9 Rosemary Health Benefits and How to Use It
The term rosemary, which means "dew of the sea," is derived from the Latin Rosmarinus officinalis. Rosemary is appropriately called because it typically grows by the sea. The ancient Greeks renowned praised and perfected the plant's memory- and brain-stimulating abilities in the Mediterranean region, where it has its roots.
Since then, word of the benefits of this evergreen shrub has spread far, and it is now a staple element in many regional cuisines.
 "9 Rosemary Health Benefits and How to Use It")
Rosemary hails from the mint family of flowering plants, which includes basil, marjoram, oregano, and their ilk. It bears an uncanny resemblance to lavender and possesses flat pine needle-shaped leaves that are deep green in color on top with a touch of silver on the underside. The plant is also embellished with pink, purple, white, or blue flowers.
Presently, dried rosemary dominates the market for its commercial use, with Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, France, and Morocco being its prime suppliers. This, however, doesn’t imply that its production is exclusive to the Mediterranean belt alone.
The plant requires a temperate climate to thrive and can just easily be grown in your backyard if you happen to live in a place that offers conducive climatic conditions: a lot of sunlight without excessive heat and humidity.
There is no dearth of rosemary’s splendor and acclaim in all of history, folklore, and literature. Touted as the herb of fidelity in Elizabethan times and adorning the braids and necks of students looking to boost their memory during exams in ancient Greece, rosemary has always been more than just a culinary herb.
Legend has it that it was rosemary that helped draw Sleeping Beauty out of her infamous slumber. Moreover, dusting a bit of this herb around the house was thought to bring prosperity and protection to your place of abode.
In one of his most acknowledged literary works, Hamlet, Shakespeare once proclaimed, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance: pray, love, remember,” indicating that even the bard was in on rosemary’s magical benefits. Long after Shakespeare’s time, various studies have also confirmed many health benefits of rosemary, whether it is used in fresh, dried, or oil form.
Here are the top 9 health benefits of rosemary.
2. Improves brain and neurological health
Rosemary exhibits a certain degree of neuroprotective properties on account of its carnosic acid content. This acid helps safeguard the nervous system by fighting off the brain damage caused by free radicals in the form of oxidative stress and overstimulation of nerve cells.
Moreover, rosemary has demonstrated a potential for protecting certain parts of the brain from tissue damage such as ischemic injury, healing nervous tissues, and averting blood clots.
What makes rosemary especially appealing as a neuroprotective agent is that it comes without the harmful side effects that are characteristic of the conventional drugs used to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Stimulates hair growth
This wonderful herb may also stimulate hair growth by potentially improving blood circulation to the scalp, which allows more nutrients to reach the hair follicles, thereby encouraging your hair to grow long and strong.
To further add to its hair-strengthening prowess, the rosemary plant contains an active ingredient called carnosic acid, which helps reverse tissue and nerve damage. On account of this healing activity, rosemary may prove effective in rejuvenating nerves in the scalp too, in turn restoring hair growth.
Thus, rosemary essential oil is touted as a viable hair loss restorative primarily due to its circulation-improving and nerve-healing effects.
A 1998 study published in the Archives of Dermatology points out that rosemary aromatherapy can be used to treat alopecia areata. Furthermore, its antibacterial quality gently cleanses hair and prevents itchiness and dandruff.
How to use:
Add a handful of fresh rosemary to 2 to 3 cups of hot water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Remove the herb and let the liquid cool down. Use it as a hair rinse a few times a week.
Alternatively, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to warm olive or coconut oil and massage your scalp with it 2 or 3 times a week. You can even add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to your shampoo before washing your hair.
Combine 4 teaspoons of grapeseed oil, ½ teaspoon of jojoba oil, 3 drops each of rosemary and lavender oils, and 2 drops each of thyme and cedarwood oils. Massage your scalp with this mixture. Wrap your hair with a warm towel. Leave it on overnight or for at least 40 minutes. The next morning, shampoo your hair as usual. Follow this regimen 2 or 3 times a week.
4. Facilitates blood flow
Given the fact that rosemary is characteristically warming and stimulating by nature, it can help enhance the movement of blood. This, in turn, helps supply vital nutrients to all the vital organs and boost metabolic activities in your body.
It is partly because of this very ability to increase blood circulation, particularly to the head, that rosemary is recognized as a cognitive stimulant and a memory enhancer.
How to use:
Drink rosemary tea on a regular basis to promote circulation.
If you frequently suffer from cold limbs due to poor circulation, massage the affected limbs with rosemary-infused oil.
5. Boosts the immune system
Rosemary provides you with a powerful defense against different diseases and pathogens that may adversely affect your immune system.
