- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- The Mediterranean region
Europe · Herb · № 2
Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)
Herb · Europe
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)
An aromatic culinary herb with carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. A few small studies point to a slight effect of the scent on alertness; that it improves memory has not been shown. The leaf is used for digestive complaints.
Safety notes
Culinary use differs from concentrated essential oil. Do not ingest essential oil.
Cautions by tradition (5)
- Western herbalism: Not with high blood pressure.
- Herbs for viral infections: Not with aspirin allergy, bleeding disorders, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Natural skin and hair care: Do not use rosemary oil internally or with epilepsy, high blood pressure or pregnancy. Do not give honey to children under one year old.
- Kallawaya healing in Bolivia: Not internally in large amounts in pregnancy.
- Curanderismo of northern Peru: Not in large amounts in pregnancy or with epilepsy. Smoke can irritate the airways.
Preparation
Use fresh or dried in meals, soups, or an infusion.
Use in traditions
In ancient Greece students wore rosemary wreaths during exams, and in Hamlet Ophelia says: 'There's rosemary, that's for remembrance.' Rosemary was worn at weddings and funerals as a sign of fidelity. 'Hungary water', a rosemary spirit from the 14th century, was one of the first perfumes.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Astringent, aids digestion, strengthens the nerves, carminative, antiseptic, diuretic, induces sweating, antidepressant, promotes circulation, antispasmodic, promotes bile flow, strengthens the heart; oil externally pain-relieving and antirheumatic.
Preparation and amount
Hot tea for colds, flu and rheumatic pain, also for tiredness and headache; hair rinse for dandruff; warm compress alternating with ice for sprains; tincture up to 5 ml 3 times a day (with oats or skullcap for depression); 1 ml oil in 25 ml oil as massage for arthritis, on the scalp for hair growth, on the temples for headache.
Western herbalism
Attributed effects
Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, induces sweating, stimulating; supports heart and circulation (oedema, cold hands/feet), balances blood sugar, warms the body, stimulates hair growth.
Preparation and amount
Tea: 1–2 tsp per cup, 5–10 min covered, 1–3 cups a day; tincture 10–30 drops 1–3 times a day; herbal oil 1–2 tsp on the skin or scalp (massage 2–5 min).
Caution: Not with high blood pressure.
Herbs for viral infections
Attributed effects
Strengthens the immune system (carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid), antioxidant; especially against flu; further for digestive problems, high blood pressure, gallbladder complaints, hair growth.
Preparation and amount
Leaf in food or as tea (fresh or dried leaf 10–15 min in boiling water), or oil; leaf 4–6 g a day, oil 0.1–1 ml.
Caution: Not with aspirin allergy, bleeding disorders, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Natural skin and hair care
Attributed effects
Spicy, warming scent; used in massage oil for stiff muscles and in hair care for the scalp. The European Medicines Agency recognises its traditional external use for mild muscle and joint pain.
Preparation and amount
Internal: rosemary in a herbal honey for colds. External: rosemary oil or the herb in salve, bath and massage oils, footbath, shampoo and hair products (see the recipes).
Caution: Do not use rosemary oil internally or with epilepsy, high blood pressure or pregnancy. Do not give honey to children under one year old.
Kallawaya healing in Bolivia
Attributed effects
As a mouthwash for toothache and gum inflammation, and as a lukewarm wash for the mother after childbirth.
Preparation and amount
Steep a sprig for 10 minutes and let it cool.
Caution: Not internally in large amounts in pregnancy.
Curanderismo of northern Peru
Attributed effects
Romero in mixtures for heart, nerves and digestion, as a hair rinse for hair loss, and in baths and smoke to cleanse the house of 'negative energy'.
Preparation and amount
Steep the leaves briefly; externally in a bath or as smoke, together with palo santo.
Caution: Not in large amounts in pregnancy or with epilepsy. Smoke can irritate the airways.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Protection, memory, wisdom, health, healing, cleansing, long life, concentration.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Attributed effects
Skin tonic; adds shine to dark hair and soothes an itchy scalp; tea relieves headache; tonic tea purifies the blood and strengthens digestion; helps focus and memory.
Preparation and amount
Externally as a skin tonic; hair rinse; tea; tonic tea and concentration tea; uplifting oil and oil for clear decisions; protection pouch; candied sprigs; herb bread, rice, polenta.
Sources
- www.britannica.com
- Penelope Ody, The Complete Medicinal Herbal (1993; 2017)
- Stacey Dugliss-Wesselman & Susan Gregg, Herbal Remedies Made Simple (2018)
- Rainer W. Bussmann & Douglas Sharon, Medicinal Plants of the Andes and the Amazon (2015)
- Joseph W. Bastien, Healers of the Andes: Kallawaya Herbalists and Their Medicinal Plants (1987)
- Louis Girault, Kallawaya. Guérisseurs itinérants des Andes (1984)