Rosemary Essence
Description
© Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Family: Labiatae (mint)
Source: The Essential oil is obtained from the whole plant.
Fragrance:Camphor, sweet, fresh.
Volatility: Middle note.
General description and habitat:
Native to the Mediterranean but now grown in other warm countries; evergreen flowering shrub; height up to 5 feet; dark, linear leaves; pale blue, tubular flowers; strongly aromatic.
Morocco is a leading producer.
Principal constituents:
Borneol, camphene, camphors, cineol, lineol, pinene, resins, saponin.
History
History and folk use:
One of the most well-known herbs its use can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians.
It was sacred to the Greeks and the Romans and symbolized love and death, being associated with weddings and funerals. Hippocrates, Galen and Dioscorides all prescribed rosemary for liver problems.
It was used against contagious diseases and was burned for purification and carried around in posies to protect the wearer from the plague.
Saxon records Mention rosemary for healing and in the sixteenth century it was said to preserve youthfulness. The French regarded it as a cure-all.
Properties & Uses
General properties: Antiseptic, stimulant, diuretic, antispasmodic, tonic, uplifting, warming
Primary Uses:
| Depression | Fatigue |
| Headache | Respiratory problems |
| Rheumatism |
Secondary Uses:
| Abscesses, | Aches & Pains, | Acne, | |
| Anemia, | Alopecia, | Arteriosclerosis, | |
| Arthritis, | Asthma, | Baldness, | |
| Boils & Carbuncles, | Bronchitis, | Catarrh, | |
| Colitis, | Constipation, | Colds, | |
| Coughs, | Dandruff, | Dermatitis, | |
| Diarrhea, | Dizziness, | Dry & Aging Skin, | |
| Eczema, | Fever, | Fibromyalgia, | |
| Flatulence, | Gall Bladder, | Gout, | |
| Hangover, | Hypercholesterolemia, | Hypotension, | |
| Indigestion, | Influenza, | Liver, | |
| Lymphadenitis, | Mental Fatigue, | Migraine, | |
| Myalgic Encephalitis, | Obesity, | Painful | Periods, |
| Palpitations, | Poor Circulation, | Poor Concentration, | |
| Poor Memory, | Scabies, | Sprains, | |
| Stiffness, | Stomach Pains, | Strains, | |
| Vertigo, | Water Retention, | Whooping Cough. |
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
Recommended daily dosages in Germany are as follows:
Internal:
10 - 20 drops of essential oil.
External:
6 - 10% essential oil.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Contraindications
Beware adulteration by turpentine, sage and aspic.
Not to be administered during the first five months of pregnancy.
Not to be used by hypertensives or epileptics.
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