How Does Rosemary Affect Aromatherapy?

While the word "aromatherapy" seems to imply healing through scent only, in reality the somewhat elastic term generally applies to the use of essential oils for physical and emotional healing, as well as for cosmetic applications like skin and hair care. Rosemary essential oil, which is steam-distilled from the tips and needles of the herb Rosmarinus officinalis, represents one of the more versatile essential oils. Always check with your doctor before attempting any herbal self-treatment.

Methods of Application

Healers use rosemary essential oil to address a range of problems. It can be used as an inhalant, as a topical application and perhaps as an oral medicine. The use of the oil as internal medicine, however, is best left to an experienced practitioner, if at all. Author Jeanne Rose includes formulas for its use as a healing tea in "The Aromatherapy Book," while University of Maryland Medical Center cautions against any internal use. Never apply rosemary oil to the skin without diluting it in a carrier oil, such as olive or almond oil. Rub a small amount of the rosemary oil-carrier oil formula on a patch of skin to rule out allergies.

Mood Enhancement

Shakespeare famously noted that rosemary is for remembrance. The herb boasts a long history in improving brain functions like memory and the ability to focus, notes UMMC. Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to a diffuser, vaporizer or even a pot of simmering water; check your appliance, if you own one, for the recommended amount of essential oils to use. Aromatherapist Jeanne Rose notes that many practitioners recommend rosemary oil to reduce anxiety and depression. UMMC confirms this tradition while pointing out that scientific research reveals mixed results for the use of rosemary oil as an anxiety-reliever. Experiment with rosemary oil, either alone or in combination with other oils, to determine its effect on your own mood.

Effect on Circulation

UMMC notes that rosemary oil's circulation-boosting properties may help ease the pain associated with joint and muscle pain when applied topically. Although the oil hasn't been studied extensively in the United States, Germany's prestigious Commission E authorizes its use for arthritis and other forms of muscle pain. UMMC suggests adding two drops rosemary essential oil to every 1 tbsp. of a carrier oil, such as olive or almond oil. Apply this rosemary massage oil to areas that need attention. The oil may also be rubbed on the scalp to improve circulation and encourage hair growth.

Chemotypes

Rose notes that herbs such as rosemary contain more than one beneficial compound. Some essential oil manufacturers have bred new cultivars of these herbs, including rosemary, which focus on larger quantities of a single compound. In turn, the essential oils produced from these chemotypes may give enhanced healing for specific health issues. Rosemary verbenon oil, for example, is the best type of rosemary oil to use on ear infections, dry skin and cramps, according to Rose. Rosemary borneol oil helps fight fatigue and works as a heart tonic. Rosemary cineol oil fights lung congestion and constipation. Not all essential oil suppliers sell rosemary chemotypes, nor is it necessary to seek one out in place of common rosemary essential oil.

Alternatives

If you grow rosemary in your garden, consider infusing the herb in a jar of olive oil in order to capture many of the same effects of rosemary essential oil. Fill a clean jar with fresh rosemary sprigs, cover the sprigs with olive oil and steep the mixture on a sunny windowsill for several weeks. Strain and bottle the infused oil. The effect won't be as concentrated as the essential oil, but the healing properties exist. Use it as a massage oil, bath oil, skin enhancer or scalp rub. Do not use it in a diffuser or vaporizer. Other essential oils which are often used in place of, or combined with, rosemary essential oil include lavender and sage oils. For internal use, steep fresh or dried rosemary sprigs in boiled water and drink the resulting tea.

Warnings

Rose cautions that the use of too much rosemary oil, either through inhalation or skin contact, can cause epileptic fits. Among those who should avoid using the oil are people with high blood pressure, Crohn's disease and ulcers, as well as pregnant and nursing women, according to UMMC. Using the leaves or oil in great quantities may lead to vomiting, fluid in the lungs and even coma.