7 ways to use rosemary as medicine

I grow many different herbs and one I cannot be without is Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus or Rosmarinus officinalis). Rosemary is actually a member of the sage family and has needle like (almost pine looking) leaves on woody stems. Most people grow it as an annual since it's not cold hardy but it is actually a perennial. One of the most common kitchen herbs, it also has many medicinal uses.

Though rosemary is mostly known for its prominence in cooking, it has been in use otherwise as far back as 5000 BCE. It was grown in ancient Egypt for use in burial rituals and also used in Greece and Rome. In the 14th century, rosemary was used to make one of the first alcohol based perfumes in Europe.

Throughout history rosemary has symbolized remembrance, being using in many different cultures burial ceremonies. More currently, it holds a place in a often quoted line from the movie Practical Magic. "There are some things I know for certain: always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can.”

Rosemary is a natural anti-inflammatory, is antifungal, has antimicrobial properties and is high in anti-oxidants. It can be used to improve the mood, lessen anxiety, reduce fatigue, improve memory and stimulate hair growth. 

Medicinal uses for rosemary

The oils in rosemary are what make it such a helpful herb but unfortunately they are quite delicate and become weakened with drying. For this reason I try to use fresh rosemary whenever possible. 

You'll probably want to grow your own and luckily many produce sections in grocery stores sell small rosemary plants year round! It has a reputation for being difficult to grow, but rosemary is actually not that hard to grow if you know a few tricks. I can teach you to grow rosemary indoors and out year round, so you always have it available.

How to brew and use Rosemary tea

Add 2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary leaves to boiling water and steep for about 6 minutes then strain. Sweeten with raw honey to taste and sip slowly. You can allow it to steep up to 10 minutes for a stronger tea, but it tends to get bitter.

You don't necessarily have to strip off the leaves, you could just toss a few sprigs of rosemary into your tea pot to steep without stripping the leaves off the stems. You won't have to strain the tea, but you won't be able to measure the amount of leaves you're adding first.

1) Rosemary is a member of the sage family so it should come as no surprise that it's loaded with antioxidants and often used as a preventative for heart disease and to balance free radicals in the body.

2) When drank as a tea, rosemary can help protect vision and improve eye health.

3) Sipping a cup of warm rosemary tea can help alleviate digestive problems including heartburn and stomach pain.

4) Boil water and add a few rosemary sprigs. Remove from heat and breath the steam in to help with congestion. (don't get close enough to get a steam burn!) May also help with headaches.

5) Rosemary tea can be brewed and cooled then used as a hair rinse to stimulate har growth. I don't strain the tea till it's cool enough to use.

6) Drinking a cup of rosemary tea daily may help improve the quality of memory and improve mental alertness.

7) There have been animal studies done that show rosemary can help prevent weight gain. Studies haven't been done on humans, but I'm adding it here because it's super interesting.

Using Rosemary essential oil

I'm adding this in here because I don't want to have to send you all over my site for info on one herb! So here are the most common rosemary EO uses. 

Remember: never ingest rosemary essential oil, but rather use it topically or in a diffuser.

1) Aromatherapy: rosemary is often diffused to improve brain function, reduce tension and alleviate fatigue.

2) It can be diluted with a carrier oils and used to massage sore muscle to alleviate pain.

3) It's one of the oils I use in my headache oil blend to alleviate my stubborn headaches. 

4) Can be diluted and rubbed on the soles of the feet to help with digestion.

5) Can be diluted with a hair safe oil and massaged into the scalp before washing hair to stimulate hair growth.

As you can see rosemary can really come in handy as a medicinal herb on the homestead. WebMD even has a full profile on it! 

I have to admit to being fascinated by the smell of rosemary! I will brush my hands across rosemary plants in public just to get the smell on them! lol It's just an added bonus that it has so many amazing properties outside of that lovely scent With so many wonderful uses, why wouldn't you grow and use rosemary?

~L

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I am not a doctor or other health care professional nor do I claim to be. I am not trained in any medical field. I am simply passing on information that has worked for me. This information is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. See a Dr if you are ill. Click for my full disclaimer.