Rosemary 100 g, 50 g, 25 g

Rosemary – 100 g ($8.99), 50 g ($5.99), 25 g ($3.99)

Benefits:
Rosemary is a potent antioxidant, antiseptic, and antispasmodic. In European folk medicine, it was used both internally and externally. Rosemary was ingested for digestive disorders, headaches, menstrual ailments, exhaustion, dizziness, and poor memory. Externally, it has been used for myalgia (muscle pain), neuralgia (nerve pain), and sciatica. There are homeopathic remedies for gastrointestinal disorders. The German Commission E has approved it for oral use for dyspeptic disorders and externally as a supportive therapy for rheumatic disease and circulatory problems. In addition, it has been used for dandruff, greasy scalp, and hair growth. More recently, it has been investigated as a cancer therapy.

Alzheimer’s disease, memory problems. Rosemary has had a long history of use for enhancing memory. In one study, participants who received rosemary aromatherapy for three minutes showed decreases in alpha and beta power, which suggests increased alertness. They also had reduced anxiety and exhibited better performance on memory testing. Rosemary is suitable for patients with Alzheimer’s disease because it is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor. COX-2 inhibitors have been proposed for use as drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. Rosemary contains natural compounds that inhibit COX-2 (apigenin, carvacrol, eugenol, etc.). It also has ferulic acid, which when fed to mice injected with beta-amyloid (the major constituent of brain plaque) had better cognition compared to a control group. Human studies, however, are lacking.

Cancer. Research shows that rosemary has strong antioxidant effects. Several animal studies indicate that rosemary can prevent cancer-causing chemicals from binding to and causing mutations in cellular DNA. This was later reconfirmed in human cells. Rosemary has been shown to inhibit the carcinogen aflatoxin from binding to liver cells and to prevent benzopyrene from binding to bronchial cells. These results show that its potential protective abilities go beyond one carcinogen and one type of tissue. Other research has found that whole rosemary extract can stimulate liver enzymes that defuse carcinogens and reduce those enzymes that can enhance carcinogens. No human studies are available as this is a new area of research.

Circulatory problems, eczema, rheumatic disorders, and sore muscles. In European folk medicine, rosemary baths were used to prevent bacterial infection complicating eczema. Rosemary baths also stimulate blood circulation to the skin. This action helps the body to circulate the immune cells that cause eczema away from the skin and to circulate antibodies and other immune cells that fight infection to the skin. Rosemary contains camphor, which increases the blood supply to the skin. Because of this property, using rosemary in the bath helps to reduce pain in rheumatic muscles and joints. Rosemary baths also help to improve disorders characterized by chronic circulatory weakness, such as low blood pressure, varicose veins, bruises, and sprains.

Indigestion and menstrual cramps. Rosemary helps to relax muscles, including the muscles of the digestive tract and the uterus.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Rosemary relieves intestinal cramps and spasms. It also eases bloated feelings and stops flatulence. The bitter substances in rosemary stimulate the release of bile, aiding the digestion of dietary fat and lowering cholesterol levels.

Recommended Use
Rosemary is available as enteric-coated oil capsules, oils (which can be used for aromatherapy), and teas (which can be used as skin washes). Daily doses are 4 to 6 grams of the herb or 10 to 20 drops of the essential oil externally. However, smaller quantities are probably sufficient and safer (for example, 2 drops). Externally, the typical amount is 50 grams of the herb per one bath or 6 to 10 percent essential oil in a semisolid and liquid preparation. Continuous medicinal use of rosemary should be avoided by women who have heavy menstrual flow. Since this herb is a uterine stimulant, it should not be used medically during pregnancy. Rosemary leaves taken in large quantities have been used for the purpose of abortion and can result in deep coma, spasm, vomiting, gastroenteritis, uterine bleeding, kidney irritation, and death. The small amounts of rosemary used in cooking do not pose a risk of any side effects. You should never ingest the essential oil. It can irritate the stomach and intestines, and cause kidney damage.

Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
English: Rosemary
Also, known as: Alecrim, Azir, Biberine, Biberye, Boithran, Common Rosemary, Echter Rosmarin, Encensier, Garden Rosemary, Gusmarino, Hasalban, Hatsa Louban, Hhassa Luban, Iklil, Iklil El Jabal, Iklil Kuhi, Kusdilli, Mannenrou, Old Man, Romani, Romarin, Romero, Romero Blanco, Rosmariin, Rosmarina, Rosmarin, Rosmarini, Rosmarino, Rosemary, Tresmarino, Rusmari, Ikleel Al-Jabal, Iklil Al-Jabal, Libuntish, Qakrus, Khngooni, Xnkuni, Razmaryn, Rozmarin, Maih Diht Heung, Mi Die Xiang, Rozmaryna, Rozmaryna Lekarska, Rozmaryn Lekarsky, Rosmarin, Rozemarijn, Rosmareno, Eklil Kuhi, Rozmari, Rosmariini, Romarin, Rosmarin Encens, Rosmarin, Ecensier, Romeiro, Romeu, Rozmarini, Rosmarin, Dentrolivano, Dendrolivano, Rozmari, Rozmaring, Rosmarin, Ramerino, Rosmarino, Rojumari, Rojumeri, Rozumari, Mannenro, Ruzmarin, Rozmaryn, Rosmeri, Rozmarin Lekarsky, Rozmarín, Romero, Rosmario, Rosmarin, Rosmaeri, Rozmaryn, Rozmaryn Spravzhni
Origin: Spain
Harvested: Cultivated
Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:
Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, is a generally a bushy, low, much branched, erect, rounded, evergreen shrub with aromatic, needle-like, gray-green leaves and tiny, two-lipped, pale blue to white flowers. It typically grows to 1-2-meter-tall in areas where it is winter hardy. Rosemary leaves are needle-shaped, dark green above and pale white below, with rolled-in margins. They have a pungent, bitter taste and a strong spicy aroma. Old branches brown in color. The violet-blue or whitish flowers are borne in small axillary racemes. The calyx and corolla are two-lipped, the latter around 1.25 cm in length and enclosing two stamens, the male sex organs in a flower.
The intensely fragrant foliage of this shrub is commonly harvested for a variety of purposes including culinary flavourings, toiletries, and sachets. Rosemary is a popular spice in many Western countries, but its usage is most popular in the Mediterranean countries, especially Italy and Southern France. Rosemary does not lose its flavour by long cooking, as many other leaves unfortunately do. The fresh leaves have a purer fragrance and are therefore preferred whenever available. Rosemary is one of those herbs that are more potent in the dried than in the fresh state. Dried rosemary is among the most powerful herbal spices, and care must be taken not to overdose which may result in a disagreeable perfumed odour.
Genus name comes from the Latin words ros (dew) and marinus (sea), meaning dew of the sea.

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.