“Where rosemary flourished, the woman ruled.” (1)
In Europe, it used to be common for the woman of the house to have a rosemary plant in her garden. Useful in cooking and as medicine, rosemary cuttings were passed along the maternal lineage, from mother to daughter upon her marriage and the establishment of a new household (2). From this cutting, the daughter would grow her own plant, and would someday pass a cutting to her own daughter. It was said that the woman was the boss in households that had bountiful rosemary in the garden (1). I have a little rosemary plant on my desk. I’m not sure the significance of this.
Many know rosemary as a cooking spice; it has been a valued spice at least as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans. Rosemary can be added directly to food, or used to infuse olive oil, which can then be used for all sorts of dishes. Spices such as rosemary and oregano were originally used to preserve food from spoilage, as much as for their flavor. Accordingly, both herbs are have strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Rosemary is such a strong antioxidant that scent-free derivatives of it are used as a preservative for packaged food and cosmetics.
In addition to preserving food, rosemary is carminative, meaning it promotes good digestive function and helps the body rid itself of gas. As 17th century herbalist and physician Nicholas Culpepper put it: “It is a remedy for the windiness in the stomach, bowels and spleen, and expels it powerfully.” (3). Science is starting to catch up with the traditional uses of rosemary for the digestive system. Indeed, research has shown what herbalists already know, that rosemary has stomach-protecting effects (4) and soothes gastrointestinal upset (5). Regarding the very beginning of the digestive tract, the mouth, 16th century herbalist John Gerard wrote: “The distilled water of the floures of Rosemary being drunke at morning and evening first and last, taketh away the stench of the mouth and breath, making it very sweet…” (6).
Due to it’s strong antioxidant properties, rosemary is one of the top ten “anti-aging” botanicals used in cosmetics (7). Rosemary was a main ingredient of Queen of Hungary Water, a popular vinegar-based blend from the 13th century for which there are many recipes. I first learned of Queen of Hungary water as an herbal cosmetic for the face and hair. It is a toning astringent for facial skin, useful particularly for normal to oily skin (8). However, it apparently had a wider variety of uses, including the treatment of gout and limb paralysis (2, 8). Rosemary is said to increase hair growth, as well as to darken hair, possibly by stimulating the hair follicles and increasing circulation to the scalp (8, 9). It can be used as a rinse in the form of Queen of Hungary Water; the vinegar is useful for pH balancing. I’ve used rosemary as infused oil to do a hair treatment once or twice a week. After several months, my gray didn’t go away but my brown hair come in a bit darker and the texture improved. Rosemary’s popularity in cosmetics was continued into the 18th century as an important ingredient in the original Eau-de-Cologne developed by Giovanni Maria Farina (10).
Perhaps more significant than it’s use as a cosmetic, rosemary is a cardiovascular tonic, with effects on blood pressure, blood vessel integrity and overall heart function. The essential oil alone can ease heart palpitations (11). The herb’s astringency will help prevent spider veins, though it won’t get rid of existing ones. Rosemary, which counters inflammation, interferes with plaque formation in blood vessels (12). With long term use, rosemary prevents arterial thrombosis (blood clots) without causing the danger of hemorrhage (13) seen with blood thinning prescription drugs. Rosemary also acts as a circulatory stimulant, improving circulation to many parts of the body.
Topically, rosemary is rubefacient; when applied to the skin over sore muscles and joints, it will bring in healing blood. I use rosemary infused olive oil as a rub when I have either nerve or muscle pain. I used to develop a spasming pain that went from my hip down to my knee and would last from a couple days to over a week, making it difficult to exercise or to sleep. With more severe spasms, the oil didn’t completely ease the pain but brought it down to a tolerable level. Other times the pain would disappear long enough for me to fall asleep. Rosemary infused oil is also great as a rub on tight neck, shoulder and back muscles. While NSAIDs provide longer lasting pain relief, rosemary infused oil doesn’t damage the liver or kidneys or have detrimental cardiovascular side effects. Because of it’s strong antiviral activity and efficacy in easing nerve pain, rosemary is useful for shingles and HSV outbreaks, for inhibiting both the pain and the viral infection. For this purpose, I would blend it with lavender and St. John’s wort.