It contains phytochemicals including rosmarinic acid, betulinic acid, carnosol, and caffeic acid with antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds play an important role in neutralizing free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress and cellular damage.
Drink 1 to 2 cups of rosemary tea daily to keep yourself healthy and free from the common cold, cough, and other health problems.
7. Reduces inflammation and headache
Rosemary is beneficial for the reduction of pain and inflammation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
It helps relieve arthritis pain, sciatic nerve pain, gout pain, back pain, and stiff neck. Due to its antispasmodic properties, this herb also helps reduce menstrual pains.
Rosemary contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Rosemary has long been used as a headache remedy, but other parts of the body suffering from pain may benefit, too.
A rosemary bath, for example, has been used for centuries to treat stiff and painful joints. Thus, it can help treat headaches. It can even help reduce the pain of migraines.
In a 2013 study published in Scientia Pharmaceutica, researchers studied the effects of inhaling rosemary oil on subjective feelings and the activities of the nervous system. Rosemary can even work as a natural sleep aid to improve sleep quality and duration.
Researchers also found that exposure to rosemary oil for about 1 hour helped the participants feel fresh and become alert and cheerful.
To fight stress and anxiety, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer. Place it in your bedroom at a safe distance, so that the calming vapors can help induce a deep and peaceful slumber.
9. Prevents high blood sugar
Rosemary has shown some promise in helping regulate blood sugar levels. Rosemary extracts can lower fasting plasma glucose and cholesterol levels, helping manage type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry points out the antidiabetic property of herbs including rosemary and oregano. These herbs inhibit the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV, which promotes the secretion of insulin.
Drink a cup of rosemary tea daily.
Caution: Always consult your physician before drinking this tea, and make sure you keep monitoring your blood sugar levels thereafter. Also, starting this adjunctive remedy doesn’t mean you can take your doctor-prescribed meds less seriously. Strictly adhere to the drug routine stipulated by your doctor.
Take Home.
Strong anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and disinfecting activities are present in rosemary. The plant is also said to possess an essential oil that can support and even improve memory and other cognitive functions.
In addition, rosemary is one of the spices with the highest levels of antioxidants, which can all be used to fight cancer, fungus, and bacteria.
Since then, word of the benefits of this evergreen shrub has spread far, and it is now a staple element in many regional cuisines.
Rosemary hails from the mint family of flowering plants, which includes basil, marjoram, oregano, and their ilk. It bears an uncanny resemblance to lavender and possesses flat pine needle-shaped leaves that are deep green in color on top with a touch of silver on the underside. The plant is also embellished with pink, purple, white, or blue flowers.
Presently, dried rosemary dominates the market for its commercial use, with Tunisia, Egypt, Spain, France, and Morocco being its prime suppliers. This, however, doesn’t imply that its production is exclusive to the Mediterranean belt alone.
The plant requires a temperate climate to thrive and can just easily be grown in your backyard if you happen to live in a place that offers conducive climatic conditions: a lot of sunlight without excessive heat and humidity.
There is no dearth of rosemary’s splendor and acclaim in all of history, folklore, and literature. Touted as the herb of fidelity in Elizabethan times and adorning the braids and necks of students looking to boost their memory during exams in ancient Greece, rosemary has always been more than just a culinary herb.
Legend has it that it was rosemary that helped draw Sleeping Beauty out of her infamous slumber. Moreover, dusting a bit of this herb around the house was thought to bring prosperity and protection to your place of abode.
In one of his most acknowledged literary works, Hamlet, Shakespeare once proclaimed, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance: pray, love, remember,” indicating that even the bard was in on rosemary’s magical benefits. Long after Shakespeare’s time, various studies have also confirmed many health benefits of rosemary, whether it is used in fresh, dried, or oil form.
Advantages of Adding Rosemary to Your Diet
Here are the top 9 health benefits of rosemary.
1. Helps enhance your memory
Rosemary works as an effective cognitive stimulant, helpful for improving memory and mental focus. It is even good at increasing brain-wave activities and protecting against neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
In a 2012 study published in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, researchers found that exposure to rosemary aroma can improve cognitive performance and mood.
A 2003 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience also highlights the memory-boosting properties of rosemary.
Rosemary works as an effective cognitive stimulant, helpful for improving memory and mental focus. It is even good at increasing brain-wave activities and protecting against neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
In a 2012 study published in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, researchers found that exposure to rosemary aroma can improve cognitive performance and mood.
A 2003 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience also highlights the memory-boosting properties of rosemary.
How to use:
Breathe in the aroma of rosemary oil by adding 2 or 3 drops of this oil to your handkerchief or room diffuser.
