Rosemary - "Dew of the sea"

Rosmarinus officinalus, also known as dew of the sea is one of our most beloved allies. Touted as a “cure-all” herb, Rosemary should be considered a staple in any kitchen and personal apothecary. As an evergreen herb that is drought tolerant and not very picky about soil, we can look to her for year-round medicine in almost any part of the world.

Rosemary is a warming, stimulating herb that has enamored countless civilizations over millennia. This common herb grows worldwide and helps our bodies increase circulation, fight off pathogens, and feel happier. Magically speaking Rosemary is used for protection, to clear out unwanted energies, and to symbolize feminine power.

Read on to explore the lore, science, and magic of this most generous herbal ally.

Rosemary in the Kitchen

You have most likely heard of Rosemary as a popular culinary herb, and this is an excellent place to start. Traditionally used to flavor potatoes, meats, and breads, roesmary helps our digestive system break down fats and heavy meals. Rosemary warms the digestive system, stimulating the secretion of essential enzymes and increases insufficient bile flow. Classified as a bitter tonic, rosemary is an excellent ally to have in the kitchen — who says medicine can’t be fabulously delicious?

Rosemary for remembrance

In addition to flavoring your potatoes, rosemary is a potent brain tonic. One of its primary actions vasodilating, which means that it opens the blood vessels of the body, increasing nutrient and oxygen delivery throughout. The timeless adage, “Rosemary for Remembrance” clues us into the fact that rosemary helps increase mental clarity and concentration due to it’s effect on the circulatory system.

Rosemary literally increases blood flow, which can not only clear brain fog but may help prevent degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. Rosemary is also a primary herb for people who experience ADHD that is qualified by overwhelm and dense, scattered thinking.

Be sure to download our Brain Tonic Oxymel Recipe, found at the end of this article. This remedy will help dispel foggy & muddy thinking and nurture your precious mind!

Happy hearts love rosemary

Olde time herbals list Rosemary as an herb that “gladdens the heart”, and modern scientific study has caught up with this folkloric wisdom by confirming that Rosemary does indeed interact with our “happy hormones”, dopamine and serotonin. If you think that you are resigned to a certain level of happiness due to your genes, think again. Rosemary has been shown to act upon the gene expression of the individual in regards to the pathways for dopamine and serotonin release, thereby increasing your potential for pleasure and healing chronic depression.

Rosemary also gladdens the physical heart through decreasing inflammation and increasing circulation, the two keys to deepening heart health. Due to its stimulating qualities, Rosemary has been used for increasing low blood pressure and circulation in individuals with a pale demeanor and low energy. Its abundant anti-oxidants help decrease inflammation throughout the body, strengthening the heart and circulatory system.

a potent antimicrobial

Rosemary is a powerful anti-septic and anti-pyretic and thus can be extremely useful for colds, flus, fevers, and wounds. A medieval remedy called 4 Thieves Vinegar features rosemary heavily and purportedly was used by grave robbers during the Bubonic plague to keep them from falling ill. In the Middle East, Rosemary was traditionally used in its dried powdered form on a baby’s umbilical cord wound to prevent infection. Spanish villagers pounded Rosemary into Salt as a wound cure for serious abrasions.

Rosemary contains a constituent called rosmarinic acid, and along with caffeic acid is thought to provide the bulk of its anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties. A broad spectrum herb that is commonly used to alleviate colds, flus, sinus infections, sore throats, and stomach infections, Rosemary can be enjoyed as a tea or used as a facial steam o clear the body of pathogens and stimulate the immune response.

Rosemary is also highly anti-inflammatory; the oil or tincture can be applied topically to wounds and achy, stiff joints. Due to this action, Rosemary can be a great ally for those with arthritis, varicose veins, muscle pain, and painful bruises.

Rosemary for beauty

Also known as a beauty herb, European Gypsies had a passion for Rosemary as a beautifier, creating the traditional remedy known as The Queen of Hungary’s Water. Rosemary can be infused in hot water or extracted into vinegar to create a divine hair rinse, face wash, mouthwash, or footbath. As a hair rinse, Rosemary has been used to prevent lice on humans and as a tick repellent for pets. Rinsing your hair in Rosemary vinegar can also clear dandruff and help heal unprecedented hair loss.

Magical protection with rosemary

Rosemary has been considered a protective herb in folklore and witchcraft for centuries. It is often used in the home to burn after a death in the family, or hung in wreaths and bundles by the door to keep out unfriendly entities. Rosemary sprigs are placed with special items to keep them safe, and used practically with books and clothes to deter moths.

In European witchcraft, a witch would work with a plant by planting it from seed and tending it as it grew. A home with healthy, abundant rosemary was seen as evidence that a powerful woman lived there and kept her domain with intention. Ancient Greeks associated the herb with Aphrodite, and Romans used it as a holy incense to sanctify a space or ceremony.

North African and Mediterranean healers used rosemary at birth to prevent infection in the baby and the mother, and also at death for body preservation and protection. Rosemary is a protector of the portal, and watches over us as we enter, live, and leave this world.

Safety considerations

Rosemary as a culinary herb is safe to use by all, including pregnant women.

Rosemary tincture extracts should be used for no more than 2-3 weeks at a time, 1-3 times a day and should be avoided if you are pregnant or have a blocked bile duct, as it is a powerful stimulant. Large amounts of rosemary extracts should not be used by individuals with high blood pressure.

Sensitive people with sleep issues should not use rosemary (outside of culinary use) in the evening due to its stimulating and energizing properties.

rosemary remedies

Rosemary is excellent as a tea, medicinal vinegar, or infused oil. Use rosemary liberally in your food. One of my favorite remedies with Rosemary is as an oxymel, which is an infused vinegar sweetened with honey. To create your own Brain Tonic Oxymel with Rosemary and other vasodilating herbs, download the recipe card and enjoy! Rosemary is a precious evergreen ally that can be by your side through all seasons!