In addition to being a potent antiviral, rosemary has activity against bacteria, parasites and fungi such as candida. Indeed, Rosemary has a long tradition of warding off infection (and evil spirits). It can be used for infections ranging from cradle cap, dandruff and lice to colds and flu. The herb’s strong antiviral activity appears due at least in part to rosmarinic acid (14), also found in Lemon Balm. However the essential oil also has antiviral activity. Accordingly, the aromatics of rosemary were used as a room disinfectant. For instance, rosemary used to be burned together with juniper in sickrooms and hospitals in Europe to clear the air (1). Rosemary was also used in courtrooms to stop the spread of Typhus (“Jail Fever”)(1), which was spread by fleas. In addition, rosemary was likely an ingredient in Four Thieves vinegar, a disinfectant that was used to protect against the plague during the Black Death in Europe. There are different stories regarding the origin of Four Thieves vinegar, and there are also many different recipes. One story was that four thieves used it to protect themselves while ransacking the houses of the dead and dying. They were caught and their sentence of burning at the stake was reduced to hanging in exchange for revealing the secret to their plague resistance. An alternative ending to this story was that the thieves were not caught and, because of their loot, became founding members of some of the wealthiest families in Europe. Another version I’ve come across is that the thieves were caught and, as punishment, were made to bury the dead, a punishment they survived by using their vinegar.
By flipping through some of the old European herbals, one can see that rosemary has been used for centuries to improve memory and focus. The connection between rosemary and memory is found in many cultural references. For instance, rosemary was tossed by the mourners onto the casket after it was lowered into the ground at funerals (1). In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia remarks “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance…”. In Europe, rosemary was commonly used as a symbol of fidelity at weddings and between lovers (1). At weddings, the bride often wore a wreath of rosemary and sprigs of the herb were given to the guests (1). A sprig of the herb or some essential oil is useful during study to improve retention and recall of the material. I have used rosemary essential oil in cases of ADHD as part of an inhalation blend to improve focus. However, one should use caution if on stimulant drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin, commonly used for ADHD. These drugs lower the threshold for seizures, and rosemary and other stimulating oils can theoretically exacerbate this. Although, aromatherapist Robert Tisserand noted the utility of Rosemary oil for seizure disorders (11).
In fact, research suggests that rosemary has multiple direct effects on the nervous system. The essential oil is a nerve stimulant (11), while another constituent, rosmarinic acid, is a strong antioxidant that protects nerve cells (15). In addition, carnosic acid and carnosol, significant components of rosemary extract, were found to stimulate nerve growth factor production in a cell culture model (16) and carnosol protected dopaminergic nerve cells from damage (17). Rosemary extract and rosmarinic acid each demonstrated preventative effects in an established model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (18). Together, these observations suggest that rosemary may be helpful for slowing the progress of neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition to benefits on memory and focus, rosemary, an uplifting herb, counters depression. It is useful for those who suffer from chronic depression, especially if there are any associated digestive issues. Rosemary also eases postpartum depression (19). It can clear mental fog associated with depression as well. Rosemary has traditionally been used for grief and sorrow, as well as for courage. No wonder it was popular at funerals.
If all of this isn’t enough, rosemary may also be useful for cancer prevention and as an adjunct treatment. Extracts of rosemary and individual rosemary extract components have demonstrated anti-tumor effects in various lab models (20-24). These studies indicate that rosemary may act to block tumor initiation and may directly kill tumor cells. Another recent study suggests that rosemary extract may reverse chemotherapeutic drug resistance in cancer cells (25). It’s a stretch to extrapolate studies in cell culture and rodents to humans, nevertheless, these are hopeful findings.
