Rosemary belongs
to the rather large family of labiate plants, whose members
include mint, clary, sage, basil, thyme, marjoram, patchouli,
lavender, hyssop, and myrtle. Essential oils produced from these
plants are frequently used in aromatherapy, and they are in
high demand. Among these essential oils, rosemary oil has the
longest history and remains the most highly valued.
Remnants of rosemary plants have been found in Egyptian graves.
Egyptians used rosemary incense made by burning rosemary twigs
for ritual cleansing and healing. In Rome and Athens rosemary
was considered a sacred plant, a gift to humans from Aphrodite.
Out of gratitude, Greeks and Romans decorated their paintings
of the gods with wreaths made from the plant. The herb was used
for ritual cleansing incense in place of the expensive Arabian
incense. Alchemists during the Renaissance used the herb to
make a “plant stone,” considered a universal remedy.
Paracelsus, interested in the healing aspects of alchemy, considered
rosemary one of the chief necessary components in medicines
and used it widely in his practice. Philosopher-healers and
naturalists like Dioscorides, Theophrastus, St. Hildegarde of
Bingen, Conrad Gesner, and Brunschwig, all praised rosemary
for its benefits in treating liver, brain, heart, and eye problems.
Stories, legends, and folktales have been spun around rosemary
since earliest times. Rosemary has been said to attract elves
and ghosts. Raymond Lilly, a 14th century alchemist, advised
people to liberally spray essential rosemary oil throughout
the house to invite good ghosts. Ornaments made from rosemary
for festive occasions were symbols of friendship, love, and
faithfulness. No feast whether a wedding or funeral was celebrated
without the herb or essential oil of rosemary. Rosemary was
considered a reminder of the cycle of life and death. Rosemary
is also referred to in many folk songs that attribute ancient
mystery to the plant. According to legend, rosemary oil was
first distilled in Arabia, and an Arabian physician brought
the art of distilling the herb to Spain.
The fragrance of the essential rosemary oil is strong, clear,
and, in the spirit of yang, strengthening. Rosemary aids mental
capacity and strengthens the nervous system. It improves mental
clarity and strength against strong emotions and mood swings.
It provides support in stressful conditions, particularly when
one must see things through. Also, when falling in love brings
euphoria, rosemary helps clear the head. Rosemary is not erotic.
This yang oil provides support when you feel sluggishness, or
mental fatigue. It helps you attain mental structure and evaluate
possibilities. A rosemary oil massage along the spine may be
beneficial in such a situation.
Rosemary stimulates the central nervous system—strengthening
mental clarity and awareness. The oil may be mixed with other
essential oils that stimulate the mind—lemongrass, verbena,
lemon, grapefruit, and hyssop. For nervous imbalances clary
and bergamot oil are also beneficial.
In ancient times healers recognized the obvious memory-enhancing
quality of this oil. Students in ancient Greece and Rome wore
rosemary wreaths on their heads when in their studies. Try,
instead, using essential rosemary oil when studying at your
desk or taking exams. There is a close connection between fragrance
and memory. This seems to be especially true for rosemary when
information like names and numbers has to be stored. Other essential
oils may be more effective for recalling emotional content,
like feelings, associations, and visual experiences. Because
of its stimulation of the central nervous system, rosemary aids
people who have partially lost their sense of smell, speech,
and sight. Here the oil may be used in massages, in the bath,
as an inhalant, or taken internally. The oil must never be applied
directly to the eyes.
Rosemary aids concentration and centering. Its fragrance is
often chosen to accompany meditation. Essential oils like hyssop,
frankincense, and juniper also make a good combination for meditation.
An aroma lamp in a child’s room may help when the child
has trouble concentrating. A back massage with rosemary also
may be beneficial. Rosemary aids liver functions and helps liver
disturbances. Follow therapy prescribed by a physician, but
warm rosemary compresses may be applied in the area of the organ.
Rosemary may also be taken orally in small dosages for hepatitis
and cirrhosis of the liver.
The oil may be beneficial for the gallbladder. It may aid in
the treatment of gallbladder infections, biliary colic, and
gallstones. Warm compresses with rosemary help soothe the spasmic
organ. Taken orally, the essential oil stimulates the liver
and gallbladder. Rosemary helps lower high blood sugar. It also
aids arteriosclerosis treatment. It strengthens the heart and
is included in many wines used as a tonic for the heart. Here’s
a tried and true recipe. Heart Tonic
1 cup fresh whitehorn leaves, chopped
1 cup fresh golden balm or lemon balm leaves, chopped
rosemary 2 drops
hyssop 2 drops
Place the leaves in a wine bottle,
add 1 quart of red wine. Close tightly, let stand for three
weeks, strain liquid. Mix rosemary and hyssop in 2 tablespoons
of honey and add to the wine. Let rest for two weeks. Drink
in a small liqueur glass.
Rosemary, once used as incense, is known today as an antiseptic.
We now know that it banishes bad ghosts—the illness-causing
bacteria— from a room. Rosemary warms and relieves cold,
bronchial, and asthmatic spasms. For these ailments, use rosemary
in an aroma lamp or as a room spray.
Its antiseptic properties probably explain the legend “Vinegar
of the Four Robbers.” During a pestilence in 17th century
France, four robbers looted the houses of the sick. A miracle
happened—none of the four became infected. But the bandits
were caught and sentenced to death. The only thing that saved
them from hanging was the secret of their survival from the
deadly disease. They described the vinegar they drank, which
contained bacteria-killing herbs and essential oils, including
rosemary, angelica, sage, mint, and lavender. Shortly thereafter,
the recipe was duplicated. Soon everybody mixed vinegar with
these ingredients and sprayed it liberally all over the house,
even on furniture and walls.
Since rosemary stimulates blood circulation, it is a good
remedy for low blood pressure. It is a wonderful antidote
for the morning grouch. Add 2 drops of rosemary oil to cold
water, then give yourself a vigorous sponge bath. Or use a
refreshing shower gel containing rosemary. Of all the plants
in the plant kingdom, rosemary oil has the highest content
of hydrogen. Hydrogen comes closest to heat-related substances
on the planet. This explains the oil’s strong, warming
effect.
Applied externally, rosemary increases warmth and stimulates
blood circulation. It is a wonderful antidote for cold feet,
tired or weak legs, circulatory problems of extremities, sore
muscles, rheumatic pain, arthritis, gout, and paralysis (used
with angelica). The oil acts through the skin (with juniper
and queen of the meadow) as a detoxifier. Rosemary may be
used in the following recipes as a bath oil, massage oil,
compress, salve, or alcohol rub.
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