The Healing Powers of Rosemary as an Herbal Remedy

Isn’t it amazing the amount of natural healing nature provides us through herbs and other plants?

Take Rosemary, for example. Its therapeutic powers are vast, its smell divine, and, unlike some other helpful herbs, it tastes delicious!

Rosemary makes me happy, and I’m not alone: The herb can be very effective in bringing a feeling of well-being and increase in energy.

It is known as an antidepressant and a soothing tonic for the nerves, which makes it excellent for people who deal with anxiety, depression, and related conditions (such as migraines which are associated with nervousness and tension).

Using healing meditation in conjunction with Rosemary can amplify its effectiveness and bring a deep state of peace and harmony.

Rosemary is an excellent herb to have on hand at all times, and this isn’t too much of a challenge because it’s so easy to grow. If you live in more mild climates, you can get away with having a Rosemary plant (which will likely turn into a healthy bush) outside.

Alternatively you can plant it in a good sized pot and bring it indoors during the winter where it will continue to thrive. One of my friends has a Rosemary plant that he grows in a pot like this, and I love being in his house in the winter because every time I brush up against the plant I get the heavenly smell of Rosemary.

I take Rosemary essential oil with me when I travel, and use it frequently on the bottoms of my feet and other points of the body to support my immune system, and to put my body and emotions in a state of ease.

I also like to tuck little sprigs of Rosemary into my hair when I wear braids, just sticking the end into the elastic at the bottom of the braid. This is really one of my favorite things, because I get to smell the herb and benefit from it all day long.

Rosemary (Latin name: Rosmarinus Officinalis) is used in many different ways, both internally and externally on the body. It is the pine-like green leaves of the plant that are used.

Scientific research has been done and suggests that Rosemary’s seemingly infinite healing applications may be used for such diseases as Alzheimer’s, Cancer, Circulatory Problems, Eczema, Indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Menstrual Cramps, and Yeast Infection.

In traditional herbal medicine Rosemary has been used to:

• Improve memory
• Stimulate the liver
• Relieve symptoms of depression
• Benefit the digestive tract  
• Promote blood circulation
• Relieve muscle and joint pain
• Relieve headaches
• Fight fevers
• Relieve exhaustion

Caution and common sense should be used when working with herbs. As with all herbal medicine, it is a very good idea to consult with an herbalist or, at the very least, do a good bit of research before using herbs to treat yourself. I am not an herbalist, so please only use the information here as a guideline. It seems that Rosemary is a pretty safe herb, though the essential oil should not be ingested, and pregnant women, as well as women with heavy menstrual cycles, should avoid using it medicinally because it stimulates blood flow, though it is okay in small doses in food.

Really, the ideas for using Rosemary are only limited by your creativity, and this can always be expanded. Here are some ways I like to use Rosemary in food:

• Chopped fresh in a salad with other fresh herbs like thyme, basil, and sage
• Sprinkled on roasted veggies
• On oven fries (big chunks of potatoes)
• In any Italian dish (Rosemary is a must for tomato based pasta sauces)
• In stir fries
• In dressings and sauces

One of my friends, Denise Holden, is a Plant Intuitive. She works with the spirits of the plants, and really gets them on an energetic level.

Here’s what she has to say about Rosemary:

“Within the realm of Plant Spirit Healing, Rosemary's medicine is DNA remembrance and alignment, assisting us in remembering, and honoring the truth of who we are. This process of remembrance develops the true self.

"Rosemary helps us to shed our conditioned self, healing core patterns. Unhealthy core patterns often manifest in the physical as dis-ease.

"During a recent Herbal Diagnostics workshop I found myself honored to be surrounded by wise elder herbalists. My sense of self was exalted and humbled by the reflections of so many wisdom keepers. I was blessed to be inundated with plant medicine's and reached for Rosemary. Her medicine reminded me of who I am becoming, to be patient and gentle with myself in the process.” ~ Denise Holden

Reading Denise’s thoughts on Rosemary makes sense to me, as Rosemary always brings me an uplifted yet grounding sense of contentment.