Rosemary: health benefits, safety, preparations
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Rosemary benefits, safety, medicinal actions and indications
Botanical name – Rosmarinus officinalis L., Salvia Rosmarinus Spenn.
Common Name – Rosemary
Other common names – Dew of the Sea, Polar plant, Compass weed, Rosa marinus
Rosemary Part used:
- leaf, herb, flowering tops (Bone 2003; Darrell 2022, Fisher 2009; Herbal reality; Holmes 2007; Pfaf)
Basic botany of Rosemary:
Rosemary belongs to Lamiaceae family and is native to Mediterranean.
Rosemary is evergreen shrub growing 1.5-1.5 m, flowering March to October, seeds ripen August to October, the species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. (pfaf)
Rosemary is dicotyledon, it has leaves similar to Pine needles which are narrow and long, usually 1.5-5cm long and up to 5 mm wide. Shiny dark green upper side and paler, silvery or white underside covered with fine hairs. Leaves are arranged oppositely along the steam. Steam is soft and pliable at young plant and woody in older ones. Flowers are bilabiate, with a lower lip larger. Flowers have 5 petals and 5 sepals. Usually form cluster in leaf axils. Flowers are usually blue in different shades, but there are also other colours. Plant itself can be prostrate and sprawling or upright and shrubby, or between those two. Seeds are small nutlets, each flower can make up to 4. (own observations, Pfaff,)
Rosemary in History and folklore:
Richard Whelan writes: “Rosemary was an essential part of the apothecary's repertoire during the Renaissance. The French regarding it as a cure-all, Hippocrates, Galen, and Dioscorides all prescribed rosemary for liver problems.”
Rosemary was well known in ancient times for its reputation to boost memory, because of it became symbol of fidelity for love. It was used for weddings, funerals, as decoration for parties as well in places of religion cult. As a scent for religious rites, and in magical spells. Richard Whelan writes that Rosemary was used and still is burned in Greece by students at day of exams.
Richard Whelan writes: “Chinese physicians used Rosemary for headaches, indigestion, insomnia and malaria. Rosemary is also much used in European traditional medicine to strengthen the heart and blood vessels and there is a keen appreciation in this old culture of Rosemary being a herb that clears congestion in the liver and gall-bladder thereby lifting the mood and resolving 'liverishness'”
Old times Rosemary was very popular plant to cultivate in gardens, it became “home mistress herb”, there was saying that “Where Rosemary flourished, the woman ruled.”
Rosemary was used as cheap replacement for Myrrh and other resins to be burn during religious rites, as of what French called it Incensier.
Whelan cite Berthram:” antibacterial, anti-depressant, antiseptic, circulatory tonic, diffusive stimulant, diuretic, sedative, mild substitute for benzodiazepine drugs. Used in European pharmacy to strengthen the heart and allay arteriosclerosis' and he suggests its uses can include 'migraine headaches, or those from high blood pressure. Headaches of gastric origin or emotional upset, psychogenic depression, cardiac debility, giddiness, hyperactivity, tremor of the limbs, flitting pains from joint to joint. To strengthen blood vessels by decreasing capillary fragility and permeability”
In Spain are believes that Rosemary was Holy Mary shelter during her escape to Egypt, and Spanish call it Romero. They also believe along with Italians that Rosemary protects from any evil, particularly sorceress. (Grieve 1931)
It was a norm to burn rosemary in places where sick people been treated, as preventative against Infections, and French went even forward using Rosemary in conjunction with Juniper in their hospitals, to keep not only infection away but also purify hospitals. (Grieve 1931)
“The oil is also used externally as a rubefacient and is added to liniments as a fragrant stimulant. Hungary water, for outward application to renovate the vitality of paralysed limbs, was first invented for a Queen of Hungary, who was said to have been completely cured by its continued use. It was prepared by putting 1 1/2 lb. of fresh Rosemary tops in full flower into 1 gallon of spirits of wine, this was allowed to stand for four days and then distilled. Hungary water was also considered very efficacious against gout in the hands and feet, being rubbed into them vigorously.
