How Healthy Is Rosemary Essential Oil?
When it comes to herbs, rosemary reigns supreme because of the numerous health benefits it provides. And it appears that mankind has known about this secret and reaped its benefits for millennia, because ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations revered rosemary. Rosemary “Rosmarinus officinalis”, a member of the Lamiaceae mint family, is an aromatic, evergreen plant native to the Mediterranean and Asia. It features needle-like leaves and pink, white, purple, or blue blooms. It is widely used as an ornamental plant because of its attractive appearance.
Rosemary has a special place in gourmet cookery because of its lovely scent and distinct bitter flavor, especially in meals with roasted meats of any kind. The pièce de résistance, however, is the essential oil collected from rosemary leaves. 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, and camphor are just a few of the therapeutic components found in rosemary essential oil. Its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, analgesic, and expectorant qualities come from these compounds, which aid digestion, circulation, and breathing. Let’s take a closer look at the additional beneficial components included in this essential oil
The Nutritional Value of Rosemary Essential Oil
Certain phytochemical substances found in rosemary leaves have been shown to have disease-prevention and health-promoting qualities. Rosemary essential oil contains antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant rosmarinic acid, as well as anticancer effects. In addition to calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese, rosemary has a little amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and folate.
14 Amazing Benefits of Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil is one of those rare substances that not only improves your physical health but also improves your mental wellbeing. Rosemary oil has a wide range of uses, from pain relief to digestive support to anxiety reduction. Let’s take a closer look at some of the advantages it has to offer.
Immune System Booster
Antioxidants are one of your most powerful weapons for protecting your body from disease. Myrcene, a molecule found in rosemary oil, is a potent antioxidant that hunts down free radicals that can harm your cells and cause a variety of infections and disorders. As a result, inhaling rosemary oil regularly can assist to strengthen your immune system.
Aids Digestion
Although it may seem strange, applying rosemary oil on your stomach and the bottoms of your feet can help with digestion. This is because rosemary oil boosts the quality of stomach acid secretion and the amount of bile produced by the liver, both of which are essential for proper digestion. As a result, it can aid with constipation, stomach cramps, bloating, flatulence (yep, farts), and dyspepsia symptoms.
Relieves Muscle and Joint Pain
For its 1,8-cineole, alpha-pinene, and camphor concentration, rosemary is a triple threat to pain relief. It’s an analgesic (pain reliever), anti-inflammatory (swelling reduction), and anti-nociceptive (blocks the sensation of pain). As a result, it has long been used to treat muscular discomfort, joint pain, sprains, as well as arthritic and rheumatic symptoms.
Reduces Stress
Cortisol is the hormone that’s produced in your body when you’re anxious or have that all-too-familiar “fight-or-flight” urge. Chronic stress can cause an excess of cortisol to be generated in the body, disrupting the delicate hormonal balance and disrupting normal metabolism, perhaps leading to a variety of disorders. However, there is some good news! The smell of rosemary oil lowers cortisol levels in saliva. So, the next time the stresses of everyday life start to get to you, try some aromatherapy with rosemary oil.
Eliminates Foul Odor
We all know that rosemary oil has a unique perfume that no other scent can match. But you probably didn’t realize that the pleasant scent comes from the volatile component myrcene contained in this essential oil. To eliminate odors, rosemary oil is often used in room fresheners, diffusers, and scented candles.
Contains Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Do you have aches and pains that don’t seem to go away? Then it’s time to use rosemary essential oil to massage those regions. Because it contains pinene, this oil acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, reducing swelling and pain.
Improves Circulation
The use of rosemary oil in the affected area increases blood circulation. Improved blood circulation has a number of advantages, including pain relief and faster blood clotting, which can improve wound healing and promote hair growth.
Enhances Respiration
It’s time to pick up a bottle of rosemary essential oil if you want to breathe easier. This potent oil provides great relief from respiratory diseases. The compounds eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) and camphor in rosemary oil help to widen the airways in the lungs and improve airflow. As a result, it aids in the relief of a variety of respiratory issues, including clearing chest and nasal congestion, lowering cough, cold, and sore throat symptoms, as well as treating respiratory allergies and sinusitis symptoms. Rosemary oil also has an antispasmodic effect, which is beneficial in the treatment of bronchial asthma.
Acts as an Antidepressant
Rosemary oil is beneficial to mental health because it acts as an antidepressant. Aromatherapy with rosemary oil also aids in relaxation and the treatment of depression symptoms.
Fights off Acne and Signs of Aging
Topical application of rosemary oil alleviates acne-related inflammation. But wait, there’s more! It also brightens your skin by reducing under-eye puffiness and improving circulation. What’s more? It protects your skin from UV and free radical damage, as well as tightens it to counteract symptoms of aging.
Great for Oral Health
A mouthwash made with half a teaspoon of rosemary oil and a cup of purified water works well. Rosemary oil’s antimicrobial properties aid to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and plaque buildup. It even kills the bacteria Streptococcus sobrinus, which takes up residence in the cavities of your teeth, and is a primary cause of tooth decay.
Good Mosquito and Insect Repellent
Are you always bothered by mosquitoes and other insects? Rosemary essential oil includes limonene and camphor, which are effective insect repellents, especially for mosquitoes.
Improves Hair Health
With rosemary oil, you can put an end to all of your hair woes. It provides thinning, gives hair new vitality, thicker locks, and aids in the treatment of dandruff. This essential oil also promotes hair development and helps with alopecia.
Cures Headaches
Are you missing school or work due to frequent headaches and migraines? Simply dab a few drops of rosemary oil between your palms and cup them over your nose and mouth. This strong essential oil’s pain-relieving properties are particularly useful in treating headaches.
Side Effects of Rosemary Essential Oil
Yes, rosemary is a wonder elixir with a plethora of health benefits. As for its adverse effects, there are a few things you should bear in mind.
- Because applying rosemary oil directly to your skin in its concentrated state induces dermatitis, it is always recommended to dilute it or mix it with a carrier oil. In persons with bleeding disorders, rosemary oil has the potential to increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.
- Pregnant women who consume significant doses of rosemary or its oil may experience a miscarriage. As a result, pregnant and lactating women should avoid it.
- It is advisable to avoid using rosemary oil if you have epilepsy because it triggers and intensifies seizures.
Now that you Know…
Rosemary essential oil, which is extracted from the common kitchen herb, has long been used in folk medicine and is now being studied in scientific investigations. Though most of this study is preliminary, studies show that this essential oil can improve your health by enhancing mental focus and memory, preventing hair loss, reducing pain and inflammation, repelling insects, and reducing stress. Simply inhale rosemary oil or apply a diluted version topically if you wish to give it a try. Remember that the oil is highly concentrated, therefore only a few drops at a time are required.
