Among the most popular aromatic and medicinal plants, you’ll find rosemary. Rosemary has a lemon-pine flavor that goes well with garlic and olive oil. That makes it a common ingredient for a whole range of dishes. But the benefits of rosemary go far beyond cooking.
In addition to food, rosemary has been used for a variety of needs. It has been used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes and even religious ceremonies. The ancient Egyptians used it as incense. Paracelsus, a renowned German-Swiss physician who made significant contributions to herbal medicine, valued rosemary oil because of its ability to strengthen the body.
The word rosemary actually means “dew of the sea” in Latin. Considering that the herb is indigenous to the Mediterranean region, the name seems quite fitting. The rosemary bush belongs to the mint family, including basil, lavender, myrtle, and sage. Rosemary essential oil comes mostly from the leaves of the plant.
Aromatherapy with Rosemary
When it’s used in aromatherapy, rosemary essential oil has several benefits, reports Healthline. Research indicates that inhaling rosemary essential oil helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical important for thinking, concentration, and memory. However, more research is needed.
Similarly, Healthline indicates that have been a few studies finding that rosemary essential oil may boost attention, alertness, energy, and mood. Yet, here, too, more research is needed. Also, smelling rosemary essential oil may lower stress levels. That’s because it may reduce levels of cortisol, which is a hormone that can be harmful.
Pain Relief through Rosemary
Researchers at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia, conducted a study on mice to determine the pain-relieving benefits of Rosemary Essential Oil. In the study, they identified 29 chemical compounds in rosemary essential oil. The main components were 1,8-cineole, camphor, and α-pinene. Administration of the essential oil significantly increased the animal response's latency response to heat-induced pain between the 20th and 50th minute of the test compared to a saline-treated group. The researchers concluded that the findings supported the use of rosemary essential oil in managing pain and indicated a therapeutic potential of rosemary essential oil in combination with analgesic drugs.
Skin benefits of Rosemary
When it comes to skin, rosemary essential oil has many benefits and is used in skincare cleansers, soaps, face masks, toners, and creams. Rosemary essential oil contains a wide array of nutrients, including iron, calcium, and vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is important for healthy hair and skin. The antioxidants in rosemary essential oil help prevent skin damage and maximize skin tone by combatting free radicals.
Stylecraze recommends massaging the skin with rosemary essential oil to aid rehydration and toning. The site also says that rosemary essential oil's cell regeneration properties help treat visible skin conditions and replace damaged tissue. In this way, it can help reduce the appearance of scars and spots.
You can find Rosemary Essential oil in the following BIOTONE offerings: