INSANE Things to Know About Rosemary Essential Oil---and Why You Need it in Your Home!
This article is all about the benefits and uses of rosemary essential oil—-a lovely essential oil you need in your home!
"Plant rosemary by your garden gate for luck!" is one of my favorite quotes from the movie, "Practical Magic," one of my all time favorites that I've watched about a million times. Besides being lucky, Rosemary is one awesome plant! It's a culinary wonder, smells fabulous, and has some pretty terrific therapeutic qualities too. So, how do you use rosemary essential oil? What are its benefits and uses? Why should you have rosemary essential oil in your home?
Plus...I know you'll agree:
Rosemary essential oil...Mmmmm.
The essential oil of the Rosemary plant is the focus of this article. Find out all about the benefits and uses of the beautiful rosemary plant and its essential oil! If you want to know some INSANE things about Rosemary and why you need to keep a bottle in your home, read on!
"There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance, pray you love, remember." --Shakespeare, from "Hamlet."
And if you love the herb, rosemary, you’ll want to check out this article on All About Rosemary: Folklore, Benefits, Uses, Science, Body Care, Cleaning, & Growing Rosemary!
FTC Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you click through one and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Rosemary-- Said to bring you luck! But there is a LOT more to Rosemary than just cooking and luck. What is rosemary essential oil used for? So many things, friends! Find out all about the benefits and uses of rosemary essential oil and why you really need it in your home. Every medical kit should have rosemary essential oil! And it's great for a multitude of things to help you!
Therapeutic Properties of Rosemary Essential Oil
The main chemical constituents of Rosemary Essential oil are the monoterpenes, camphor and a-pinene, plus 1,8 Cineole. I know these are probably meaningless to us lay-people, but essentially, these compounds are what give Rosemary its powerful aromatic benefits, cause it to be an incredible insect repellent, and make it a wonderful way to enhance your brain power!
Ways to Use Rosemary Essential Oil
1) Increase Mental Clarity and Alertness
I can attest to this! Whenever I'm tired, and I need to focus on taking a test through one of my online classes, or need to finish a piece of writing---I diffuse Rosemary essential oil. It really picks up my brain and improves my focus and attention. I'm slightly ADD/ADHD, and I've noticed that for me, Rosemary Oil really helps a lot!
According to Dr. Axe's research, "The International Journal of Neuroscience published a study highlighting" Rosemary's ability to enhance concentration and mental performance. Interestingly, Lavender essential oil was so relaxing that it had a negative effect on mental performance! Who knew!?
Rosemary oil may also have beneficial effects on helping prevention Alzheimer's Disease, as well!
So...if you are going to take a test, or are worried about your brain function---go ahead and diffuse a little Rosemary into the air!
2) Calming Stress Relief & Lowering Cortisol Levels
Amazingly, while increasing mental cognition and function, Rosemary oil has beneficial calming effects at the same time on the body's stress response, including helping to lower cortisol levels. (If you didn't already know, cortisol is one of the stress hormones that is blamed for that layer of belly fat people tend to get over time.) Reduce those cortisol levels, and you also reduce the effects of free radicals' negative impact due to oxidation on the body. Maybe you'll even lose a little belly fat, too!?
Rosemary essential oil helps with hair growth because it stimulates circulation to the scalp. Also---it's been used for memory and brain function since ancient times.
3) Hair Health and Growth Stimulant
Rosemary essential oil has been used for hundreds of years to help stimulate and improve the growth and health of hair. Just place a few drops in a spray bottle, add 1/4 raw apple cider vinegar, then fill the rest of the way with water. Spray on your scalp after washing or cleansing your hair. Leave in for best results, or rinse if you like.
Some people even recommend using a few drops neat (undiluted) on your scalp as a hair massage. If you choose to do this, please do a patch test on your arm first to make sure you are not over sensitive to Rosemary, as it is a "hot" oil. This means it may cause burning for some people.
