The first time I actually noticed the healing powers of Rosemary was during a yoga class. The studio I frequented by my house always had a very strong aromatic scent to the building and I knew it was coming out of the bubbling, low-humming diffusers they had scattered in each room. At first, the smell was overpowering and not in a good way. But the more I practiced, the more I felt drawn to that smell, I craved it and soon began to associate it with healing, relaxation, and with comfort. Shavasana never seemed to last long enough, and I needed to know what deliciously fragrant oil was being used so that I could fall asleep with it at home. And one day, the instructor asked us to hold out our hands if we’d like some Rosemary oil in our palms, “Rub it into your palms and cup your hands over your nose. We’ve chosen Rosemary as our primary oil here because it’s soothing, helps you focus, and is great for memory retention, plus, just smelling it immediately lifts your mood.” I obligingly held out my hand and did as I was told, and she was right, try smelling Rosemary without smiling. It’s impossible. From that day on, my relationship with Rosemary began to flourish.
One of my favorite things about Rosemary is how resilient and easy it is to care for. The first time I learned this was when I cut clippings from a plant in my apartment complex. I was using sprigs of Rosemary to add the final touches to my Christmas presents one year and had them sitting in a glass jar in the window sill so they wouldn’t dry out before I was done with all the wrapping. I eventually forgot about the extra pieces and the glass jar stayed unnoticed on my windowsill for almost 3 weeks, until one day, I pulled open my blinds to find that the sprigs had sprouted long roots! I quickly threw them in some dirt and the rest was history, my baby is still going strong. My relationship with Rosemary is still growing, and every few weeks I learn more about its healing properties and why it continues to be my favorite herb. Below are some of my current favorite ways to play with and share Rosemary. *please take this info with a grain of salt and conduct your own research, this is just my personal take on RM and it’s healing properties.*
Healing Properties
Rejuvenating, because Rosemary contains salicylic acid it aids in easing pain, relaxes muscles and reduces inflammation. (Try massaging oil on arthritic joints)
Enhances memory.
Contains antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antioxidant agents.
Rosemary improves brain function by preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical important for thinking concentration & memory. – Try smelling some Rosemary the next time you’re studying to help with memory and retention!
Stimulates hair growth, and you know I’m all about that! – if you suffer from alopecia (balding) rub some rosemary oil to help stimulate growth.
And sooo much more, the healing power of Rosemary is extensive, I highly recommend doing your own research on how to utilize its power for your own self-care.
Rosemary Tea
Rosemary Tea is surprisingly flavorful on its own without any additional herbs or flavors! It is rich in vitamins ( A & C), iron, potassium, magnisium, and calcium. It aids in digestion and helps with bloating and helps boost your immune system. All you need to do is steep one sprig of Rosemary for 3-5 minutes, or longer if you prefer a bitter flavor. You can even toss a few sprigs into a larger container and have RM flavored water. I prefer it as a hot tea though. Please take precaution when drinking Rosemary tea as it may interfere with medications used for blood thinning, diabetes, or high blood pressure and may cause miscarriage if taken in excess.
Bath Salt
One of my favorite things to do is take a long hot bath. Throw some Rosemary in there and you’re guaranteed a good night’s sleep and some achy muscle relief!
Ingredients:
1 cup of Epsom Salt
1-2 Sprigs of finely chopped Rosemary
3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil, I like to mix Rosemary with Lavender, Bergamot, and Lemon.
Smudge
Smudging with Rosemary is good when clearing the energy in any space. It repels negative energy while also promoting peace and soothing energy.
The bundle pictured above was used with the leftover sprigs from a forage, that’s why they look like sad joints >__<! They are fresh and still need to dry.
I hope this was helpful in your journey to plant healing, and I encourage you to do your own research and follow Hood Herbalism!
