| Rosemary is a popular herb for cooking and | | | | and memory enhancer. Like eucalyptus, rosemary |
| aromatherapy. It is actually a member of the mint | | | | can be used in cream rubs or vaporizers to help |
| family and is grown predominantly in Morocco and | | | | clear out mucus when you have a chest cold. |
| Spain. Rosemary likes a dry, hot soil. The | | | | Rosemary home remedies |
| rosemary plant is an evergreen shrub in its native | | | | For sore muscles: Take several stems of fresh |
| regions. It can grow very tall, given the right | | | | rosemary and boil them for 5 minutes. Remove |
| conditions (over six feet), but in its native areas, | | | | from the water (being careful not to burn |
| high winds tend to keep the bush under control. In | | | | yourself) and wrap in several layers of gauze. Use |
| parts of the world with harsher winters (zones 5 | | | | this moist compress on sore and aching muscles. |
| and lower), rosemary is grown as an annual. | | | | To clear a stuffy head: Crush several stems of |
| Rosemary grows long stems covered with green | | | | fresh rosemary. Place the stems into a small bowl |
| needlelike leaves. Clusters of blue, pink or white | | | | filled with 2 cups of boiling water. Place a towel |
| flowers bloom on the ends of the stems in | | | | over your head and lean over the bowl, inhaling |
| springtime. All of the plant parts can be used to | | | | the fragrant steam. Do this for 5 minutes. |
| extract the essential oil, although the highest | | | | Skin toner: Crush a palm full of rosemary leaves |
| quality oil comes from the flowers only. The | | | | and place into a bottle. Fill the bottle with witch |
| essential oil is extracted by steam distillation. This | | | | hazel. To use: wet a cotton ball with the toner and |
| process involves using pressurized steam to | | | | apply to clean skin. Use daily. |
| remove the essential oils from the plant matter. | | | | Cautions for rosemary. Rosemary should be |
| Rosemary has a bit of an old fashioned appeal to | | | | avoided by pregnant women, people with high |
| it. It is called the 'remembrance' flower and brides | | | | blood pressure or anyone suffering from epilepsy |
| often carry a sprig or two in their bouquets. It is | | | | - due to its ability to stimulate the brain. Some |
| also sometimes incorporated into funeral floral | | | | people may also find rosemary oil to be a skin |
| arrangements. | | | | irritant, so always dilute the rosemary in a carrier |
| Rosemary has a very pungent, almost medicinal | | | | oil or do a skin test patch. Next time you use |
| odor to it with woody undertones. Very similar to | | | | rosemary for cooking, take a moment and enjoy |
| eucalyptus. It was also used as a substitute for | | | | the crisp smell of the leaves. Just doing this can |
| myrrh in incense, since it was much more | | | | give you the aromatherapy benefits of this |
| prevalent and cheaper than myrrh. This incense | | | | wonderful herb as well as the great taste! Keep a |
| would be burned as a disinfectant in hospitals. | | | | few fresh sprigs in a small vase by your desk, to |
| Aromatherapy benefits of rosemary essential oil | | | | invigorate you all day long. |
| include: antiseptic, astringent, stimulant, anti-fatigue | | | | |