A formula dated 1235, said to be in the handwriting of Elizabeth, Queen of Hungary, is said to be preserved in Vienna.” (Grieve 1931)
One of recipes mentioned by Grieve was Rosemary tea, made from young tops (leaves, flowers, and steams), she mentions that it needs to be prepared under cover, so precious volatile oil doesn’t escape. That tea has been used for many ailments including headaches, nervous problems, colic, colds.
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia (BHP) describes Rosemary's actions as carminative, spasmolytic, thymoleptic (mood-modifying) sedative, diuretic, antimicrobial. Topically: rubefacient, mild analgesic & parasiticide and says it is indicated for dyspepsia associated with psychogenic tension, headaches either migrainous or hypertensive and topically for myalgia, sciatica, intercostal neuralgia and specifically indicated for depressive states with general debility and indications of cardiovascular weakness. The BHP suggests a dose of 2-4 g or by infusion and recommends a tincture dose of 2-4ml up to 3 times a day. (Bradley 2006)
“Rosmarinus was used by official medicine in many countries, and its Oil was officially into the 20th Century.” (Fisher 2009)
Ethnopharmacological use of Rosemary has been listed by Borges et al. (2019) and include:
- Kidney stones, high blood-sugar levels Middle Eastern
- Abdominal colic Jordan
- Allergies, dermatological ailments, gastrointestinal disorders Morrocco
- Appetite loss South-Africa
- Menstrual problems, fever, stomach ache, hypertension, improving memory Algeria
- Throat antiseptic, hypotension, rheumatism, boldness Centre of Portugal
- To improve memory United Kingdom
- Sore throat, stomach aches South Italy
- Dandruff, fortifier, anti-inflammatory agent Ecuadorian Andes
- Stomach ache, menstrual pain, cough Guatemalan Caribbean
- Sinusitis, depression, dyspnoea, flu, inflammations, cardiovascular diseases Centre of Brazil
- Asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, cough, stomach ache, flatulence, blood circulation, rheumatism, diabetes, depression, to improve memory Northeast of Brazil
- Muscle pain Southeast of Brazil
- Inflammatory diseases Brazilian Amazon
Rosemary Constituents:
1) Voliate oil (up to 2.4%) incl. verbenone (27%), camphor (24%), borneone (12%), 1,8-cineole (10%), linalool, a-terpineol, and caryophyllene (Bradley 2006; Hoffman 2003; Fisher 2009)
pharmacological activity anti-depressive, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-allergic, smooth muscle relaxant effect, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-mutagenic (Borges et al. 2019)
2) Diterpenes including predominantly carnostic acid, carnosol picrosalvin), and 12-methoxyranostic acid, others have also been identified (Bradley 2006; Hoffman 2003; Fisher 2009)
pharmacological activity antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and neuroprotective effects (Liang et al. 2025)
3) Flavonoids including eriocitrin, hesperidin, diosmin, scutellarein, cirsimaritin, and luteolin (Bradley 2006; Hoffman 2003; Fisher 2009)
4) Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives principally rosmarinic acid, also caffeic acid and small amounts of others (Bradley 2006; Hoffman 2003; Fisher 2009)
pharmacological activity Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Cardioprotective, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antidepressant, Nephroprotective, Anti-Aging, Anti-Allergic, Anti-Inflammatory (Nadeem et al. 2019)
Rosemary leaf Medicinal actions:
1) Carminative
2) Spasmolytic
3) Mild analgesic
4) Antidepressant
5) Tonic
6) Rubefacient
7) Diuretic
8) Antimicrobial topically
9) Analgesic (mild)
10) Parasiticide
11) Antioxidant
12) Anti-inflammatory
13) Tumour-inhibiting
14) Hepatoprotective
15) Choleric
16) Cholagogue
17) Anti-ulcerogenic
(Bone 2003; Bradley 2006; Fisher 2009; Holmes 2007)
Rosemary Medicinal uses:
