Essential oils are healing oils derived from plants and other botanicals. They offer a variety of benefits, and rosemary essential oil is one of the best. Rosemary oil is one of the more famous essential oils widely used in aromatherapy. If you want to improve your breathing, fight cold, sinusitis, bronchitis, and rhinitis, then this is the oil you need. Before we get into rosemary essential oil benefits, here’s a little info about the rosemary herb and oil.
Benefits of Rosemary Plant
Belonging to the mint family, the rosemary bush is a cousin to popular herbs like basil, sage, and lavender. Ancient civilizations found great benefit from implementing rosemary into their dishes and popularized routines.
For example, ancient Egyptians used rosemary oil to create an alluring aroma. The Romans found the rosemary herb to be quite sacred; often times using it for weddings and religious occasions. The 16th-century practitioner, Paracelsus, made the weighty claim that rosemary oil even had the power to restore organs like the brain and heart.
The rosemary herb is known to be a popular complement to savory dishes all over the world. Although renowned for its herbal flavor, rosemary essential oil is jam-packed with a host of health benefits that go far beyond taste. From cosmetic enhancements to mental stimulation, the oil derived from rosemary is astounding. It is truly more than just a savory seasoning.
See Also: The Best Essential Oils for Allergies and Health
Rosemary Oil
Rosemary oil is essentially the extract of a small light blue flower along with the extract from the leaves to yield the fragrance of the essential oil, which is sometimes used as an ingredient in perfumes as well as for food flavoring. This healing oil has a powerful, refreshing herbal smell with the appearance of clear water and a viscous texture. It has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of certain medical problems such as acne, baldness, rheumatic pain, and circulatory blockages.
Rosemary essential oil has a pronounced action on the brain and central nervous system (CNS) and is a powerful tool in helping to clear the mind and for increasing mental awareness. It has also been shown to possess excellent brain-stimulating properties as well as an aid for memory improvement. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3700080/)
Today, rosemary oil is readily available to the masses. Many have even implemented this holistic alternative into their wellness routine.
Rosemary Essential Oil Benefits
Rosemary oil is light enough to be implemented into holistic blends for satisfactory results. You can add a few drops to your bath or even to topical lotion. It is recommended to limit topical use to about two drops.
Now that we know a little about the herb and oil, here are some of the benefits of rosemary essential oil:
1. Hair Growth
Rosemary oil is packed with nutrients that increase microcirculation, or blood flow to the scalp.
This promotes healing and a strengthening of the scalp which results in optimal hair growth. In addition, adding rosemary oil into your hair care routine can help to prevent baldness and receding hairlines.
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2. Improved Memory
Fans of Shakespeare may remember Ophelia’s related quote, “There’s rosemary, that’s more remembrance: pray, love, remember.” Although Ophelia was quite the madwoman, she knew her herbs. Rosemary oil, when inhaled, can help to increase long-term memory, focus, and the ability to retain information. Individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia may experience sharper thinking and decreased symptoms.
A study found that after the inhalation treatments with rosemary oil, subjects were found to have become more active and stated that they felt “fresher”. These results confirm the stimulatory effects of rosemary oil and provide supporting evidence that brain wave activity, autonomic nervous system activity, as well as mood states are all affected by the inhalation of rosemary oil. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3700080/)
3. Decreased Stress
One of the most important uses of rosemary oil is in stress reduction. Rosemary oil has been known to decrease cortisol levels in the body. When this occurs, the mind and body are working at an equilibrium of balance. You are able to handle life’s tasks with mental clarity without unnecessary social or inner fear. People who suffer from chronic depression or anxiety could benefit from adding rosemary oil to their wellness routine.
4. Boosts Immunity
Immunity boosting is also one of the rosemary essential oil benefits. Rosemary oil helps to boost immunity to further fight infections. The oil of rosemary is beneficial for the treatment of congestion, cough, and pesky allergies. To use, simply add it to boiling water or add a few drops into a diffuser.
These are some well known rosemary essential oil benefits. Now, let’s talk about some useful recipes.
Rosemary Essential Oil Recipes
1. For Common Cold: The ideal common cold combo is six drops of rosemary oil combined with four drops of helichrysum. It’s one of the most effective combinations for relieving congestion. This blend is best used in a diffuser.
2. A Purifying Room Spray: Combine 10 drops of each of these essential oils: cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, and lemon in a spray bottle with 120 ml of water and make a mist. You may also choose to use a diffuser instead.
3. Hair Growth Spray: Combine 10 drops each of rosemary, tea tree, cedarwood, and lavender essential oils in a 120ml spray bottle. Fill the rest of the bottle with clean water. Shake this mixture very well before use. It’s effective for hair growth and cleansing the scalp. However, if you have no time to make this spray, then get this one.
Possible Side Effects of Rosemary Oil
Currently, rosemary oil has no known serious side effects. However, avoid consuming rosemary oil as it may induce vomiting or other serious side effects. Also, skin redness or discoloration may occur when used for the first time. As mentioned, topical use should be limited to two or three drops and properly diluted in a carrier oil before use.
Before using essential oils, consult your doctor if pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications for chronic diseases.
