Rosemary is one of the oldest known herbs.
It was found in ancient tombs in Egypt and was considered by the Romans and the Greeks to be a sacred plant, symbolizing love and death and was burned instead of incense in their religious ceremonies to purify the air.
Rosemary (Latin name Rosmarinus officinalis) is a popular herb, and it is a member of the mint family. It has a long history as a medicinal herb, being burnt in the middle ages to ward off the plague and used in hospital wards in France until the 20th century, due to Rosemary’s antiseptic properties. Research has shown that Rosemary:
may help with concentration and focus. Author/Aromatherapist Robert Tisserand had an interesting article on his blog about “Sniffing Rosemary Can Increase Memory By 75%” check it out here.
The camphor borneol chemotype of Rosemary is said to be helpful to ease the muscular and arthritic pain.
diffusing Rosemary ct cineole may ease symptoms of chest colds, bronchitis.
Rosemary ct verbenone is useful for hair care and has long been thought to stimulate hair re-growth.
Rosemary essential oil is steam distilled from the flowers, leaves, and twigs. The essential oil has a strong, herbaceous fragrance, but the scent is quite different depending on the chemotype, the country and the conditions that the Rosemary was grown in.
Contraindications:
Avoid using Rosemary essential oil if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you have epilepsy or high blood pressure.
Do not use Rosemary if you are taking Homeopathic Remedies
Do not use Rosemary around infants, or children under 8 years old.
My Blog is for information only & is not meant to replace medical advice. Essential Oils are not for ingestion & should always be diluted before topical use.
References:
Battaglia Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. 2nd edition, The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, Australia, 2003
Davis Patricia. Aromatherapy an A-Z. New revised edition, Vermilion, an imprint of Edbury Publishing, a Random House Company, 2005
Lawless. Julia. The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, Thorsons, 2002
Tisserand, Robert, & Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd Edition, Churchill Livingstone, 2014 http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/health-benefits-of-rosemary-oil.html http://www.webmd.boots.com/news/20130409/smelling-rosemary-may-improve-memory http://www.naturesgift.com/search/?query=rosemary&records