Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

The evergreen leaves of this shrubby herb are about 1 inch long, linear, revolute (leaf margins curve downwards), dark green above and paler and glandular beneath, with an odour pungently aromatic and somewhat camphoraceous. The flowers are small and pale blue. Much of the active volatile principle resides in their calyces. There are silver and gold-striped varieties, but the green-leaved variety is the kind used medicinally. – Mrs. M. Grieve

Hepatic / Chologogue
Hepatoprotective
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Antiseptic / Antimicrobial
Circulatory Stimulant (Upper body/brain)
Antidepressant / Thymoleptic
Relaxant
Astringent
Nervine Tonic
Cardiac tonic
Carminative / Aromatic Stomachic
Spasmolytic
Diuretic
Emmenagogue
Rubefacient
Mild analgesic
Diaphoretic
Vulnerary
Antiparasitic/Anthelmintic

Medicinal Uses for Rosemary (infusion/tincture)

• Enhances memory and mental alertness
• Weak circulation – Rosemary is particularly useful for bringing circulation to the head
• Hypotension
• An infusion of the dried plant (leaves/flowers) applied to the scalp is a remedy for premature baldness, scurf, and dandruff. 
• Headache (circulation/tension-related)
• Nervous depression
•  Palpitations due to nervous tension
• Tonic for general debility, particularly in elders with weak circulation
• Indigestion / stomach complaints
• Joint ailments

Historical

•  The ancients were well-acquainted with Rosemary, it having a reputation for strengthening the memory. 
• It is an old custom to burn Rosemary in sick chambers, sometimes in combination with Juniper berries to prevent infections. 
• The flowers were placed in closets to deter moths
• Culpeper recommends it for ‘cold’ diseases of the liver, to enhance memory, and quicken the senses.
• “It comforteth the harte and maketh it merie.” -Gerard
• Rosemary was a symbol of love and loyalty, and it was a popular plant as a decoration or wreath at wedding ceremonies
• “Speaking of the powers of rosemary, it overtoppeth all the flowers in the garden, boasting man’s rule. It helpeth the brain, strengtheneth the memorie, and is very medicinable for the head.  Another property of the rosemary is, it affects the heart. Let this rosmarinus, this flower of men, ensigne of your wisdom, love and loyaltie, be carried not only in your hands, but in your hearts and heads.” -Roger Hacket
• “As for Rosmarine, I lett it runne all over my garden alls, not onlie because my bees love it, but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance, and, therefore, to friendship; whence a sprig of it hath a dumb language that maketh it the chosen emblem of our funeral wakes and in our buriall grounds.” – Sir Thomas More
• “There is a vulgar belief in Gloucestershire and other counties, that Rosemary will not grow well unless where the mistress is “master”; and so touchy are some of the lords of creation upon this point, that we have more than once had reason to suspect them of privately injuring a growing rosemary in order to destroy the evidence of their want of authority.” –Treasury of Botany
• Rosemary was used to flavour ale and wine, and was used as a Christmas decoration.
• In Spain and Italy, it was considered a safeguard from witches, and evil influences generally. 
• It has been used as an inexpensive incense for religious ceremonies. 

 

Caution during pregnancy
Do not use if there are tumours in the brain
Do not use the Essential oil during pregnancy, cases of epilepsy, or high blood pressure 
Caution in cases of low iron
Caution if you experience headaches which feel “explosive” (potentially too much blood to the area already) 

 

Cultivation

Rosemary grows best in USDA zones 7-11. It does best in light, dry soil, and in a sheltered location such as the base of a low, south-facing wall. 

Oil distilled from the flowering tops is superior, but most oils on the market are distilled from the leaves and stem. From 100 lb of the flowering tops, 8 oz of the oil is usually obtained. 

Since much of the active constituents, including (but not limited to) volatile oils, reside in the calyces of the flowering plant, it is best to harvest Rosemary when it is in full bloom (this is an aberration from the usual recommendation for most herbs, which is to pick their leaves immediately before or during the initial phases of the plant flowering. Rosemary leaves are persistent, and will maintain much of their medicinal value even when the energy of the plant has shifted to the flowers, thus allowing for the simultaneous harvesting of the leaves and flowers of Rosemary). 

Dosages 

Infusion: Dried: 2-4g 3x/day
Tincture: 2-6.4mL/day ; 15-45mL/week (1:3, 65-70%)

Most fundamentally Rosemary is a blood herb, affecting both the liver and heart (blood organs), and spurring circulation to all areas above the legs, particularly the brain. For this reason it is used for memory, sharpening the senses, hair growth, and all manners of complaints related to low blood circulation. 
Rosemary is a helpful herb for the elderly (and can be combined with Hawthorn), for increasing blood pressure, strengthening the heart, and renewing lost energy and vitality. It is good for short-term joint pain relief (to a degree, as joint pain is fundamentally a chronic lymphatic/kidney ailment), and some cases of headaches and nervous depression. Rosemary is also helpful in cases of digestive complaints caused by a low production of bile by the liver, and will likely aid the liver in a variety of other ways simultaneously. 

Tip for formulating: In herbal medicine, it is a common practice when combining herbs into a formula to include at least one ‘circulatory herb’, so that the compounds within the various herbs may more effectively be transported via the blood to the regions of the body intended to be healed. If your purpose is to direct herbal powers to the brain and/or upper body, Rosemary serves as a good courier.