil used in making perfume and to
flavour food, is native to the Mediterranean region.
Legend says that the Virgin Mary, while resting, spread her cloak
over a white flowering rosemary bush. The flowers turned the blue
of her cloak, and from then on the bush was referred to as the “Rose
of Mary”.
This plant was, in ancient times, supposed to strengthen memory.
Greek scholars wore rosemary in their hair to help remember their
studies, and the association with remembrance has carried through
to modern times. In literature and folklore it is an emblem of remembrance.
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Rosemary is a hardy bushy perennial shrub with aromatic,
evergreen leaves and pale-blue flowers around the stem.
Parts used
The leaves and flowers as well as the essential oil are used.
Properties
Pungent scent
Moth repellent
Attracts bees
Rosemary is a tonic, astringent, restorative herb that relaxes spasm
and increases the rate of perspiration, while stimulating the liver
and gall bladder. It improves digestion and circulation and controls
pathogenic organisms.
It has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, spasmolytic, antioxidant,
smooth muscle modulating, analgesic, venotonic, as well as anti-inflammatory
properties.
It contains phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid), bitter diterpenes (carnosol,
rosmanol) triterpenes (oleanic and ursolic acid), triterpene alcohols
and flavonoids. The essential oil contained in the plant contains
1,8-cineole, a-pinene, camphor, b-pinene, borneol, iso-bornyl acetate,
limonene, linalool, 3-octanone, terpineol and verbinol.
Therapeutic uses
Internal use
It is used with great success for dyspeptic complaints, flatulence
and to stimulate appetite and the secretion of gastric juices.
It is also used as supportive therapy for rheumatism and circulatory
problems.
In herbal preparations it can be included to ensure proper circulation
to the penis.
Furthermore it is used for headaches, as well as for nervous complaints.
Rosemary is used widely in Mediterranean cooking and the fresh or
dried leaves are used to flavor meat (especially lamb and kid), sausages,
stuffing, soups, stews and to make tea. The flowers can also be added
to salads.
External use
Externally, rosemary helps to increase circulation and is very often
used in hair care products and lotions as it stimulates the hair follicles
to renewed activity and prevent premature baldness.
It has two important properties – it is an outstanding free
radical scavenger and therefore has amazing antioxidant properties,
and secondly has an remarkable stimulating effect on the skin.
Apart from this, it has good antiseptic properties and is traditionally
used for hair and scalp stimulation, as well as anti-aging products.
It has rubefacient properties and therefore is most useful when an
increase of blood flow is required or when below-par circulation needs
to be rectified.
Rosemary is an effective treatment against scurf and dandruff.
It can also be used in mouth rinses and gargles; and is applied topically
to stimulate circulation.
It has analgesic as well as antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic
properties.
Aromatherapy and essential oil use
This essential oil helps to clear the mind, sharpen the memory and
boost the central nervous system. In the body it helps to clear respiratory
congestion, including sinuses and relieving catarrh and asthma.
Its analgesic properties are useful for treating rheumatism, arthritis
and sore stiff muscles.
Furthermore, it stimulates the liver and gall bladder and helps to
lower high blood sugar.
On the skin, it has a tightening effect and reduces bloating and puffiness.
In hair care, it stimulates hair growth and fights scalp problems.
It has analgesic, antidepressant, astringent, carminative, cephalic,
cholagogue, cordial, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, hepatic, hypertensive,
nervine, rubefacient, stimulant, sudorific and tonic properties.
Safety precautions and warnings
Rosemary essential oil has a highly stimulating action and may not
be suitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure.
The essential oil should also not be used during pregnancy. |
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