Rosemary

Rosemary is a common, rather austere-looking herb, but it has many uses.  As a culinary herb, it adds a distinctive, fragrant, bitter-sweet flavor to food, and a little goes a long way.  Its oil is used in both hair and skin care, although some people show a marked sensitivity to it (it’s always good to test a small area of skin before using it or products that contain it).  As a medicinal herb, rosemary is useful for its antibacterial and antiviral properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, antispasmolytic effects on the gallbladder and upper intestine, its ability to stimulate circulation when applied to the skin, and its ability improve rheumatic conditions when used in the same way.  The oil should only be used externally, (and then as a mixture of 10% essential rosemary oil to 90% olive oil or some other lipophilic oil), and when taking an extract of the leaves in the form of teas or tinctures, a little is usually better than a lot.  Like any medicine, overdose is possible.  Rosemary should never be taken during pregnancy.  Rosemary has been approved by Commission E for blood pressure problems (external application), dyspeptic complaints (internal consumption), loss of appetite (internal consumption), and rheumatism (external application).  The possible anti-mutagenic and tumor-inhibiting qualities of some of its chemical components are currently being studied.  Rosemary oil has mild insect repellent properties.  Some people claim that rosemary also improves memory, helps with headaches, and makes wounds heal faster when applied to them as a poultice.