The benefits of rosemary is a uniquely wonderful thing to list. Don’t get me wrong I love herbs of all kinds and I don’t know that I can really pick “the best” or a top one. However, when we talk about the benefits of rosemary it might need to be considered for the top of the list of herbal royalty.
I really do love herbs. I love how they really can not be beaten. I also love how no matter what the issue is there is an herb uniquely suited to deal with that issue.
Herbs are like nature’s medicine that just grows and gives us freely of its goodness.
A little bit about Rosemary
This woody little shrub is native to the Mediterranean area and has been used for thousands of years its genius name translates in Latin to “dew of the sea”, which is really how it would like to grow, misted by sea water but never really overly wet.
Rosemary does not tolerate freezing. It is a perennial from zone 7-10, however, I have rosemary growing quite well in my greenhouse in zone 6. Rosemary loves full-sun and can tolerate heat, but it can only tolerate some shade.
Rosemary should be protected in temperatures under 40℉, however, there are more hardy varieties that can withstand colder temperatures.
Very recently I learned rosemary can be grown as a topiary plant, I feel like that may become my new obsession. Like a rosemary topiary could it get more beautiful?
Health Benefits of Rosemary
Rosemary (in my mind at least) has one fact that sticks out about all the rest. That is the fact that it increases oxygen uptake on a cellular level. For that reason, rosemary is connected with memory and focus as well as alleviating headaches and migraines.
Rosemary beneficial actions
- analgesic (deadens pain)
- antimicrobial
- antioxidant
- antirheumatic
- antiseptic
- stimulant to the circulatory and adrenal cortex
- tonic to the nervous system
- diuretic
- antifungal
- parasiticide (prevents or destroys parasites)
- emmenagogue (assists menstruation)
Recommended Reading:
Benefits of Pine Needles ( + 4 ways to use them)
Rosemary for the Home
Rosemary with a strong and long-standing background dating back to even ancient Greece. I figure if it was so beloved to be on sacred shrines, considered sacred to many religions and even powerful to the magical community, and fumigated during the middle ages to remove evil spirits, then it for sure has a place in my home.
Since our homes are a place that should be for healing and rejuvenation then having herbs around my home is a must.
The ways that I find it most beneficial (other than pots of my future rosemary topiaries of course) is to diffuse rosemary essential oils either during sickness to encourage healing, during times of study to encourage brain work and focus, or during times of get-togethers (to rid the evil spirits like my mother-in-law, I kid) to keep the air fresh and uplifting.
No essential oils on hand? No problem with the herb itself (either dry or fresh) you can create your own diffusion right on a stove. Fill a small pan 3/4 full of water and toss in your rosemary along with any other desirable herbs (lavender, pine, cloves, or star anise are all great options). Place that on a burner on your lowest setting and let it humidify the air while filling it with rosemary’s healing goodness.
Benefits of Rosemary in the Garden
Rosemary can be quite easy to grow given it has what it needs to thrive, full sun adequate water but not overly wet.
Rosemary makes a wonderful companion plant, especially to anything in the brassica family as it deters cabbage moth.
It also deters the bean beetle and carrot fly, making it a good companion plant for both of those.
In if you live in zone 7-10, propagating rosemary and interplanting it throughout the garden will be very beneficial.
Rosemary for Beauty
Rosemary’s benefits are well known for many things and many of those will have a positive impact on beauty. As a stimulant to the circulatory system improving circulation, as well as an antioxidant for anti-aging, and its anti-inflammatory properties make it useful in any skincare oils, toners, salves, or creams. However, rosemary is most known for its impact on hair growth.
Using rosemary to increase hair growth
- Make a herbal infused oil with rosemary and keep it on hand treating your roots to it regularly will speed hair growth. I suspect it has something to do again with the increased oxygen uptake, but that is just my hunch.
- Additionally, make a very strong rosemary tea then wait for it to cool strain out the herbs, and add it to a spray bottle. Spray or mist your hair daily to encourage hair growth.
- Make a strong rosemary tea (you may consider adding sage to it as well) strain out the plant material and use it as a hair rinse after washing and shampooing.
- Use Rosemary essential oil and add it to your shampoo and conditioner shake well and use as you normally would.
If this kind of thing interests you consider taking an herbal course like the Botanical Skin Care Course to bolster your herbal knowledge.
Rosemary is easy to grow and extremely beneficial in almost every way. Rosemary has a valuable place in the medicine cabinet, a much-loved place in beauty products, and a respected place within the garden. From teas to oils, salves, tinctures or even fumigating your mother-in-law away rosemary has your answer (ok I might have stretched a bit on that last one). Trust me you need this one in your life. So plant it, propagate it, multiply it and sprinkle it like confetti on your whole life. You’ll thank me later (wink, wink).
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Beth is a mother of 6 living on a handful of acres in an old farmhouse in central Kansas. Beth has a background in the military and health and fitness however her passions come from her homestead life. Beth is an enthusiastic homeschooling mom, avid organic gardener, chicken & goat wrangler, who is obsessed with herbs and natural remedies and maintaining an all-around Do-It-Yourself lifestyle. Beth loves to share all she has learned about and sustainable living. While striving for a healthy, natural life, family-centered life.