Rosemary Home Remedies

Herb: ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis

The first time I fell in love with rosemary is when my college roommate used it to season some fresh, aquaponic tilapia. You’re thinking, college? Really? Well, I have never been much of a cook and I was just lucky enough to have a roomie who loved it, er, well, was at least good at it. Many recipes and meals later, I have had my fair share of rosemary but just recently I found a way to use rosemary in a different way – as a home remedy.

Rosemary has been used for more than just cooking for years.  Rosemary has tremendous home remedy powers. Not only has it often been thought of as an herb to improve the memory but it has an old reputation as a symbol of remembrance. It has been used for its symbolism in both weddings and funerals – either a sprig thrown into the grave for memory of the loved one or a crown of rosemary on a bride’s head as a love charm.  The use of rosemary in weddings dates back all the way to the Middle Ages!

This savory herb is antiseptic, which helps fight infections, and is full of antioxidants, which helps both, preserve food and aids in the digestion of fats.  It’s high in iron, calcium and B6.  Studies show rosemary leaves increase circulation, reduce headaches and fight bacterial and fungal infections.  Rosemary is rejuvenating and aids in clear thinking by increasing the flow of blood to the head.  It also helps with colds that come with a nasty fever and headaches by clearing mucus and relieving air passages and lungs.

I’m sure you have some rosemary in your kitchen cabinet or spice rack, so now what can you do with it besides cooking?

•  Cellulite Remover:  If you’re feeling adventurous and have some time on your hands – rosemary stimulates circulation and drains impurities and it’s said it can help with that unsightly cellulite (that none of us have….). Take 1 TB of crushed dried rosemary with 2 TB extra virgin olive oil – smooth over thighs, wrap in plastic wrap and leave on for 10 min – rinse off – repeat once a week
•  Eye Wash:  Ever have tired, stressed eyes? 1tsp of rosemary in boiling water, steep for 10 min, saturate cotton pads with tea and put on eyes for 15 min, rosemary should help draw out that tired eye feeling. Try doing this while taking a relaxing bath!
•  Throat Gargle: Suffering from a sore throat? Steep rosemary in boiling water for 30 minutes (preferably longer if you can) and keep the cup or bowl covered. Let cool and gargle with what we call an ‘infusion.’ Do this a few times throughout the day.
•  Fixture Cleaner: Need a cleanser for your fixtures in a pinch? Boil a handful of rosemary in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes to make an antiseptic solution for washing bathroom fixtures.
•  Headache Ease: If you have a headache, rub some rosemary essential oil on your temples and at the nape of your neck. No essential oil on hand? Boil some water, pour it over some dried rosemary leave but don’t let them soak! Put the wet leaves in cheesecloth or even a paper towel or thin cloth. This will be a compress – put this on your head or where ever your headache is coming from.

      

     *Books I used during research advised - avoid consuming large quantities if pregnant or breast feeding; don’t use during first trimester – could cause miscarriage*

      References:
      www.herbworld.com/learningherbs
      Herbs (Eyewitness Handbook), Lesley Bremness ISBN 1-56458-497-6
      Healing Remedies, Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen, ISBN 978-0-345-52150-7
      Traditional Home RemediesSearch Amazon.com for herbs, Martha White, ISBN 078354868-0