Circulatory stimulant – any circulatory deficiency, Hypothermia, Hypotension, cardiac deficiency, anaemia, debility, exhaustion. (Bradley 2006; Fisher 2009; Holmes 2007) Brain stimulant and mental performance enchanter (Bradley 2006; Fisher 2009; Holmes 2007), migraine (Fisher 2009)
Cold, flu, acute Sinusitis, headache, chronic bronchitis (Holmes 2007; Fisher 2009)
Digestive complains include chronic gastroenteritis, colitis (Holmes 2007), flatulent dyspepsia (Fisher 2009)
Hyperlipidaemia, atherosclerosis, jaundice, cholecystitis, liver cirrhosis, gallstones due to damp or cold, malaise, poor eyesight, gout, rheumatism (Bone 2003; Holmes 2007)
Adrenal, spleen, and pancreas deficiency, coma, asthma, hypo/hyper-glycemia (Holmes 2007)
Tonic for debility or depression from mental or psychical overwork, stress, chronic illness, poor constitution (Bradley 2006; Holmes 2007)
Vision impairment (Darrel 2022; Holmes 2007)
Amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea (Holmes 2007)
External for tissue trauma, lice, scabies, mild infections in general, sores, burns, rheumatic problems, myalgia, sciatica, and improve hair grown on scalp (Bradley 2006; Fisher 2009; Holmes 2007)
According to Darrel (2022) Rosemary essential oil has two different medicinal uses and actions based on chemotype:
Rosemary “Borneone" chemotype medicinal actions:
- Analgesic
- Antimicrobial
3) Antioxidant
4) Antisceptic
5) Antispasmodic
6) Astringent
7) Carminative
8) Cephalic
9) Cholagogue
10) Choleretic
11) Cicatrisant
12) Cordial
13) Cytophylactic
14) Diaphoretic
15) Digestive
16) Emmenagogue
17) Fungicidal
18) Hepatic
19) Hypertensive
20) Nervine
21) Parasiticide
22) Restorative
23) Rubefacient
24) Stimulant (circulatory, adrenal cortex and hepatic)
25) Stomachic
26) Sudorific
27) Vulnerary
28) Possible diuretic
Medicinal uses of “Borneone" chemotype Rosemary essential oil:
Stimulating effect on body and mind.
Digestive problems connected to liver, Cholecystitis and gallstones, also hangovers, Diarrhoea, Colitis, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, liverish headaches, eliminations of toxins from the system (include high levels of cholesterol), also rheumatism and arthritis especially with adrenal cortex action.
Respiratory problems, cold, flu, bronchitis, sinusitis, otitis and other catarrhal conditions.
Immune system boosting
Active against staphylococcal, streptococcal, E. coli as well klebsiella, proteus, and candida.
Dull sign and smell restorative
Stress, mental fatigue, nervous exhaustion, and neuralgia.
Period pains, improve muscle tone and reduce hypertonia in muscles.
Poor circulation, low blood flow, varicose veins.
Congested or overreactive skin, dandruff, oily hairs. Burns, scabies and lice.
Rosemary essential oil "Verbenone" chemotype actions:
1) Anticatarrhal
2) Anti-infectious
3) Antispasmodic
4) Bactericide
5) Cicatrisant
6) Viricide
7) Endocrine balancing
8) Expectorant
9) Mucolytic
Rosemary essential oil "Verbenone" chemotype Medicinal uses:
Sinusitis, bronchitis.
Tonic for liver and Gallbladder, Diabetes.
Leucorrhoea, reproductive hormone regulator.
Digestive problems of nervous origin.
Nervous exhaustion, low libido and depression.
Scars, burns, dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.”
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) use of Rosemary:
1.Stimulates heart and circulation, warms the interior, dispels cold and relieves debility:
- Heart and Kidney Yang deficiency: weakness, cold limbs, dizziness, exhaustion, depression, shyness, concentration difficulties
2. Warms the exterior, dispels wind-cold-damp, promotes sweating, relieves bloating; Warms Lungs, resolves phlegm and promotes expectoration
- Wind-damp-cold obstruction: acute rheumatic or neuralgic pain
- Lung wind-cold: aches and pain, fatigue, fear of cold, coughing, sneezing
- Head damp-cold: frontal headache, congested and painful sinuses
- Lung phlegm cold: wheezing, full cough with white frothy sputum.
