Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance
From the garden to your teacup, your scalp and your memory
If there is one herb we grew more and more attached to over the years, it is rosemary. It is one of the herbs we can not walk by without brushing a hand against, and that resinous, pine-sharp scent is enough to wake you better than a second coffee. Rosemary is a Mediterranean shrub, but we can grow it nearly anywhere as an annual. It has found its way into kitchens, apothecaries and folklore all over Europe. Naturally, it is a great fit in a Nordic garden too, and not just because of its pine-scented leaves.
After writing about sage and thyme a while ago, rosemary feels like the natural next herb in the story of the Lamiaceae family: the so called mint family full of aromatic, health supporting herbs.
A Brief History of Rosemary
You can find the Latin name, Rosmarinus officinalis, often translated as "dew of the sea". It's a reference to the plant's love of coastal cliffs in its natural habitat. The word officinalis refers to the usage in pharmacy, a herb that apothecaries kept on their shelves.
Rosemary is being used as a remedy for memory issues for a very long time. Legends tell us that Greek students wore garlands of rosemary during times of studying and sitting exams. Even Shakespeare included this herb in his Hamlet. Ophelia says: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." For centuries rosemary twigs were carried at weddings and funerals alike. A sign of love, loyalty and remembering.
We are glad to see that modern research has started to look at its usage for memory and found that there is quite some foundation to it.
Medicinal Benefits
Below are some of the traditional and researched uses of rosemary that we have found. Please remember that "traditional usage" does not mean "proven by research", and not every herb works the same for everyon. This is why we have noted where the current evidence stands.
Memory and focus: Rosemary is the herb most associated with the mind. In one small study, older adults (average age 75) were given dried rosemary leaf powder, and the lowest dose, 750 mg, which is close to what you would use in cooking, improved their speed of memory. Interestingly, the highest dose (6,000 mg) did the opposite and impaired it. A separate line of research found that people working in a rosemary-scented room did better on tasks that required remembering to do something later, and that the results were linked to levels of a compound called 1,8-cineole in the blood. The studies are small, but the message is nice: a little rosemary, not a lot.
Hair and scalp: A 2015 trial with 100 men with pattern hair loss compared rosemary oil to 2% minoxidil, a standard over-the-counter treatment. After six months both groups showed a significant increase in hair count, with no real difference between them, and the rosemary group reported less scalp itching. It is worth knowing that there was no significant change yet at the three-month mark, and that the trial only included men. It is promising, but it is not a miracle.
Digestion: Rosemary has long been used as a gentle digestive herb, and a cup of the tea after a rich meal is recommended, especially alongside roast dishes. This might originally have been the reason people started using rosemary, as well as sage and thyme in heavy greasy dishes. Doesn't it make sense?
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support: Rosemary is rich in plant compounds such as rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, which are studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Most of this research has been done in the lab with isolated compounds, which is why this is not as a medical claim. We recommend using the whole herb generously in the kitchen.
Mood and stress: Many people find the scent of rosemary uplifting and clearing. Try it our for yourself and put a sprig on the desk during a long working day.
References
Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A. Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial. Skinmed. 2015. PubMed ID: 25842469.
Pengelly A, Snow J, Mills SY, Scholey A, Wesnes K, Butler LR. Short-term study on the effects of rosemary on cognitive function in an elderly population. Journal of Medicinal Food. 2012;15(1):10-17. doi:10.1089/jmf.2011.0005. PubMed ID: 21877951.
Moss M, Oliver L. Plasma 1,8-cineole correlates with cognitive performance following exposure to rosemary essential oil aroma. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2012.
NOTE: While rosemary has a long history of use, more research is needed to fully understand its benefits. Please see the safety notes at the end of this post before you start using it medicinally.
RECIPES
We love to include recipes in our herb discussions, because it helps us to put the plant into action in your own home. The following recipes are traditional usages of rosemary. Play around with them and see if you like them this way or if you want to tweak them for your personal life!
Recipe 1: Rosemary Hair Growth Oil
This is a simple infused oil that you can make in an afternoon. A good carrier oil also nourishes the scalp on its own, so even if the rosemary does little, your hair will not mind.
You will need
120 ml (½ cup) carrier oil: sweet almond or a light olive oil all work well
A small handful of dried rosemary (about 2 tablespoons), or 3 to 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary that have been left to wilt and dry for a day or two (this is important, because moisture increases the risk of mould)
A clean glass jar, a fine strainer or muslin cloth, and a dark glass bottle
Optional: 6 to 12 drops of rosemary essential oil (this gives roughly a 1 to 2 percent dilution in 120 ml, so please do not add more) to increase potency and smell after infusion
Method
Put the rosemary in the jar and pour the oil over it so the herb is completely covered.
Warm infusion: place the jar in a bowl or pan of just-simmering water, or use a double boiler, and keep it very gently warm for 2 to 3 hours. The oil should be warm, never hot. Alternatively, leave the jar on a sunny windowsill for 2 to 3 weeks, shaking it every few days.