You can also start drinking rosemary tea made from fresh or dried leaves. To make the tea, add 1 or 1½ teaspoons of the herb to 1 cup of hot water, cover it, and let it steep for 5 minutes.
Breathe in the aroma of rosemary oil by adding 2 or 3 drops of this oil to your handkerchief or room diffuser.
You can also start drinking rosemary tea made from fresh or dried leaves. To make the tea, add 1 or 1½ teaspoons of the herb to 1 cup of hot water, cover it, and let it steep for 5 minutes.
2. Improves brain and neurological health
Rosemary exhibits a certain degree of neuroprotective properties on account of its carnosic acid content. This acid helps safeguard the nervous system by fighting off the brain damage caused by free radicals in the form of oxidative stress and overstimulation of nerve cells.
Moreover, rosemary has demonstrated a potential for protecting certain parts of the brain from tissue damage such as ischemic injury, healing nervous tissues, and averting blood clots.
What makes rosemary especially appealing as a neuroprotective agent is that it comes without the harmful side effects that are characteristic of the conventional drugs used to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
3. Stimulates hair growth
This wonderful herb may also stimulate hair growth by potentially improving blood circulation to the scalp, which allows more nutrients to reach the hair follicles, thereby encouraging your hair to grow long and strong.
To further add to its hair-strengthening prowess, the rosemary plant contains an active ingredient called carnosic acid, which helps reverse tissue and nerve damage. On account of this healing activity, rosemary may prove effective in rejuvenating nerves in the scalp too, in turn restoring hair growth.
Thus, rosemary essential oil is touted as a viable hair loss restorative primarily due to its circulation-improving and nerve-healing effects.
A 1998 study published in the Archives of Dermatology points out that rosemary aromatherapy can be used to treat alopecia areata. Furthermore, its antibacterial quality gently cleanses hair and prevents itchiness and dandruff.
How to use:
Add a handful of fresh rosemary to 2 to 3 cups of hot water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Remove the herb and let the liquid cool down. Use it as a hair rinse a few times a week.
Alternatively, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to warm olive or coconut oil and massage your scalp with it 2 or 3 times a week. You can even add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to your shampoo before washing your hair.
Combine 4 teaspoons of grapeseed oil, ½ teaspoon of jojoba oil, 3 drops each of rosemary and lavender oils, and 2 drops each of thyme and cedarwood oils. Massage your scalp with this mixture. Wrap your hair with a warm towel. Leave it on overnight or for at least 40 minutes. The next morning, shampoo your hair as usual. Follow this regimen 2 or 3 times a week.
4. Facilitates blood flow
Given the fact that rosemary is characteristically warming and stimulating by nature, it can help enhance the movement of blood. This, in turn, helps supply vital nutrients to all the vital organs and boost metabolic activities in your body.
It is partly because of this very ability to increase blood circulation, particularly to the head, that rosemary is recognized as a cognitive stimulant and a memory enhancer.
How to use:
Drink rosemary tea on a regular basis to promote circulation.
If you frequently suffer from cold limbs due to poor circulation, massage the affected limbs with rosemary-infused oil.
5. Boosts the immune system
Rosemary provides you with a powerful defense against different diseases and pathogens that may adversely affect your immune system.
It contains phytochemicals including rosmarinic acid, betulinic acid, carnosol, and caffeic acid with antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds play an important role in neutralizing free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress and cellular damage.
Drink 1 to 2 cups of rosemary tea daily to keep yourself healthy and free from the common cold, cough, and other health problems.
READ MORE:Excellent Natural Homemade Remedy To Boost Your Immune System
6. Prevents liver damage
The liver is perhaps one of the most vital organs in the body, which is accorded the bulk of the responsibility when it comes to detoxifying our system.
Any damage to the liver, thus, has overarching ramifications for the entire body and can even lead to a complete shutdown of bodily functions. What makes matters worse is the fact that the liver takes a very long time to recuperate as it is one of the slowest organs to heal.
Rosemary, however, can help in this regard as it has been linked to lowering the risk of cirrhosis and expediting liver recovery. Another liver-protective property associated with this herb is that it reduces plasma liver enzymes, which may cause type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, its carnosol content has been proven effective in staving off liver tissue distortion, and it’s also thought to prevent the depletion of liver glycogen, the energy storage molecules.
Drink a cup of rosemary tea daily. However, always consult your physician before starting with this complementary intake.
6. Prevents liver damage
The liver is perhaps one of the most vital organs in the body, which is accorded the bulk of the responsibility when it comes to detoxifying our system.