3. Tonifies reproductive Qi and relieves impotence and frigidity; Promotes menstruation and relieves amenorrhoea
- Genitourinary cold (Kidney Yang deficiency): lumbar pain, infertility or impotence, white vaginal discharges, scanty or copious clear urine
- Uterus cold: low sexual energy, stopped or delayed, painful periods
4.Warm the stomach-intestines, promotes digestion, resolves mucus-damp and relieves bloating; Promotes bile flow and urination, and resolves toxicosis
- Stomach intestine cold (Spleen Yang deficiency): Indigestion, cold limbs, loose mucousy stools, abdominal bloating and pain
5.Promotes tissue repair
6.Tonifies the Qi, replenish deficiency and generate strength; Restore the brain, glands and nerves, relieves depression and improves vision
- Heart and lung Qi deficiency: chest oppression, palpitation, fatigue, shortness of breath
- Nerve and brain deficiency with mind weakness: headache, depression, dizziness, loss of memory, speech or vision, absent-mindedness, paraliysis
- Lund and Kidney Yang deficiency: tight chest, fatigue, depression, wheezing
(Holmes 2007)
Rosemary and energetics:
Energetically Rosemary is warm and dry herb and is recommended by Holmes (2007) for cold and damp conditions. He also mentions that it has tropism to brain and nerves, liver, lung, spleen, heart, intestines, uterus, urogenital organs. Similar opinion shares Taylor (2021) in his book however he adds joints and stomach.
Safety of Rosemary
Cautions and contraindications:
No safety problems expected. Avoid high doses if pregnant.
Avoid in Yin deficiency conditions with empty heat (TCM)
Medicinal Preparations of Rosemary:
Rosemary can be made into infusion, essential oil, tincture, vinegar, infused oil.
Infusion made under cover, not allowing to oils evaporate will have most of constituents extracted. Rosemary contains water soluble constituents and essential oil which thanks to evaporation under cover will get into infusion.
Essential oil can be taken in capsules topped with olive oil or used for aromatherapy, infused in vegetable oil, pessaries, douches and baths (Holmes 2007, Darrell 2022)
Tincture will extract most of constituents and is most versatile preparation for herbalist. Water-ethanolic solution will extract all constituents from Rosemary. (Bone 2003; Bradley 2006; Cabrera 2025; Fisher 2009; Holmes 2007; Taylor 2021)
Vinegar will also extract almost everything from Rosemary and is good alternative to alcohol. Also, APC have own extra benefits which may aid benefits of Rosemary. (Weeds)
Infused oil can be made two ways either solution of 3% essential oil and base oil (Holmes 2007), or infusion of leaves. Infused oil would be good for external use, especially for bringing circulation to body, historically used for scalp. (Bone 2003; Bradley 2006; Fisher 2009; Holmes 2007)
Science and Rosemary:
Moss et al. (2003) run clinical trial on 144 healthy volunteers, to find out how essential oil from Lavender and Rosemary works on cognitive functions. Volunteers have been split in 3 groups, lavender, rosemary and control. Findings from trial shows that Rosemary greatly improved cognitive performance, however produced an impairment of speed of memory compared to controls. Also, mood was tested, and rosemary group was much more alerted than control and Lavender.
Conclusion was made that essential oils smell may product significant effect on mood as well as intellectual ability.
