Often found growing on the sea cliffs of southern France, rosemary has been described as having the smell of the ocean with a hint of pine. This is the source of its genus name Rosmarinus, which means “dew of the sea.” 40 Made with brandy and rosemary as its base, Hungary Water, also known as Queen of Hungary Water, was created in 1370 for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary. While it served as a perfume and a beauty treatment, it also cured her rheumatism.
During the Middle Ages, rosemary blossoms were sugared and eaten as a preventive measure against the plague. At other times, this herb was burned in hospitals to fumigate rooms and clear airborne infections. It was also an important strewing herb that kept homes smelling fresh. Rosemary was one of the ingredients in the classic sixteenth century Eau-de-Cologne, which was used for headaches and as a nerve tonic. Throughout the centuries before refrigeration, it was an important food preservative, especially for meats. In addition, rosemary has been used to create various green dyes.
Medicinal Uses
Acne, arthritis, asthma, athlete’s foot, bad breath, bronchitis, burns, cardiovascular system support, chest congestion, colds, cuts and scrapes, dandruff, eczema, fainting, flatulence, flu, hair care, headache, immune system support, indigestion, infection, inflammation, lymph circulation, mental fatigue, migraine, mouth ulcers, muscle ache or pain, muscle strains, nasal congestion, nervous exhaustion, nervous system support, psoriasis, rheumatism, sinusitis, sore throat, sprains, stomachache or pain, stress, temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), varicose veins
Precautions and Contraindications
The herb: Avoid therapeutic doses during pregnancy; avoid with high blood pressure; too much may irritate the stomach.
The essential oils: Avoid during pregnancy; avoid with epilepsy or other seizure disorders; avoid with high blood pressure; may irritate sensitive skin.
Parts of Plant Used
Herbal remedies: Leaves and flowers
Essential oils: Leaves, flowers, and buds
Culinary purposes: Leaves
Growing and Harvesting
Rosemary is a shrubby, evergreen that grows three to six feet tall. Mature stems are woody and brown. Rosemary has short, stiff, needlelike leaves similar to spruce trees. The leaves are dark green on top and pale or white underneath. Pale blue flowers grow in clusters of two or three along the leaf branches. They bloom from late winter to early spring and sometimes intermittently throughout the year.
|
Type |
Zone |
Light |
Soil |
Moisture |
Height |
Spacing |
|
Perennial |
8 |
Full sun |
Sandy |
Dry |
3–6' |
24–36" |
Because the seeds are difficult to germinate, it is usually recommended to start with a plant. Rosemary grows slowly in its first year. Also, it does not transplant well, so if you live in a zone where it can be grown outside, plant it in a location where it will stay. It can be propagated by root division and stem cuttings or layering. Rosemary is a companion to sage, beans, and cabbage. It repels snails, slugs, bean beetles, and cabbage flies. It attracts bees.
For those of us who cannot plant it outside, rosemary can be grown in a container. It needs a good sunny window and does not like dry, overheated rooms in the winter. Misting the leaves helps as long as the room has good air circulation because it can develop powdery mildew if it is too humid.
Up to four-inch lengths can be harvested from the branches but never take more than 20 percent of the plant because it does not spring back after a severe cutting as other herbs do. Sprigs freeze well and have a stronger flavor and aroma than fresh. They can also be screen dried or hung.
How to Use the Herb
Most famously, rosemary has been considered a tonic for the brain, improving memory and concentration. Considered a warming herb, it promotes the circulation of blood to the head and the intake of oxygen at the cellular level, which improves brain function. Rosemary helps to normalize low blood pressure and contributes to a heart-healthy diet. This herb also improves lymph and blood circulation. Because of increased blood flow, it aids in relieving headaches and migraines.
Get the Blood Going Rosemary Tea
1–2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
1 cup boiling water
Pour the water over the leaves. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes and strain.
As an alternative, use equal amounts of rosemary and peppermint in the Get the Blood Going Rosemary Tea for an invigorating lift. Tea made with just rosemary can be used for a compress to relieve headaches, too. For a migraine make an infusion and take two to three tablespoons every three hours. The tea and infusion also serve as a tonic for the nerves, and helps cope with mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion. Additionally, half a teaspoon of rosemary tincture once a day is a tonic for stress.