4) Improves Circulation
Rosemary oil is well-known to improve circulation! It may help your body get rid of toxins, as well. Because of this, use some Rosemary oil diluted in a carrier oil to increase the circulation of areas with cellulite! Here is a recipe for a Cellulite Massage Oil that I use often and love!
You can also rub the diluted oil into your hands and feet to help with poor circulation and the resulting feeling of coldness in those areas!
5) Immune System Support
Providing support for your immune system is another one of Rosemary essential oil's many talents! It's a powerful antioxidant, reducing the scavenging effects of free radicals on healthy cells. .
Just as it improves circulation, it also improves the flow of lymph fluid, and keeps you healthy. For a great lymph massage, combine a few drops of Frankincense and Rosemary oils, diluted in some almond oil. Massage upward around areas of your body with lymph nodes, especially the neck, groin, and armpits.
Want to hear a brief essential oil folk tale that is most likely based on truth?
Rosemary oil was one of the five oils in an essential oil blend created by four robbers during the Bubonic Plague in Europe, centuries ago. As the story goes, this blend of oils helped these evil-doers stay healthy and well while they robbed dead bodies.
It is said that the magistrate lessened their punishment if they would reveal their secret to not getting ill...because, as you know, everyone stayed away from dead bodies in those days because the virus (and plague) was rampant!
I've read somewhere that it killed off about 2/3 of the European population, and if you can stay well through that while coming into contact with carriers of the plague, then that says a TON about the effectiveness of essential oils!
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6) Pain Relief
Rosemary has analgesic effects on certain parts of the body. It can help with achey bones and joints, as well as types of neuralgia. I make a St. John's Wort infused oil, then add a few drops of Rosemary essential oil, and it really does help my lower back pain when I use it over time, especially. Here's how to make an herbal infused oil. After the infused oil is ready, use it as the carrier oil for your Rosemary essential oil!
7) Helps Improve the Appearance of Cellulite
Every single woman I know, even thin ones, have some cellulite. Some have it worse than others, and it is definitely a woman thing. However, there are some ways to combat it! Since Rosemary essential oil helps with both circulation and lymph flow, it may just help reduce the orange-peel texture of cellulite! I use this Cellulite Oil on my thighs daily. It smells great too! I've gotten lots of compliments when I go out with this oil on! :-)
8) Helps Fade Stretch Marks
I haven't personally tried this, but Rosemary oil is touted to have excellent skin regeneration qualities, and may have wrinkle fighting benefits too.
9) Powerful Acne Fighter
Because of Rosemary oil's antiseptic and astringent nature, it is wonderful to add to natural skin care products like cleansers and soaps if you have oily skin. It's a natural way to help keep the bacteria away, while cleaning the skin effectively without completely stripping the beneficial oils.
10) Rosemary is an Excellent Insect Repellent
There are a number of essential oils that help keep insects at bay, and Rosemary is one of them. Other oils include Peppermint, Clove Oil, and Thyme. If you want even more power, include Citronella or Lemon Eucalyptus. Just use a few drops of each, add to a spray bottle. Fill with water and a tiny touch of vodka or witch hazel. You've got yourself a powerful bug repellent that you can use on your plants and some pets (not cats). Here is a recipe for an excellent Bug Spray!
11) Helps Aid Indigestion
I have not personally tried this, but I plan to, if I ever get indigestion. Because of its ability to increase circulation, it may also help detoxify the liver and improve the digestive process. In fact, one of the reasons Rosemary is used as a spice in meat dishes is because it helps the digestive tract break down the food more efficiently.
To use for indigestion: Dilute some Rosemary oil in a carrier oil, and massage a bit over your abdomen to help speed and improve the digestion process and aid in flatulence and bloating. Source , Source
Although some say it is fine to use internally, I AM NOT A PROPONENT OF THIS PRACTICE.
YUCK! Mosquitoes and other annoying insects are no fun. Using rosemary essential oil can help drive them away!
What Oils Blend Well with Rosemary Essential Oil?