Rosemary is strong antioxidant. This activity is mainly attributed to phenolic diterpenes (particularly Carnosic acid and carnosol), as well as Rosmarinic acid. Listed components have inhibited lipid peroxidation, are good scavenger of free radicals, and produced red blood cells against oxidative hemolysis in vitro. (Bone 2003)
An uncontrolled trial showed that gargling Rosemary oil in water (in a 1:10 proportion of oil to water) inhibited the growth of the fungi Candida albicans of 12 patients who were unresponsive to the drug Nystatin (Durakovic 1979)
A controlled and randomised study involving the inhalation of Rosemary oil for 3 minutes by volunteers who were simultaneously monitored by EEG (electro-encephalographic recording) showed a significant change to their alpha and beta wave brain activity indicating increased alertness. The subjects reported feeling more relaxed and alert and were shown to be faster (but not more accurate) at solving maths problems compared with baseline results (Diego et al 1998)
Studies indicated that oral administration or Rosemary leaf is hepatoprotective, which has been attributed to antioxidant phenolic compounds. (Fahim et al. 1999)
Personal tasting experience:
1. Smell
Aromatic, coniferous forest, lemon, pine, refreshing, wake up smell
2. Taste
Pungent, refreshing, invigorating, very aromatic, lemon/pine-like aftertaste
3. Colour
Pale (light) yellow, golden yellow,
4. Location:
Goes through throat, making there his mark, then is splitting moving down to the chest as well as going up the brain (smell probably), down to stomach and there is very radiant, moving fast to other body part
5. How is it getting there?
Like tornado, moving very fast.
5. Effect
Warming, stimulating, invigorating, increasing intelligibility and awareness
6. What person would this plant be
Someone who spend time thinking in Mother Nature gardens, someone to whom coniferous forest is a second home.
7.Who would benefit from this plant
Elder people and students, also those who are cold emotionally or constitutionally, or just cold due to weather. Those who have impaired immune system. Those who are debilitated and/or stressed. Those who need their blood to move faster.
Resources:
Bone, K. (2003) “A Clinical guide to blending liquid herbs” p.389-393. Publisher Elsevier
Borges R. S., Ortiz Sánchez B. L., Pereira A. C. M., Keita H., Carvalho J. C. T. (2019) “Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil: A review of its phytochemistry, anti-inflammatory activity, and mechanisms of action involved” Journal of Ethnopharmacology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874118314107
Bradley P., (2006) “British Herbal compendium” p. 333-338. Publisher BHMA
Cabrera C. (2025) “Empowered Herbalism course”
Darrell N. (2022) “Essential Oils a concise manual” p.110-112. Publisher AEON books
Diego MA et al (1998): Int J Neurosci 96(3-4):217-224
Durakovic Z & S(1979) J Indian Med Assoc 72(7):175-176
Fahim F.A., Esmat A.Y., Fadel H.M., Hassan K.F (1999) “Allied studies on the effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. on experimental hepatotoxicity and mutagenesis”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10719582/
Felter H.W., Lloyd J.U., (1898) “King's American Dispensatory” original, assed trough Henriettes herbal
https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/index.html
Fisher C. (2009) “Materia medica of western herbs” p.250-253. Publisher Vitex medica
Handa S.S., Khanuja S.P.S., Longo G., Rakesh D.D (2008) “Extraction Technologies for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants”
Herbal reality
https://www.herbalreality.com/herb/rosemary/
Hoffman D. (2003) “Medical Herbalism” p.577-578. Publisher Healing Art Press
Holmes P., (2007) “Energetic of western herbs” fourth edition p. 350-352 Publisher Snow Lotus Press
Liang H., Guan M., Li T., Li S., Ma C., Li C. (2025) “Critical review on biological effect and mechanisms of diterpenoids in Rosmarinus officinalis”
https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/FMH.2025.9420021
Moss M., Cook J., Wesnes K., Duckett P. (2003) “Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12690999/
Nadeem M., Imran M., Gondal T.A., Imran A., Shahbaz M., Amir R.M., Sajid M.W., Qaisrani T.B., Atif M., Hussain G., Salehi B., Ostrander E.A, Martorell M., Sharifi-Rad J., Cho W.C. and Martins N. (2019) “Therapeutic Potential of Rosmarinic Acid: A Comprehensive Review”
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/15/3139
Plants for a future
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Rosmarinus+officinalis
Taylor S., (2021) “The humoral herbal” p.363-366. Publisher AEON books
Weeds S. assessed via Botanical.com
https://botanical.com/site/column_susun/susun_vinegars.htm
Whelan R.