Derived from the Latin meaning sea dew, rosemary is a small evergreen shrub. With needle-like leaves that are dark green, rosemary is notable for its use in a variety of dishes. The leaf of the plant, however, is used for medicinal purposes. Here are some healthful advantages in using this herb.
Rosemary may improve memory, relieve muscle pain, and stimulate the nervous system. It is used for digestive problems, circulatory problems, pain, neuralgia, spasms, wounds, eczema, rheumatism, and depression. As an antispasmodic herb, it is used to increase urine production. Another fact about rosemary is that used in combination with St. John’s Wort and ginkgo biloba, it may improve disorders associated with brain inflammation.
In addition to calming the nerves, rosemary relaxes muscles, eases pain, and reduces tension and anxiety throughout the body. Thus it has been very helpful in treating headaches, migraines caused by stress, depression, nervous exhaustion and apathy. As a circulatory and nerve stimulant, rosemary activates the flow of digestive juices. While traditionally rosemary has been used by herbalists to improve memory, it also aids in the treatment of headaches and poor circulation, and embodies an effective stimulant producing increased memory function. The components in rosemary enhance a stronger blood flow. It not only improves brain function, as mentioned earlier, but has also been used to treat disorders characterized by circulatory weakness such as: high and low blood pressure; varicose veins; bruises; and sprains.
Rosemary is said to be fight bad cells and has shown anti-cancer and anti-tumor activity. Because it possesses strong antioxidants, it may prevent cancer-causing chemicals invading cells, most notably in the liver and bronchial areas. Described as potent enough to kill bacterial infection, it should be stated it cannot totally expunge bacteria from the digestive tract. However, rosemary has been shown to treat toxic shock syndrome.
Because rosemary stimulates and improves circulation throughout the body, it increases the blood supply to the skin, which is thought to help restore a youthful glow. Another benefit is if your hair is dull from product buildup, you can try a rosemary tea rinse. Rosemary cleans hair follicles and promotes hair growth. Use it once a week to obtain a thick, clean hair and scalp.
