In ancient times, rosemary was laid across coffins and tombstones as a symbol of remembrance. During the Middle Ages, rosemary was associated with wedding ceremonies and was worn by the bride as a headpiece. The groom and guests would all wear a sprig of rosemary. Later in history, newlywed couples would plan a branch of rosemary on their wedding day, if it grew, it was a good omen for the couple. (1)
Rosemary oil has a distinctive woody fragrance and has been used for centuries for a variety and health and beauty purposes. Its healing properties were favored by German-Swiss physician and botanist, Paracelsus. He was a strong proponent of herbal medicine in the 16th century and prized rosemary essential oil due to its ability to strengthen the body. (2)
Rosemary oil was used for thousands of years to improve memory, soothe digestion and relieve muscle aches and pain
This oil was also considered sacred by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Hebrews. Research shows that it can boost nerve growth and support healing of neurological tissue and brain function. It has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years to improve memory, soothe digestion and relieve muscle aches and pains. (3)
Rosemary has the same free radical fighting power as goji berries. It contains the chemical, carnosol which is known for its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Research published in journal Cancer Letters, shows that carnosol shows promising results in treating prostate, breast, skin, leukemia, and colon cancers. (3)
Rosemary contains carnosol, a chemical shown to treat prostate, breast, skin, leukemia and colon cancers!
Carnosol has also beens town to help reduce inflammation, balance androgen and estrogen in the body, lower DHT and improve hair growth and prostate health, reduce risk of cancer, and heal nerve tissue. (3)
Top four benefits of rosemary oil!
- Hair Growth: Rosemary oil applied to the scalp can help stimulate hair growth. Some claim that rosemary oil can help prevent baldness, slow graying and treats dry scalp. Francesc Casadó Galcerá found that a mixture of hops rosemary and swertia increased hair growth by 22.4 percent, promoted healing to the scalp and decreased hair loss. (3)
- Memory: Greek scholars wore rosemary to help enhance their memory when taking exams. A study published in Neuroscience evaluated the cognitive performance of 144 participants using rosemary oil or lavender oil aromatherapy. Rosemary oil produced significant performance enhancement for overall quality of memory and boosted alertness. Lavender oil impaired the reaction times for both memory and attention based tasks. Rosemary oil has also been found to help treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. (3)
- Liver Detoxification and Gallbladder Function: Rosemary greatly enhances the flow of bile from the body and reduces plasma liver enzymes. Due to this, proper peristaltic activity is promoted by the gallbladder which boosts nutrient absorption and helps reverse or prevent toxic overload. (3)
- Lowers Cortisol: A study from Japan found that rosemary oil greatly reduced cortisol levels and protected the body from chronic disease due to oxidative stress. (3)
Consider buying rosemary essential oil to add to your aromatherapy routine. Add a few drops to your favorite shampoo or utilize approved rosemary essential oil for cooking.
Sources included:
(1) http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/powerful-healing-qualities-of-rosemary/
(2) http://www.naturallivingideas.com/rosemary-essential-oil-benefits-uses/
(3) http://draxe.com/rosemary-oil-uses-benefits/
