A Truly Medicinal Herb

Recent studies have found that rosemary increases blood flow to the brain, thus improving memory and mental clarity. One such study found that:

“performance on cognitive tasks is significantly related to concentration of absorbed 1,8-cineole following exposure to rosemary aroma, with improved performance at higher concentrations.”

But did you know that these studies are proving what was long ago believed to be true? In Ancient Greece and Rome, students wore wreaths of rosemary while taking exams to stimulate thought and improve recall.

Historically rosemary was also considered a valuable natural medicine. It was used to ease digestive discomfort, headaches, and joint pain. It was even applied topically to prevent baldness. Now ongoing studies are confirming all of these benefits!

Rosemary has also been shown to promote a state of relaxation and reduced stress. A 2007 study published in Psychiatry Research found that smelling rosemary has the ability to

“decrease the stress hormone, cortisol, which protects the body from oxidative stress.”

• To ease sore muscles and joints and promote relaxation, add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to warm bath water, or add a few drops to a carrier oil and rub into sore areas.  (Never rub the oil directly on the skin without diluting it with a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba oil.)
• Rubbing a drop or two of the diluted oil on your temples has also been shown to ease headaches.
• Enjoy the benefits of rosemary by sipping on Rosemary Tea.
• Simply add 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary to a cup of hot water and allow it to steep for 10 minutes.  Strain and sip. Prefer a sweeter tea? Add a bit of honey.
• Two or three cups of rosemary tea can help to ease digestive discomfort.

The pine-like aroma and flavor of rosemary is a perfect complement to many recipes including our Roasted Rosemary Cauliflower!

Susan Hartman

Susan is a lawyer, Pilates instructor and passionate advocate of natural wellness. In 2006 she began exploring various nutritional and movement therapies, meditation and other alternative means of healing in an attempt to naturally relieve hormonal imbalances, eczema and back and joint pain. After much research and trial and error, she found a personal regimen that not only alleviated her symptoms, but that also left her with a new found sense of overall health and wellness. During this period of exploration, she was introduced to Pilates and was surprised by how quickly she began to feel and see positive results in her body. She loves how Pilates emphasizes body awareness and the connection of breath to movement, and she believes it can bring about lifelong health benefits including stress relief and improved strength, flexibility, balance and coordination.

Today Susan strives to promote the importance of regular exercise, a clean whole foods diet, compassion for self and others, and a curious attitude, all as a means to maintaining vitality and living a balanced and centered life. When she is not practicing law or teaching Pilates, she can be found hiking or biking in the woods, soaking up the sun atop her paddleboard, engaged in a yoga or group fitness class, or immersed in a book or classic movie.