Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Also: Rosmarinus officinalis, Dew of the sea

WarmingDryingTonifying

Sends warmth and blood to a cold head and cold hands.

A resinous evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves, dark above and pale beneath, and pale blue flowers in late winter. Rosemary warms and quickens circulation, sharpens memory and focus, lifts a dull headache, and helps a sluggish liver and stomach.

Energetics: Warming, drying, toning
Taste: Pungent, aromatic, slightly bitter
Family: Lamiaceae (mint family)
Parts used: Leaves and flowering tops

Medicinal uses 6

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Traditional useLab and mechanism studiesClinical studies

Focus & brain fogTLC
Sharpens memory and focus; even its scent improved memory scores in a small study.
Cold hands & feetTLC
Quickens circulation to cold hands, feet, and head.
Tension headacheTLC
Eases headaches that come from poor circulation to the head; a good addition to headache blends.
Sluggish liver & digestionTLC
Supports a slow liver and the feeling of food sitting high and heavy after a meal.
Indigestion & bloatingTLC
Its aromatic oils get digestion moving and ease the headaches that follow poor digestion.
MigraineTLC
Helps migraines that follow poor circulation to the head, in a blend with relaxing herbs.

Preparations

Leaf tea, tincture, focus blends, and infused vinegar.

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Cautions

Can feel too stimulating for people who run hot and dry.
The essential oil is strong; keep it away from anyone with a seizure disorder and don't take it internally at home.

Medication interactions

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Pregnancy & breastfeeding

PregnancyCulinary amounts

Rosemary in cooking is considered compatible with pregnancy. Medicinal doses and the essential oil can stimulate the uterus, so those wait until after birth.

BreastfeedingCulinary amounts

Kitchen amounts are considered compatible while nursing; avoid the essential oil.

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Folklore

Ros marinus means dew of the sea, for its love of salt-sprayed coasts. Greek students wore rosemary garlands while they studied, and in Hamlet Ophelia hands it round with the line "there's rosemary, that's for remembrance." Sprigs were carried at weddings and tossed into graves. In 2017 botanists moved it into the sage genus, and its official name is now Salvia rosmarinus.

How to grow

A woody perennial for full sun and sharp drainage; wet roots kill it faster than cold. Hardy to about zone 7, or overwinter it indoors in a bright, cool window. Snip sprigs year-round.

In the wild

Dry, rocky hillsides and scrub around the Mediterranean, often within sight of the sea.

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