Rosemary Vitamins

Although rosemary does contain vitamins, it is not a vitamin in itself; it is a shrub that is native to the Mediterranean. Rosemary is commonly used in cuisine as a spice, and the leaves of the rosemary plant have a long history of use for medicinal purposes. As with any herbal product, talk to your healthcare practitioner before supplementing with rosemary.

Acitve Ingredients

Rosemary contains volatile oils, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc; as well as vitamins B-1, B-3 and C. It also contains a wide-variety of phytochemicals, including beta-carotene, camphor, rosmarinic acid, limonene, tannins and carnosol. Phytochemicals are potent antioxidant compounds found in plants, that scavenge free radicals and thereby help to prevent and treat disease in humans.

List of Purported Uses

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, rosemary has been traditionally used to support the circulatory and nervous system, improve memory and reduce inflammation. Rosemary is also used to increase urine flow, promote menstruation, stimulate hair growth, relieve muscle spasms and pain, reduce nasal congestion, detoxify the liver and regulate blood pressure. In addition, Phyllis Balch states in her book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" that rosemary helps to treat headaches, gout, rheumatism, circulatory problems and menstrual cramps. However, these uses are based primarily on anecdotal reports and not scientific evidence.

The Treatment of Indigestion and Prevention of Cancer

Rosemary is helpful at improving digestion and is used in Germany to treat indigestion. Preliminary research suggests that rosemary may also help to prevent cancer. According to a study published in the February 2002 edition of "Oxford Journals," the phytochemical carnosol found in rosemary has anti-carcinogenic properties. Carcinogens are toxic cancer causing substances, and rosemary helps to neutralize and reduce levels of the harmful carcinogen known as nitric oxide, in the body.

Precautions

Rosemary supplements are sold in tincture, fluid extract and capsule form and the dried herb can be steeped and consumed as a tea. Rosemary is considered safe when taken in recommended doses. However, allergic reactions have been reported and large doses may cause vomiting, spasms, coma and edema of the lungs, states the University of Maryland. Pregnant women should not take rosemary because it has abortifacient properties and it may cause a miscarriage. Rosemary is also contraindicated in people who have high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcers, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, due to the additive effect that rosemary may have with medications commonly used to treat these conditions.