BOTANICAL NAME: Rosmarinus officinalis
FAMILY: Lamiaceae
HERBAL USES: Classic culinary herb
fresh or dried. Fresh or dried rosemary can also be scattered or placed
in the home to cleanse and freshen the air.
ESSENTIAL OIL: Used in inhalations to
enliven the brain. Used in massage to relieve pain and swelling.
Essential oil of rosemary
has so many uses that some people feel that rosemary oil and lavender oil cover
most of their aromatherapy needs. While lavender is the gentle sedative,
rosemary is the gentle stimulant.
Rosemary increases
blood flow, especially to the brain. Its ability to increase blood flow
anywhere it is applied on the body makes it useful for healing sprains and soft
tissue injuries on unbroken skin.
The warming effects of
rosemary are complemented in blends with black pepper and black spruce.
These three oils also support the immune system. A warm bath with 4-7
total drops of a rosemary blend warms the body and helps to strenghthen the
defenses as the cold and flu season winds to a close.
Because of rosemary's
ability to break up lactic acid, it makes a wonderful massage oil for joint and
muscular pain. It is also excellent for hair and body care
products. It is very good for the scalp and stimulates healthy hair
growth.
Rosemary's ability to
increase circulation to the brain benefits the memory. It is a classic
oil for study. Try the simple trick of sniffing rosemary oil while studying for
a test, and taking a rosemary-scented handkerchief to the exam. Many students
report this helps them to remember study materials.
Rosemary is showing promise in
the prevention of mental decline. This is due to its ability of rosemary
to retard the breakdown of the brain chemical acetylcholine and prevent
oxidative damage to the brain. Try mixing two or three drops rosemary oil in a
palmful of your regular shampoo. Leave the lather on your scalp for 3-5
minutes to allow the rosemary oil to enter the body.
For those who want to lighten up
their diets from a winter of rich foods, rosemary can help speed the cleansing
process. A few drops of rosemary mixed in a dab of lotion and rubbed over
the area of the liver will aid good digestion and speed detoxification.
We do not suggest you take rosemary oil internally. However, we
enthusiastically suggest you cook with fresh or dried rosemary to start your
end-of-winter cleansing and lightening.
When it's time to lighten up, let
essential oil rosemary help you along.