One of the odder proposed uses of rosemary that I’ve come across is in cigarette filters. The idea would be to produce filters containing rosemary extract to reduce the number of damaging oxidative chemicals reaching the lungs from cigarette smoke (26), though this wouldn’t help those of us do anything for those breathing in the second hand smoke. Maybe if we all wore face masks containing rosemary, kind of like the nosegays used during plague times…
A lovely rosemary-infused oil can be made by stripping the needles off of several fresh sprigs, chopping them and putting them into a glass jar. Add just enough olive oil to cover them. Put the jar somewhere warm (~100°-120°F) for about a week. Keep the temperature constant to help prevent spoilage by fermentation. Mix it daily and make sure the herb is covered or it will mold. To be more scientific in making the oil, weigh the herb first. For every gram (or oz) of herb, add 3 ml (or oz) of olive oil for a 1:3 herb-to-oil ratio. This is so you can make it the same way the next time. For the quick and dirty method, put the fresh needles into a blender and add olive oil following the above instructions. Pulse several times until the oil is green. Strain out the plant bits with cheese cloth or muslin and let the oil sit in a jar overnight. Pour off the oil (through some more cloth preferably) and leave any residue/chunks in the bottom of the jar. The result should be a beautiful green oil. Store in a new, clean jar in a cool, dark place. This method works because rosemary has a relatively low water content. Many other herbs would release too much water upon blending, causing the resulting oil to mold. Use only organic/chemical free rosemary and olive oil for this, because pesticides and herbicides will be efficiently picked up by the oil.
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Disclaimer: The information on this website is for educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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References
1. Grieve, M. (1931) A Modern Herbal. Reprint. Dorset Press, New York, NY.
2. Keville, K. (2009) Aromatherapy Seminar, Oak Valley Herb Farm
3. Culpepper, N Culpepper’s Complete Herbal and English Physician. Reprint. (1826) J. Gleave & Son, Deansgate.
4. Theoduloz, C et al (2011) Planta Med. epub.
5. al-Sereiti, MR, et al (1999) Indian J Exp Biol. 37: 124-30.
6. Woodward, M. ed. (1967) Gerard’s Herbal: The Essence thereof. Spring Books, London.
7. Cronin, H & ZD Draelos (2010) Journal of Cosmet Dermatol. 9: 218-25.
8. Gladstar, R (2001) Family Herbal. Storey Books, North Adams, MA.
9.Hoffman, D (2003) Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, VT.
10. Farina 1709. www.Farina1709.com
11. Tisserand, RB (1977) The Art of Aromatherapy. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, VT.
12. Lian, KC et al (2010) Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 245: 21-35.
13. Naemura, A et al (2008) Thromb Res. 122: 517-22.
14. Petersen M, et al (2003) Phytochemistry. 62: 121-5.
15. Kelsey, NA, et al (2010) Molecules. 15: 7792-814.
16. Kosaka K and T Yokoi (2003) Biol Pharm Bull. 26: 1620-2.
17. Kim, SJ, et al. (2006) Neuroreport. 17: 1729-33.
18. Shimojo Y et al (2010) J Neurosci Res. 88: 896-904.
19. Ohlone Center for Herbal Studies, class notes.
20. Scheckel KA et al (2008) J Nutr. 138: 2098-105.
21. Huang, MT et al (1994) Cancer Research. 54: 701-8.
22. Offord EA et al (1995) Carcinogenesis. 16: 2057-62.
23. Peng CH et al (2007) Biosci, Biotechnol, biochem. 71: 2223-32
24. Sharabani H et al (2006) Int J Cancer. 118: 3012-21.
25. Nabekura T, et al (2010) Pharmacol Res. 61: 259-63.
26. Alexandrov K et al (2006) Cancer Research. 66: 11938-45.
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The articles and videos on this website for educational purposes only & have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or to substitute for advice from a licensed healthcare provider.