Because Rosemary has an energizing, herbaceous scent, it blends well with many oils. Citrus oils, such as lemon and orange, enhance the uplifting power of all these when combined. If you want to enhance the woody scent, combine it with some Cedarwood or Frankincense oil! I've used it with Peppermint, and not only does it smell great, but it wakes you up too! :-)
Where Can I Buy Rosemary Essential Oil?
Rosemary oil is an essential oil that is not as expensive as many others, and is very easy to find. While you can locate it at quality health stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts, I feel the BEST place to purchase essential oils is from a quality distributor online. Find one you can trust!
You've probably done this too.....
I have tried MANY essential oils over the years from a HUGE number of essential oil companies. It's hard to know if a company is good, right?
I admit. Like many, I was taken in by the big MLM (Multi-marketing or network marketing) companies. Although their essential oil products are fantastic, they want you to believe they are the ONLY best ones to buy, and I have since discovered through months of research---this is not true. Because of their structures, their prices are often exorbitant.
So, I came up with my five criteria to help me figure out if an essential oil brand is good enough for me to use with my family:
1) They use third party testing; 2) They have at least some organic options; 3) Is their an education proponent to their website; 3) Do they have a Kid-safe line or at least specify which are ok for kids to use?; 4) NOT an MLM--as I just think they are over-priced; 5) Are they reasonably priced but still high quality?
Here are my favorite brands I have found that meet these criteria: Plant Therapy and Rocky Mountain Oils. I especially love Organic Aromas nebulizers for diffusing. They are the best I've found.
Safety Factors of Rosemary Essential Oil
With all the great things I just said about Rosemary essential oil, there are some things you definitely need to consider when using! If you have high blood pressure (like I do), use it sparingly at first. It may affect you, and it may not---just be careful.
Best thing is to ask your doctor if it is ok to use. You should not use if pregnant or nursing, unless you get the ok from your doctor either. It is stimulating, and may have some negative effects. Please do NOT use around children under the age of 5, and definitely not on or around babies.
Since we are talking about safety, here's a great place for my DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical practitioner, and in no manner, stated or implied, do I make any claims to cure, prevent, diagnose, or treat any health issue in this article or any place else in any literature I produce.
My statements are simply my personal opinions, based on personal experience and study and are for informational purposes only. Please be sure to seek advice from a medical professional before using any herbs or essential oils.
Final Thoughts on Rosemary Essential Oil
I have to laugh! After that disclaimer (that we must make a statement about), my PERSONAL Opinion is that Rosemary essential oil is an awesome oil to have in your house for a great number of reasons!
Not only does it smell fabulous and fresh, but it has some incredible benefits for your health, mental capacity, and even cleaning. I love this stuff. And I especially love that it is one of the affordable oils, too!
Do you use Rosemary essential oil? I'd love to know if you have some different ways of using it in your home? If you have questions, please feel free to email me or comment below!
You might also be interested in these articles:
INSANE Things You Must Know About Tea Tree Oil,
INSANE Things You Must Know About Ginger Essential Oil
INSANE Things You Must Know About Frankincense Oil, and
What is the Best Way to Diffuse Essential Oils?
And there are a LOT more on the blog! Head on over and browse around!
Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance,
Heidi
P.S. If you haven't done so yet, I hope you'll sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss a thing! When you do, I'll be sending you my eBook on How to Relax Using Herbs for FREE as a gift! I think you'll love the ideas inside!
P.P.S. And don't forget to visit Plant Therapy for tested, quality essential oils! And if you prefer Amazon, Plant Therapy essential oils are available there, too!
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3736918/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266370.php
http://www.naturallivingideas.com/rosemary-essential-oil-benefits-uses/
https://doterra.com/US/en/blog/spotlight-rosemary-oil
http://naturalon.com/the-top-25-almost-magical-uses-for-rosemary-essential-oil/view-all/
https://draxe.com/rosemary-oil-uses-benefits/
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-rosemary-oil.html
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