Rosemary is a fragrant herb whose aroma is distinguished by its stimulating, evergreen, citrus-like, herbaceous aroma. Rosmarinus Officinalis, an aromatic herb, is the origin of rosemary essential oil. In this article, we will discuss 6 benefits of rosemary essential oil.
Rosemary, which means “Dew of the Sea,” gets its name from the Latin words “ros” (dew) and “marinus” (sea), as it grows naturally on sea cliffs in the Mediterranean region. In the same family as basil, lavender, myrtle, and sage, rosemary is a member of the mint family. Flat pine needles with a little silver tinge give it a similar aspect to lavender in terms of appearance.
This essential oil, which contains the essence or fundamental elements of the plant, is extracted and offered for sale in little bottles. Despite its name, it is not an actual oil because it lacks fat. Most people are familiar with the energising, calming, and pain-relieving effects of rosemary essential oil.
Many experts are investigating the potential health advantages of rosemary oil because it is used in traditional medicine. Even while most of this study is still in its early stages, it shows some potential new uses for the oil as well as supporting certain long-standing ones.
History of Rosemary Essential Oil
Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Hebrews, and Romans revered rosemary as a sacred plant. Also they employed it for a variety of purposes, including protection, memory enhancement, and serving as a constant reminder of the life-death cycle.
While the plant and its extracts were used to make incense in Egypt, rosemary leaves and oil was frequently utilised for culinary preparation throughout the Mediterranean region.
Throughout the Medieval Ages, rosemary was thought to have the power to ward off bad spirits and stop the bubonic plague from spreading. According to this theory, rosemary branches were frequently left in entrances and strewn across floors to ward off disease.
6 Benefits Of Rosemary Essential Oil
1. Improves Brain Function
Rosemary was thought to have memory-enhancing properties in ancient Greece and Rome. According to research, breathing rosemary oil shields the brain from the oxidation of acetylcholine. This is crucial for memory, concentration, and thinking. In a published study, researchers diffused rosemary oil in a small room and gave 20 young people maths problems to complete. There was an improvement in their speed and accuracy in direct proportion to the time the oil was diffused. Surprisingly, their blood levels of specific rosemary oil compounds increased. This showed that just breathing in rosemary can allow it to enter your blood and affects brain function.
Compared to breathing lavender oil or no essential oil, nursing students who breathed rosemary oil during a test reported improved concentration and memory according to another study.
In addition, inhaling rosemary and other essential oils may help older people with dementia. Especially those who have Alzheimer’s disease, improve their cognitive abilities, according to other research.
2. Promotes Hair Growth
In a study, mice who were exposed to testosterone treatment which destroy hair follicles were healed with rosemary leaf extract application. According to another research paper, males with androgenetic alopecia massaged their scalp with either 2% minoxidil or rosemary oil twice a day for 6 months. The group who used rosemary oil, their hair count increased like those who used the popular hair regrowth treatment minoxidil (Rogaine). Also, when compared to minoxidil, those who took rosemary oil reported less scalp itching. This suggests that rosemary oil may be more bearable.
Alopecia areata affects up to 50% of people under the age of 21 and 20% of people over the age of 40. According to additional research rosemary oil can be effective in alopecia areata treatment.
Another research study showed that alopecia areata sufferers who applied a rosemary essential oil blend to their scalps daily for seven months saw an improvement in their hair loss in 44% of cases compared to the control group who applied neutral jojoba and grapeseed oils only.
3. Relieves Pain
In a two-week research, stroke victims with shoulder pain who got a 20-minute session of acupressure twice a day along with a rosemary, lavender and peppermint oils blend saw a 30% decrease in pain. There was a 15% decrease in discomfort for those who got acupressure only.
4. Alleviates Anxiety
In a published study, aromatherapy using rosemary and lavender oils relieved nursing students’ anxiety before and during test time. In another study, 22 young adults who inhaled rosemary and lavender oils for five minutes had 23% lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their saliva than those who inhaled a non-aromatic substance. Elevated cortisol levels have been linked to immune system suppression, sleeplessness, and mood fluctuations. Therefore, using aromatherapy daily can enhance your quality of life.
5. Enhances Blood Circulation
In a published study, a woman with the circulation-impairing Raynaud’s disease rubbed her hands with a blend of rosemary oil. Thermal imaging supported showed that rosemary oil warmed her fingers more than olive oil confirming its warming and vasodilating effects.
6. Decreases Joint Inflammation
Early research indicates that rosemary oil may help lessen tissue inflammation, which can cause swelling, discomfort, and stiffness.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system targets tissues, including knees and other joints, inflicting damage and inflammation on the joint lining. Rheumatoid arthritis patients who had 15-minute knee massages three times a week using a rosemary oil blend experienced a 50% reduction in inflammatory knee discomfort after two weeks compared to a 12% reduction in the control group.
How To Use Rosemary Essential Oil
Inhaling
The simplest approach to take a breath of rosemary oil is to just open the bottle. You can also put a few drops on a piece of cloth or tissue. Otherwise, hold it close to your face as an alternative.
It’s best to keep diffusers away from infants and young children because it’s hard to tell how much they’re breathing in.
Topical Use
When you apply it to the skin, rosemary and other essential oils are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. You should dilute esseential oils with a neutral carrier oil, like jojoba oil. This lessens the chance of skin irritation and delays the oil’s early evaporation.
Apply the oil to the affected area of your body, such as a sore muscle, after diluting it. Rub the oil into your skin after that. This enhances blood flow and oil absorption. While using rosemary or other essential oils, stay away from vulnerable areas like your eyes and skin that are h.
Final Thoughts
In folk medicine, people have long been using rosemary and is now showing promise in scientific research. Here we focused on the 6 main benefits of rosemary essential oil.
Although the majority of the study is preliminary, studies suggest that this essential oil may improve mental clarity and memory, prevent hair loss, reduce pain and inflammation, reduce stress, and combat hair loss.
To find out more about rosemary essential oil benefits, you can also read this article, Doterra and Healthline. You can also check Aromavibes for a wide range of essential oils!