Strain through the muslin, pressing the herbs gently to get all the oil out.
If you like, stir in the rosemary essential oil.
Pour into an amber bottle and label it with the date. Keep it in a cool, dark place and use it within about 3 months.
How to use
Massage about a teaspoon into the scalp for a few minutes, leave for 30 minutes (or overnight on an old towel), then shampoo it out. Using it two to three times a week is plenty.
Good to know
Always do a patch test on the inside of your arm first and wait 24 hours.
Dry the fresh herbs before infusing. Water in the jar can lead to mould.
Be patient. The hair growth trial mentioned above ran for six months, and nothing much had changed at three.
Hair thinning can have many causes. If you are losing hair suddenly or in patches, please have it checked by a doctor.
Recipe 2: Rosemary Clarity Tea
This is a very gentle way to bring rosemary into your day, and it is the closest thing to the culinary amounts used in the memory research.
You will need
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary needles, lightly bruised or chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried)
250 ml (1 cup) freshly boiled water
Optional: a slice of lemon and a little honey to taste
Method
Put the rosemary in a mug and pour the hot water over it.
Cover and steep for 5 to 10 minutes. The cover keeps the fragrant oils from escaping.
Strain, add lemon or honey if you like, and sip slowly.
This is a very fragrant tea. It's ideal for when you are working on the computer a lot, because rosemary is said to support focus and concentraiton too. Drink one or two cups a day at most. Breathe in the steam before you drink it, since the aroma is part of the experience. A sprig of fresh rosemary on the desk can do the same job when you do not have time for tea.
Recipe 3: Rosemary Memory Tincture
A tincture is another way to explore a plants benefits. It takes a little more planning but keeps for a long time. Please note that while the traditional use of rosemary for memory is well established, the research mentioned above was done with the dried leaf and the aroma, not with homemade tinctures, so treat this as a traditional preparation and experiment.
NOTE: If you are sensitive to alcohol or have a history in addiction, don't use alsohol-based tinctures. Alternatives are glycerin and water based extractions or simply teas.
You will need
Fresh rosemary sprigs, needles stripped from the stems and roughly chopped
40%-50% alcohol (vodka works well)
A clean glass jar with a lid and a dark dropper bottle
Method
Fill the jar about two-thirds full with the chopped rosemary.
Pour in the vodka until the herb is completely covered, to the top of the jar. Chopped fresh herb will float, so check it after a day and top up if needed.
Close the lid, label it with the date, and keep it in a cool, dark place for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking it every few days.
Strain through muslin, squeezing out every last drop, and pour into a dark bottle. It keeps for a year or more.
How to use
Start small: 10 to 20 drops in a little water, once or twice a day. Do not use for long periods without a break, and please do not take more than this thinking that it will work faster. The memory study suggests that more is not better.
Another Usage: Rosemary in Fire Cider
Fire Cider is a traditional preparation of spicy roots, aromatic herbs and flavorful fruits infused in apple cider vinegar. Rosemary as well as thyme are one core ingredient for this amazing immun supporting brew. We are not going to cover the preparation of fire cider in this blog post since it deserves it's own spotlight!
Growing Rosemary in a Nordic Garden
Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb which loves sun and very good drainage. This plan certainly dislikes wet roots and cold. In colder climates, as in our area of zone 4b, it is unfortunatelly not hardy enough to stay survive the winter outside. This is why we grow it in-ground throughout the seson and transfer it into a pot late October. Rosemary is fairly easy to bring through the winter, if you have a cool spot indoors and if you bring it inside before the first hard frost. Water it carefully during the winter. The benefit of rosemary in the house: you have fresh sprigs year-round.
Before You Use Rosemary Medicinally
Rosemary is one of the herbs that is mostly safe for most people - especially used in normal food amounts. In concentrated forms such as strong teas, tinctures and essential oil are slightly different.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Please avoid medicinal amounts, and check with your doctor before using even the oil on your scalp.
Epilepsy or seizure disorders: Rosemary, and in particular its essential oil, may trigger seizures. Please avoid it.
Medications: Rosemary may interact with blood thinners, blood pressure medicines, diuretics, lithium and diabetes medication. Please ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
Essential oil: Never swallow it, and never put it on the skin undiluted.
Sensitivities: Stop using it if you notice a rash, itching or stomach upset.
This post is for inspiration and general information and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare provider before using rosemary as a medicinal treatment.
Final Thoughts
Rosemary is one of those rare herbs that is so versatile. It is so easy to use in an oven dish as it is in the medicine cabinet. Whether you brew a cup of tea, make your own jar of scalp oil or enjoy the scent when brushing your hand over a pot on the windowsill. Rosemary is a herb for the small daily rituals that connect you to a very old tradition: rosemary, for remembrance.
Have you tried making your own rosemary oil or tea? We would love to hear how it went.
Are you looking for a way to reconnect with nature in your daily life? We have something for you. A self-guided therapeutic horticulture program with a hint of herbal wisdom. Have a look inside:
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