Any damage to the liver, thus, has overarching ramifications for the entire body and can even lead to a complete shutdown of bodily functions. What makes matters worse is the fact that the liver takes a very long time to recuperate as it is one of the slowest organs to heal.
Rosemary, however, can help in this regard as it has been linked to lowering the risk of cirrhosis and expediting liver recovery. Another liver-protective property associated with this herb is that it reduces plasma liver enzymes, which may cause type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, its carnosol content has been proven effective in staving off liver tissue distortion, and it’s also thought to prevent the depletion of liver glycogen, the energy storage molecules.
Drink a cup of rosemary tea daily. However, always consult your physician before starting with this complementary intake.
7. Reduces inflammation and headache
Rosemary is beneficial for the reduction of pain and inflammation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
It helps relieve arthritis pain, sciatic nerve pain, gout pain, back pain, and stiff neck. Due to its antispasmodic properties, this herb also helps reduce menstrual pains.
Rosemary contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Rosemary has long been used as a headache remedy, but other parts of the body suffering from pain may benefit, too.
A rosemary bath, for example, has been used for centuries to treat stiff and painful joints. Thus, it can help treat headaches. It can even help reduce the pain of migraines.
How to use:
Simply massage your forehead and temples with a few drops of rosemary oil mixed with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil.
Even smelling its aroma may provide relief from headaches.
For headaches associated with cold or nasal congestion, add a few drops of rosemary oil to a tub of hot water and inhale the steam.
For arthritic pain, warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a microwave for a few seconds. Mix 2 to 3 drops of rosemary oil in it. Massage the affected area with this oil for 5 minutes. Repeat 2 to 3 times daily until you get relief.
Make 1 to 2 cups of rosemary tea, soak a washcloth in it, and place the washcloth on the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this a few times daily to treat muscle soreness.
8. Combats anxiety and stress
The sweet aroma of rosemary is effective in clearing your mind and providing relief from stress. Its calming nature even helps relax tense muscles.
Simply massage your forehead and temples with a few drops of rosemary oil mixed with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil.
Even smelling its aroma may provide relief from headaches.
For headaches associated with cold or nasal congestion, add a few drops of rosemary oil to a tub of hot water and inhale the steam.
For arthritic pain, warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a microwave for a few seconds. Mix 2 to 3 drops of rosemary oil in it. Massage the affected area with this oil for 5 minutes. Repeat 2 to 3 times daily until you get relief.
Make 1 to 2 cups of rosemary tea, soak a washcloth in it, and place the washcloth on the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes. Do this a few times daily to treat muscle soreness.
8. Combats anxiety and stress
The sweet aroma of rosemary is effective in clearing your mind and providing relief from stress. Its calming nature even helps relax tense muscles.
In a 2013 study published in Scientia Pharmaceutica, researchers studied the effects of inhaling rosemary oil on subjective feelings and the activities of the nervous system. Rosemary can even work as a natural sleep aid to improve sleep quality and duration.
Researchers also found that exposure to rosemary oil for about 1 hour helped the participants feel fresh and become alert and cheerful.
To fight stress and anxiety, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to an aromatherapy diffuser or vaporizer. Place it in your bedroom at a safe distance, so that the calming vapors can help induce a deep and peaceful slumber.
9. Prevents high blood sugar
Rosemary has shown some promise in helping regulate blood sugar levels. Rosemary extracts can lower fasting plasma glucose and cholesterol levels, helping manage type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry points out the antidiabetic property of herbs including rosemary and oregano. These herbs inhibit the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV, which promotes the secretion of insulin.
Drink a cup of rosemary tea daily.
Caution: Always consult your physician before drinking this tea, and make sure you keep monitoring your blood sugar levels thereafter. Also, starting this adjunctive remedy doesn’t mean you can take your doctor-prescribed meds less seriously. Strictly adhere to the drug routine stipulated by your doctor.
Take Home.
Strong anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and disinfecting activities are present in rosemary. The plant is also said to possess an essential oil that can support and even improve memory and other cognitive functions.
In addition, rosemary is one of the spices with the highest levels of antioxidants, which can all be used to fight cancer, fungus, and bacteria.
DR. APPIAH
Dr. Appiah is a Natural Health Therapist (Naturopath) who engages the natural healing agents given by God to save lives. EAT FOOD AS MEDICINE! EAT TO LIVE, DON'T LIVE TO EAT!! FOR BOOKINGS AND MORE: WANT TO ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCTS? WANT A PERSONAL(CERTIFIED) NATURAL MEDICINE PRACTITIONER? REACH ME DIRECTLY ON WHATSAPP +233245643615 appiahinok@gmail.com
