Rosemary is a perennial herb that is native to the Mediterranean Region. It has needle-like leaves and small flowering tops that can be white, pink, blue, or purple. Rosemary is a drought-tolerant plant, easy to grow, and very pest-resistant.
It requires about 200 pounds of leaves to produce about one quart of essential oils.
Aroma –The scent of Rosemary is said to be uplifting, enlightening and to strengthen mental awareness. This is probably due to its antidepressant properties.
Its scent has been described as a Refreshing Herbal Scent, Strong and Penetrating, Herbal with a hint of camphor, pine-like aroma, and Herbaceous, sweet, and slightly camphorous.
This oil is used as a body fragrance in perfumes, as a room spray, burnt in incense, and used in cleaning products, shampoos, creams, lotions, and soaps.
Rosemary Essential Oil Properties
Properties
- Anti-bacterial
- Analgesic
- Antidepressant
- Antiseptic
- Astringent
- Antimicrobial
- Antioxidant
- Anti spasmodic
- Decongestant
- Digestive
- Diuretic
- Fungicidal
- Stimulant
Rosemary and Hair
The regeneration properties of rosemary oil can benefit your hair by helping to stimulate the hair follicles giving you longer, stronger hair. Some say that it is believed rosemary oil can slow down premature greying and hair loss. To use as a hair and scalp conditioner just add rosemary essential oil to olive oil and massage into your scalp.
Rosemary and Skin
For your Skin rosemary has healing and regenerative qualities that are helpful for skin conditions such as acne and eczema; as an astringent, it helps to reduce the oil in your skin and its disinfectant properties also aid in the treatment of these skin conditions; Rosemary is also a natural toner which can help ease puffiness and swelling of the skin.
In creams and lotions rosemary can help improve circulation and as massage oil, it reduces the aches and pains such as muscle aches, back pain, rheumatism, and arthritis.
- Helpful for sagging skin
- Strong astringent
, - Toning and binding
- Ease congestion, puffiness and swelling
- Stimulating action helps to encourage hair growth
- Alleviates dandruff
- Clears headaches
- Stimulates the central nervous system
- Boosts digestion
- Relieve menstrual cramps
- Helps relive water retention
- Rejuvenating tonic
Rosemary and the Brain
Using rosemary oil in a vaporizer can help with sinusitis, and congestion and help to stimulate the brain leading to improved memory and clearer thinking.
For the mind rosemary:
- Stimulates the brain cells
- Clears the head
- Helps with memory
- Good for mental strain and lethargy
- Wakes up the mind when tired and weak
- Energizes and activates the brain
- Revives the senses
Historical Facts – Rosemary was the Egyptians’, most valued essential oil because of its healing and purification abilities.
- Has been found in Egyptian Tombs
- A sacred plant to the Greeks and Romans Rosemary sprigs adorned their gods and drove evil spirits away
- Greeks and Romans burnt it as incense at funerals in memory of the dead
- Greeks wore wreaths of Rosemary on their heads to activate the brain and increase memory
- The Moors planted rosemary bushes in their orchards to ward off pests
- Ancient Healers used rosemary for it’s memory-enhancing qualities
- To protect against the plague
- 16th century physician Paracelsus believed rosemary oil healed organs such as the liver, heart and brain.
- Also in the 16th century hospitals burned this herb to stop the spread of infection and purify the air.
- In the 1400s grave robbers used “Four Thieves” to protect themselves from infection this was mix of Rosemary, clove, Lemon and cinnamon.
Precautions – Rosemary Oil contains camphor, terpineol and thymol, which are highly stimulating. With its strong scent and active ingredients this oil should be avoided
- during pregnancy
- if you have epilepsy – because of it’s high camphor content
- if you have high blood pressure
- if you suffer from asthma
This perennial herbs essential oils are found in many shampoos on the market. The properties it adds to shampoo is no wonder why it is the most found essential oil added to shampoo. Stimulating blood cells and hair follicles to help maintain healthy hair.
From tip to toe, this is a great essential oil to add to your medicine cabinet.