Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Therapeutics

analgesic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antioxidant, astringent, carminative, hypertensive, nervine, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic and sudorific

Plant Anatomy & Growth

A woody shrub, Rosemary sports evergreen needles that are aromatic and resinous. Brown stems and green to gray needles.

Native to the Mediterranean this shrub prefers well drained soil and is quite drought tolerant.

Harvest the stems and needles.

Color

Grey, green needles, with brown, tan stems

Taste

Bitter, aromatic

Scent

Pungent, aromatic, cooling

Constituents

1,8-Cineole, Alpha-Pinene, rosmarinic acid, camphor, caffeic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid, carnosic acid, and carnosol.

Rosemary essential oil contains 10–20% camphor.

Uses

Suitable for most modes of extraction including alcohol, vinegar and water.

The essential oil and the crude oil extract may be used diluted in oil.

No known allergies.

References

  1. Özyildiz, Z., Hayat, A., & Üniversitesi, H. (2012). The Effects of Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) Extract on Wound Healing in Rabbits.

  2. Tabassum, N., & Hamdani, M. (2014). Plants used to treat skin diseases. Pharmacognosy reviews, 8(15), 52–60. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.125531

  3. Nieto, G., Ros, G., & Castillo, J. (2018). Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, L.): A Review. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland), 5(3), 98. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicines5030098

  4. Luis, J.C. & Johnson, C.B.. (2005). Seasonal variations of rosmarinic and carnosic acids in rosemary extracts. Analysis of their in vitro antiradical activity. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research. 3. 106. 10.5424/sjar/2005031-130.

  5. Ben-Arye, E., Dudai, N., Eini, A., Torem, M., Schiff, E., & Rakover, Y. (2011). Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in primary care: a randomized study using aromatic herbs. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2011, 690346. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/690346

  6. Gonçalves, G. A., Corrêa, R. C. G., Barros, L., Dias, M. I., Calhelha, R. C., Correa, V. G., Bracht, A., Peralta, R. M., & Ferreira, I. C. F. R. (2019). Effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation on a rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L) extract rich in rosmarinic acid. Food chemistry, 271, 393–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.07.132