What is rosemary and what is it for?

The rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is one of the most characteristic plants of the mediterranean landscape. Since ancient times, they have been attributed to him magical powers and had a great reputation as concentration and memory strengthener.

This wild aromatic plant It is abundant in bushes, forest clearings, stony slopes and roadsides. It’s a bush of erect, woody branches, which can reach up to six feet in height, but generally appears as a dense bush of barely 60 cm.

The leaves are linear, hardthin and with the margins folded inwards. They have a strong flavor reminiscent of pine and an intense smell, which makes it very suitable as a condimentespecially for roast meats. can be used both dry and fresh. Also used is rosemary on branch to aromatize rooms.

The rosemary flower It is small and white, pink, blue or purple, and has food and cosmetic uses. The rosemary plant blooms almost all year roundweather permitting, and your intense aroma It feels like just brushing your bouquets with your hands as you pass by.

spreads throughout the Mediterranean: from southern Portugal and northern Morocco to northern Italy and the Middle East. And in Spain it is only scarce in the Cantabrian strip and the Pyrenees. It ranges from areas affected by forest fires or logging, to more or less thick bushes, from sea level to 1,200 meters.

It coexists with other plants with a very Mediterranean accent, such as heather, rockrose, gorse or lavender.

In the rosemary composition we found a essential oil with borneol, pinene, camphor, camphene and cineole, rosmarinic acid, rosmaricin, ursolic acid, bitter principles, flavonoids and tannins. This composition makes the plant have a very high healing potential which has been widely developed in the folk medicine.

Was tradition to place its flowering branches in the rooms of the sick to promote recovery or as a natural disinfectant. It was believed that they also helped scare away insects and kill mites.

The rosemary It was also used in funeral ceremonies, births and betrothals, as symbol of eternal love and fidelity.

Rosemary in the kitchen

Rosemary is very useful in the kitchen, both traditional and creative.

It is used for flavor oils and vinegarswith which to give an original touch to salads.

Traditionally, rosemary was taken macerated in red wineas a tonic and revitalizing drink.

But above all today it is used as companion of different legume and vegetable stewsin steamed vegetables, vegetable skewersas a garnish for rice and in making cookies, cakes and even ice cream.

Rosemary properties

• For circulation: it’s a excellent circulatory stimulant which promotes blood irrigation in the brain, which facilitates greater concentration and retention of knowledge. It can also relieve sensations of vertigo and imbalance due to specific irrigation problems blood in the brain. In venous insufficiency problems, such as phlebitis, varicose veins and tingling on feet and hands, it is combined with plants that strengthen its action, such as red vine, rusco or horse chestnut.
• For memory: Due to its circulatory properties, rosemary is shown as a valid aid in the treatment of senile symptoms and to support the intellectual effort of students, creatives or researchersforced to do arduous exercises to memorize data and knowledge.
• For the nervous system: contributes to eliminate migraine, if it is of nervous or digestive originand has a clear restorative effect, which rebalances the functions of organs that have been affected after a long illness or in situations of chronic weakness or asthenia.
• For appetite: also acts as digestive tonicwhich favors the secretion of gastric fluids (that is cholagoguethat is, it facilitates bile secretion) and salivation. Thanks to these properties, rosemary is a good resource to restore appetite after episodes of reluctance or stomach upset.
• For cholesterol: It helps reduce LDL cholesterol combined with other plants with more obvious hypocholesterolemic effects, such as artichoke, ginger or beans.
• For the digestive system: presents a restorative effect on the liver and gallbladder, repairing damage caused by digestive disorders, spoiled food and poisoning. Promotes the expulsion of gallstones and prevents the appearance of gases and flatulence.
• For pain: in external use, the rosemary alcohol is revealed as a powerful and effective Traditional remedy against rheumatic pain, neuralgia and pain in the shoulders and back.
• For menstrual problems: It is useful in amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome.
• For hair: rosemary alcohol is also used to treat alopecia or dandruff or loss of shine in the hair, associating rosemary with nettle and gotu kola.
• For the skin: rosemary is also useful in certain skin ailments such as dermatitis and eczema, acne, insect bites, superficial wounds, chilblains, bruises, minor burns and sores. .

Natural remedies with rosemary

It is not difficult to get a supply of flowering bouquets within a few kilometers of almost any city. Fresh, they can be used as disinfectants or natural flavorings. To use them in infusion, they are left to dry in the shadeaway from sources of heat and humidity.

Rosemary is used in infusion or decoction, two or three cups a day before or after meals. In herbalists it is also found in tincture, liquid extract, capsules and bottles of pure essential oil.

The decoction is also used topically in sitz baths, washes and hair lotions or to soak compresses. A more traditional way of applying it is macerated in alcohol, to massage painful areas of the body.

Herbal tea to regain strength

To take advantage of the stimulating properties of rosemary, there is a formula that combine rosemary with cinnamon, chopped vanilla and mint leaves. One level tablespoon of the mixture should be included per cup of water.
How to prepare it: Boil it for 1 minute, let it rest for 10 more minutes and drink a glass in the morning, before starting the day, and a second cup in the middle of the afternoon.

Repairing infusion for the liver and gallbladder

It is combined in quantities of 20 g rosemary, chamomile, lemon balm and turmeric, plus half of calendula and green anise. One level tablespoon per glass of water.
How to prepare it: Infuse for 10 minutes, strain and add a pinch of honey. A small cup half an hour before each meal will be enough.

Rosemary alcohol against pain

Applies on soft massages, twice a daymorning and night. It can also be applied in spray.
How to prepare it: To prepare this formula, keep macerate the rosemary for a month in ethyl alcoholmixed with lavender, camphor, cantueso and sometimes arnica.

Home remedy against nervous migraine

This remedy mixes rosemary, betony, ginkgo and star anisein equal parts.
How to prepare it: Boil a tablespoon of the mixture per glass of water for one minute, let it rest for another 5 minutes and strain it. Two or three glasses are taken a day, until the crisis subsides.

Liver cleanser with boldo and rosemary

This infusion to cleanse the liver is made with rosemary, boldo, fumaria, dandelion and star anisein equal parts.
How to prepare it: Use one level tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water. Boil it for 2 minutes, let it rest and once strained, drink 2 glasses a day, after meals.

Venous tonic to stimulate circulation

They are mixed in equal parts rosemary, gotu kola, red vine and ginkgo.
How to prepare it: Boil a tablespoon of this mixture for each glass of water for 30 seconds, let it rest for five minutes and strain. You drink 2 glasses throughout the day; In larger quantities, it can be applied as a local bath.

Contraindications of rosemary

In general it is a very safe plant. However, it should be avoided in case of obstruction of the bile ducts.

Since it stimulates circulation, rosemary can raise blood pressure; not suitable in cases of hypertension.

They can also occur allergic reactions in case of external use on particularly sensitive people.

He essential oil can present a slight toxic effect internally and is contraindicated during pregnancy and the lactationas well as in different pathologies.

Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist from Manantial de Salud