History

Rosemary is a garden herb in the mint family with characteristic narrow leaves and small blue flowers. Depending on the variety, Rosemary can grow up to 6 feet tall or more. It originated in the mediterranean region (and indeed, it got its name from because it was usually found growing next or close to the sea: “ros”, meaning dew, and “marinus”, meaning sea). Rosemary can now be found in many regions with temperate climates in dry and sandy soil.

Rosemary has long been more than just a culinary herb or an ornamental garden plant. It has been used for hundreds and hundreds of years. Ancient Greeks and Romans regarded it as a sacred plant, and Egyptians buried sprigs of Rosemary in the Pharaoh’s tombs, perhaps already aware of Rosemary’s memory-enhancing properties and in a desire to be remembered even after death.

Rosemary was also symbolic of fidelity, and as such several ancient cultures included Rosemary in their courtship and wedding rituals. According to English folklore if a girl placed a plate of flour under a Rosemary bush on midsummer’s eve, her future husband’s initials would be written in it. Other’s believed that to see one’s love in a dream one should put Rosemary under their pillow. Sprigs of Rosemary were also given out to guests as wedding favors or placed in the cups of the married couple as they drank their wedding toasts.

Rosemary was used to ward against evil and disease. Rosemary branches were burnt in medieval hospitals to protect patients from infection and even from pests. Rosemary was planted around a house to protect it from witches and was burned along with charcoal and other herbs to purify and cleanse the air in closed spaces.

One final bit of trivia is that Napoleon was obsessed with Rosemary. It is said that he went through over one hundred bottles of Rosemary water in just a few months, and even as he lay dying, he was surrounded by the scent of Rosemary in his bedchamber. Rosemary water became so popular during and after his time that it became one the first herbal products to be commercially produced and marketed.

Throughout history, Rosemary has been used in treatments for a variety of ailments. It is found as a main ingredient in tonics, liniments, and beauty preparations in ancient as well as medieval medicinal books. Though the chemical constituents of the plant have been identified and studied only in recent years, there is significant anecdotal evidence that it acts as an excellent repellent, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory agent with memory-enhancing and even tumor-inhibitory properties.

• All citruses
• Basil
• Bergamot
• Black Pepper
• Cedarwood
• Fir
• Grapefruit
• Lavender
• Lemongrass
• Peppermint
• Pine

• is tasty (in herb form. DO NOT INGEST ESSENTIAL OIL!!)
• astringent (tones and tightens facial skin)
• anti-microbial
• anti-bacterial (use in treating acne, dermatitis, eczema, and athlete’s foot)
• anti-oxidant action
• anti-inflammatory
• analgesic (eases pain by numbing nerves)
• enhances memory
• improves alertness and focus
• stimulant (helps with poor circulation and low blood pressure as well as quickens function of glands)
• relieves muscle aches and pains (use as a massage oil for arthritis, rheumatism, stiff and sore muscles, gout)
• soothes respiratory conditions (works as an experctorant and aids in treating asthma, bronchitis, colds and cough)
• aids in detoxing
• is said to help with diabetes
• promotes liver and gallbladder health
• promotes digestive health
• promotes hair health (increases hair growth, treats oily, dandruff-y sclaps)

Do not apply on or near the face of babies or children, especially if using cineole.

Limit use during pregnancy, or avoid altogether, as some chemotypes have not yet been studied for use in pregnancy.

Avoid if you have high blood pressure.

Avoid if you suffer from epilepsy. High camphor content could cause seizures.