The rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis) is an aromatic and medicinal plant well known and appreciated in Mediterranean countries.
In popular medicine, It has been used as a mild analgesic to treat headaches, muscle and period pain, insomnia and emotional discomfort. Due to its properties, it is said to be an adaptogenic plant, that is, it helps to adapt to demanding situations. That’s why It is considered an anti-stress and strengthening plant, which, in addition, has no side effects.
Scientific studies Their effects on the nervous system stand out. According to research published in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, shows important clinical effects on mood, learning, memory, pain, anxiety and sleep.
1. Effects of rosemary on depression
Depression is a serious chronic psychiatric illness, the causes of which are not well known. In studies with laboratory animals it has been proven that rosemary produces a significant antidepressant effect, which could be due to active ingredients present in the plant such as carnosol, ursolic acid, betulinic acid and 1,8-cineole, the main compound of rosemary essential oil.
2. Alzheimer’s disease
One of the important characteristics of the aging process is oxidative damage to neurons. Therefore, plant extracts with antioxidant ingredients can be of great help in preventing and combating symptoms such as memory loss, learning difficulties, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Several studies confirm that rosemary can stimulate intellectual abilities, at least in laboratory mice. Studies have also been conducted with people: inhalation of rosemary oil vapors in 144 healthy volunteers induced subjective effects on mood, as well as objective effects on cognitive performance.
In another study, the aroma of rosemary oil improved student performance exams by improving free radical scavenging activity and reducing levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.
Even rosemary used as a spice in cooking has effects. In research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, rosemary powder (750 mg) showed positive influences on memory speed in 28 adults with an average of 75 years of age.
Another team applied an aromatherapy treatment in patients with Alzheimer’s and proposed that this treatment could improve cognitive function, especially in patients with Alzheimer’s.
3. Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disease that causes periodic spontaneous seizures and memory and learning deficits.
It has been proven that rosemary significantly decreases both the severity and occurrence of seizures in laboratory mice. However, this has not been confirmed in human studies.
4. addictions
Opioid use is a global epidemic and continues to spread. Finding a non-addictive agent to prevent the addiction process is one of the main concerns of researchers in this field.
Some studies indicate that rosemary could be effective in reducing withdrawal symptoms. In a study of 81 patients, it was confirmed that rosemary (8-16 capsules/day, containing 300 mg of dried rosemary leaves) could be used as an herbal medicine to relieve withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia or musculoskeletal pain.
5. Neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain is caused by a disease or injury of the central or peripheral nervous system. Sciatica pain is one of the most common.
Again, the effects of rosemary on this type of pain have been tested in laboratory animals. The data obtained indicate that has analgesic properties and justify popular use in these problems.
In one study, the analgesic effects of rosemary essential oil and its interactions with paracetamol and codeine were investigated. The results support the use of rosemary in the treatment of pain and show the therapeutic potential of rosemary essential oil in combination with analgesic medications. Topical application of rosemary relieves the frequency and intensity of musculoskeletal pain.
6. Stress and anxiety
Emotional disorders, such as anxiety, are a huge health burden all over the world. Furthermore, prolonged exposure to stress can induce neuronal degeneration, neuronal inflammation, and brain microdamage.
Rosemary may improve mood in healthy adults. Inhalation of rosemary essential oil vapors can reduce the level of serum corticosterone and increase the level of dopamine in the brain, which explains the indication in anti-stress and anxiolytic therapy.
The rosemary (500 mg, twice a day, for one month) It can be used to improve memory, reduce anxiety, depression, and promote sleep quality in college students, as research conducted with college students has shown.