The Amazing Health Benefits and Uses of Rosemary
In today’s article we’ll explain some of the many health benefits and uses of rosemary. We’ll also suggest ways you can prepare it, including teas, essential oils, rosemary honey, and as a simple spice.
Rosemary is an excellent herb with numerous beneficial health properties, such as improving digestion and circulation, and acting as an antioxidant.
Properties and uses of rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has the following properties when it comes to your health:
- Promotes better circulation
- Powerful antioxidant
- Improves digestion and fights bloating, gas, and excess stomach acid production
- Reduces menstrual cramps, as well as accompanying symptoms (migraines, water retention, etc.)
- Facilitates healthy liver and gallbladder function, making it an excellent remedy for jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
- Treats anemia thanks to its high iron content
- Helps lower cholesterol levels
- Can slow the effects of degenerative diseases
- Helpful in the case of food poisoning
Rosemary tea
A tea made from rosemary leaves is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to benefit from the properties of this plant.
It’s best to drink rosemary tea after you eat, to improve digestion.
How do you make it?
- Bring a cup of water (200 ml) to a boil. Add a teaspoon of dried rosemary leaves and allow it to simmer for three minutes.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let it steep for another five minutes.
- Strain off the liquid and it’s ready to drink.
Rosemary alcohol
Rosemary alcohol is an ancient treatment that can be used in a nice, cooling massage to soothe any inflammation that causes cramps or stiffness, while improving overall circulation (varicose veins, heaviness, cellulite, etc).
How do you make it?
- You’ll need a glass container with a tight lid.
- Fill it with rosemary stems, preferably freshly cut. The best time to do this is when the plant is in bloom.
- Fill the container with grade 96 rubbing alcohol (available at the drug store).
- Close the lid and let this mixture sit for 15 days in a cool, dark place.
- Shake it briefly, once a day.
- After 15 days have passed, strain off the liquid and store it tightly sealed in a dark glass container in a cool, dark place.
Rosemary essential oil for the hair
Essential oils are an inexpensive way to always have rosemary on hand.
Rosemary oil is very beneficial for your hair because it improves circulation of the scalp and prevents hair loss.
To use it, just add a few drops of the oil to your regular shampoo, and wash your hair normally.
If you like, you can mix some coconut oil with a few drops of rosemary essential oil and use this as a scalp massage. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then wash as you normally would.
Rosemary infused honey
Rosemary honey is produced when bees pollinate the flowers of the herb.
Raw, unprocessed honey is the best for human consumption, and it should have a thick texture and a clear color that’s free from cloudiness.
Rosemary honey combines the medicinal properties of these two products, so it’s a very effective remedy for:
- Clearing out mucus
- Aiding in digestion
- Revitalizing the body in general
- Calming rheumatoid arthritis
- Regulating the nervous system
- Fighting respiratory illnesses
- Boosting your natural defenses
- Relaxing your mind
Benefits and uses of rosemary in the kitchen
Rosemary is a common herb used in Mediterranean cuisine. It’s an excellent complement to Italian-inspired recipes, and can be used to add flavor to breads, focaccia, and the like.
One way to always have the flavor of this garnish on hand is to combine some fresh rosemary sprigs with olive oil. You can also add garlic and other herbs, if you like.
Store the mixture in an airtight container and you’ll see how over time the oil acquires the unique flavors.
Rosemary can be very intense, however. So it’s best to always use it in small amounts.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Ghozlan, Safaa & El-Far, Ali & Sadek, Kadry & Abourawash, Abdelrahman & Abdel-Latif, Mervat. (2017). Effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Dietary Supplementation in Broiler Chickens Concerning immunity, Antioxidant Status, and Performance. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences. 55. 152. 10.5455/ajvs.275350.
- Abdul-Rahim Al-Jamal y Taha Alqadi. Effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) on Lipid Profile of Diabetic Rats. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences. 4, (4): 199 – 204. [Online] Avaiable at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bb12/ce239eb7472934a36fc9e35600d76547263a.pdf
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Abdulrahim Al Jamal. (2014). Effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) on lipid profiles and blood glucose in human diabetic patients (type-2). African Journal of Biochemistry Research. 8, (8): 147-150. [Online] Avaiable at: https://academicjournals.org/article/article1414772985_Abdulrahim.pdf
