Benefit Of Rosemary Essential Oil

Pick up a handful of fresh rosemary, and you'll get a whiff of a strong, invigorating fragrance. Rosemary essential oil, which is steam-distilled from the stalks, leaves and flowers of the plant, offers many health benefits. Add rosemary essential oil to your aromatherapy kit to help improve memory, stimulate the adrenal glands and lymphatic system, condition your hair and even make it grow.

History

Ancient cultures viewed rosemary as a sacred herb that warded off evil spirits, the plague and other illnesses. Known for improving memory, rosemary became a common symbol of remembrance at weddings and funerals. Rosmarinus officinalis, its botanical name, comes from the Latin word for "sea dew" because it thrives near the water, particularly in Mediterranean climates.

Benefits

Among its many healing properites, rosemary essential oil is said to help improve memory, relieve headaches, soothe sore muscles, ease digestion, clear nasal passages, tone the nervous system, enhance circulation, invigorate the body and alleviate depression.

Room Scent

A few drops of rosemary essential oil in an aromatherapy diffuser helps fight off fatigue, ease breathing and clear your mind. When you're studying for or taking a test, keep handy a cotton ball or handkerchief doused with two or three drops of rosemary oil to jog your memory.

Body and Bath Oil

Rosemary essential oil added to the bath or mixed with a carrier oil (such as apricot kernel or almond oil) or body lotion helps soothe aching muscles, improve circulation and digestion, stimulate the lymphatic system, treat liver and gall bladder disorders, ease arthritis and clear up skin conditions such as eczema, acne, rashes and varicose veins.

Hair Care

In "The Essential Oils Book," author Colleen K. Dodt recommends a few drops of rosemary essential oil on a comb or brush to condition your hair and remove the scent of cigarette smoke. You could also add the oil to your shampoo and conditioner. Rosemary also helps fight dandruff, stimulates the scalp, slows down the graying process and encourages hair to grow. Its astringent properties help combat oily hair.

Other Uses

A few drops of rosemary essential oil in a spray bottle full of water makes a good-pick-me-up, antibacterial cleanser and insect-repellant.

Considerations

Avoid using rosemary if you have a fever or high blood pressure, are pregnant or are prone to seizures. Do not apply directly to the skin and do not ingest.