Properties of Rosemary Essential Oils

Rosmarinus officinalis is the scientific name of rosemary. This essential oil has a herbaceous, fresh, sweet and slightly medicinal aroma. This is an energizing oil that can restore mental alertness for people who are experiencing a great degree of fatigue and high levels of stress. If you are curious about the characteristics and uses of rosemary essential oils, then you have chosen the right article to read.

The word “rosemary” was derived from two Latin words “ros” which means dew and “marinus” which means sea. When the two Latin words are joined together, they literally mean dew of the sea. Folklore say that originally, rosemary was color white; it turned reddish-blue when the miraculous Virgin Mary placed her cloak in a bush of rosemary.

In 1817, an Egyptian scroll that dated back to 1500 B.C was found and it was found out that the certain scroll had over 800 herbal prescriptions and medicines for the numerous medical sicknesses and conditions successfully treated. One of the herbal medicines/essential oil found in the scroll was rosemary. It was also found out that rosemary was extensively used to heal and anoint the sick.

Since the time of ancient Greece (about 1000), rosemary was used as an incense. It was believed to ward off evils, and this same practice was adapted by later generations. The incense of rosemary became popular to protect the sick from infection.

History of Rosemary
The Roman population treated rosemary as a plan that is sacred because they thought that it was a gift from their gods. The Romans used rosemary as a wreath for weddings, for beauty rituals and herbal medicines, for religious cleansing and purification, and to add as part of their meals.

Dioscorides, the first century doctor which is very popular in the Roman legion, wrote about rosemary more than any other herbal plant in his book Materia Medica. The said book contained a wide range of information about herbal medicines.

It was mentioned earlier that rosemary was burned to be used as an incense, right?  Well, in modern times, there re already hospitals adapting that method because of the disinfecting properties of rosemary. The rosemary incense is already used to disinfect the air in some French hospitals.  Rosemary is also used to combat “superbugs”, those insects and bugs that have already become immune to antibiotics and chemical cleaners.

Medicinal Properties of Rosemary
Among the numerous benefits of rosemary are: liver-protecting, anti-tumoral, antifungal, antibacterial and memory enhancer.  Rosemary can also be effectively used to counteract the growth and spread of bacterial, fungal, and other drug-resistant infections.

Using Rosemary for Topical or Dietary Use
When using rosemary as a supplement, dilute in in 4. Fl. oz. of liquid (e.g. rice milk).  It is highly suggested that one should dilute rosemary essential oil in a carrier oil like almond, vegetable or coconut before using it for both internal or topical use.  It is not advisable to use rosemary if it is still in its undiluted form.

Checking for Possible Skin Sensitivity
If you are under medication, breastfeeding or pregnant, you have to check with your doctor first before you can use rosemary essential oil.  Although the oil is natural, you have to make sure that it will not interfere with your current medication or condition.

A lot of medical researches have proven that rosemary essential oil can give a significant action to the central nervous system and brain.  It is a wonderful oil in clearing the mind and increasing mental alertness.  Rosemary oil can also be an excellent stimulant for the brain.

Migraines and Headaches
The distinct scent of rosemary essential oil can also aid people who are suffering from neuralgia, migraines, and headaches caused by mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion.

Antiseptic Properties
Rosemary has antiseptic properties that make it suitable for people suffering from intestinal infections, diarrhea, flatulence, hepatic disorders and jaundice.  It can also aid in muscular pain, gout, arthritis and rheumatism.

People who have problems in their arteries and veins, as well as those who have medical conditions like arteriosclerosis and palpitations can greatly benefit from rosemary essential oil.  Rosemary is said to enhance circulation in the body and can even make varicose veins less visible and swollen.

Rosemary Oil as a Diuretic
Rosemary oil has diuretics that can hep in reducing water retention in women who are menstruating.  It can also help in weight management, therefore reducing a person’s weight and lessening the presence of horrifying cellulite in the body.

Rosemary for Respiratory
Rosemary has a soothing scent that is said to be effective for sinusitis, whooping cough and bronchitis.  Rosemary can also be mixed in a basin of hot water and inhaled through steam or vapour inhalation.

Rosemary has an astringent action that makes it an ideal oil for sagging skin.  It has stimulating benefits that can also help people suffering from scalp disorders and falling hair.  Rosemary essential oil can also ease congestion, swelling and puffiness of the skin.  Dermatitis, eczema and acne are just some of the skin disorders that rosemary can treat.
A lot of hair care products are also using rosemary as part of their ingredients because of the significant effect of rosemary on the development and growth of hair.  It also enhances the circulation of blood in the scalp, making it produce strong, beautiful hair.

Jack of All Trades
Rosemary essential oil is really loaded with benefits that’s why we can call it jack of all trades.  From relieving strained muscles, treating mental fatigue, making the skin and hair beautiful, to enhancing the circulation of the body, rosemary is truly an exceptional gift from Mother Nature.

Using Rosemary Oil
You can use rosemary essential oil by placing them inside vaporizers or burners.  This way, the rosemary oil can be dispersed through the air, relieving mental fatigue, stress and sinusitis by simple inhalation.  Rosemary’s scent is also known to promote clarity and mental calmness.

The characteristics and uses of rosemary essential oils is a concrete evidence of the wonders Mother Nature can give us.