As a pungent aromatic, rosemary clears nasal and chest congestion due to colds, the flu, or sinusitis. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties fight infection while providing support for the immune system. Used as a steam inhalation, it will soothe inflammation. Rosemary is also an aid for asthma and bronchitis. The leaves, or both flowers and leaves, can be used for these purposes. The physically warming effect and the aromatic vapors of the herbs in the Rosemary Chest Rub Infusion and Ointment work together to provide relief and healing.
|
Rosemary Chest Rub Infusion and Ointment |
|
|
Ingredients for the infusion |
Ingredients for the ointment |
|
2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves, crumbled |
¼–½ cup beeswax or jojoba |
|
1 teaspoon dried sage leaves, crumbled |
1 cup infused oil |
|
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crumbled |
|
|
1 cup oil |
|
First, make an infusion by combining the herbs and oil in a double boiler. On very low heat, simmer for 30 to 60 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Use a stainless steel strainer lined with cheesecloth over a bowl to strain. Fold the cheesecloth over the herbs to press out as much oil as possible.
To make the ointment, place the jojoba or beeswax in a mason jar in a saucepan of water. Warm over low heat until it begins to melt; add the infused oil. Stir gently with a fork for about 15 minutes. Let it cool. Cover and store in a cool, dark place.
The antiseptic properties of rosemary make it a good gargle to soothe a sore throat and to ease mouth ulcers. It also reduces inflammation and helps firm the gums while it fights bad breath. Use 2 teaspoons of dried leaves in 1 cup of water, and steep for thirty minutes. Drink half a cup and use the other half as a mouthwash and gargle.
As a powerful fungicide, rosemary is ideal for treating athlete’s foot. Make a hot oil infusion to rub on the skin or to use as a foot soak. A rosemary infusion soothes the itching and inflammation of eczema and psoriasis, too. It also heals burns and cuts, and because it fights bacteria, rosemary helps clear acne. Combine rosemary with lavender and thyme to make an infusion to dab on affected areas, or use the infusion to make a healing cream.
Skin Healing Rosemary Infusion
2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers, crumbled
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crumbled
1 cup boiling water
Combine the herbs and then add the water. Steep for 30 to 45 minutes and strain.
An infusion of rosemary massaged into the scalp promotes hair growth and gets rid of dandruff. Also, steep a fresh sprig or two in a cup of boiling water for about fifteen minutes. When it cools use it as a rinse for brown hair to bring out the highlights.
Not only does rosemary go well with a wide range of food, it also aids digestion by enhancing food absorption. However, when things go awry, brew a cup of rosemary tea or take two ounces of an infusion to relieve indigestion, gas, or stomach pain.
How to Use the Essential Oils
Rosemary essential oil ranges from colorless to pale yellow. Its fresh, herbaceous scent has a woody undertone.
While students in ancient Greece wore a sprig of rosemary in the hair to aid their memory and learning, we can use the essential oil in a diffuser to improve concentration. Using it this way will also help when recovering from stress or chronic illness. In addition, it helps to alleviate headaches.
The steam inhalation mentioned above can be made using essential oil, either rosemary alone or with sage and thyme. Just swish 4 drops of essential oil into 1 quart of steaming water. If you are using a blend, use 2 drops of rosemary and 1 each of sage and thyme.
The warming effects of rosemary work well to relieve the pain and stiffness of rheumatism brought on by cold weather. Massaging with rosemary also relieves the pain and swelling of arthritis, muscle pain or strain, and ligament sprains. Combining rosemary with peppermint and chamomile creates an effective massage oil that also reduces stress.
Rosemary Warming Massage Oil
6 drops rosemary essential oil
4 drops chamomile essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
1 ounce carrier oil
Mix the essential oils together and then combine with the carrier oil.
For leg cramps, use 4 drops of rosemary and 2 drops of chamomile in 1 tablespoon of carrier oil to massage away the pain. This will also reduce the appearance of varicose veins and broken capillaries. To treat temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), use 1 drop of rosemary essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. A drop or two of essential oil on a tissue or a handful of crushed sprigs are effective in reviving someone who has fainted.
40. Wilson, Aromatherapy, 113.