Rosemary

In my ongoing emails to help educate on the uses of herbs most people have on hand, I’ve decided to focus on Rosemary. It’s a treasure trove of medicinal mojo that has a slew of ways to aid you in your health journey but I’ll list just a few.  I think  you’ll appreciate adding it into your routine, it’s definitely an herb awe can all use more often 


Rosemary is high in vitamins vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6 thiamin, and folate. It contains minerals like magnesium, Calcium and Iron. It has abundant antioxidants in the form of phenolic compounds like diterpene, carnosol and  rosmarinic acid. The essential oils in rosemary herb also contain powerful ingredients such as cineol, camphene, borneol, bornyl acetate, α-terpineol, and α-pinene.
Aside from the nutrients mentioned above, the herb contains high dietary fiber.  It is low in cholesterol and sodium but high in saturated fats.
Maintains Gut Health
Rosemary has traditionally been used as a natural remedy for upset stomach, constipation, gas, bloating as it helps in relaxing the muscles of the intestine. Adding it to your diet can help you regulate your bowel movements and your gastrointestinal system. 
One study showed that in test subjects with colitis treatment with rosemary extract was effective to reduce colon tissue lesions and colitis.  This helps fight gut diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colitis.
Rosemary has long been used to help with the effects of food poisoning, making healing a quicker and more painless process. 


Rosemary herbal extracts are anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic so it promotes a healthy weight or weight loss. 
According to another study, carnosic acid-rich rosemary can be used as a preventive treatment for metabolic disorders such as PCOS and/or diabetes. 
Antibacterial & Antimicrobial
Rosemary is specifically powerful against  bacterial infections. It prevents staph infections and also eradicates various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria completely.
Due to its antibacterial qualities, rosemary intake has been shown to prevent the growth of H. pylori bacteria, a dangerous pathogen that is associated with gastritis, stomach ulcers, and some cancers.


Boosts Immunity
The active components in rosemary are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic in nature. This represents a three-pronged attack against many different diseases and pathogens that could threaten the immune system or damage the integrity of the body.
Rosemary contains a significant amount of antioxidants including rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, betulin acid, and carnosol. Antioxidants in rosemary make a secondary line of defense behind the body’s own immune system.


Anti-inflammatory
Carnosol and carnosic acids are two powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds found in rosemary that have been linked to reducing inflammation of muscles, blood vessels, and joints. This makes it an effective treatment and prevention of many diseases, including blood pressure, gout,  arthritis, and injuries sustained during physical exertion or surgery. It is effective in oral or topical form.
Rosemary acts as a stimulant and boosts the production of red blood cells and blood flow.
Rosemary can be  topically applied to the affected area to soothe the pain and works to unknot tired muscles. It can be taken internally or externally to help with headaches, migraines, menstrual and stomach cramps, as well as kidney pain.
Enhances Brain Function
Rosemary has an affinity for the head and study after study has shown that it helps improve memory performance and quality. It is also known to boost alertness, intelligence, and focus. One possible mechanism for this action is that rosemary extract enhances  the synthesis of nerve growth factor which is vital for nerve tissue.
Depression and anxiety are related to gut health and the fact that Rosemary works well on maintaining good gut health and it’s relationship to the head makes it a wonderful mild anti depressant. 
A study conducted on the anti-depressant effects of rosemary concluded that the herb is effective in improving symptoms of depression. These anti-depressant effects were observed even with repeated administration two weeks later. Furthermore, it may also reduce cortisol (the stress hormone) levels, which helps ease tension in the body.
Rosemary is slightly diuretic in nature, meaning that it can help flush out toxins efficiently during urination. It also breaks up congestion and phlegm, this combined with it’s diuretic qualities makes it a great herb for pitted edema or to help with congestive heart failure. 


Rosemary can be added to teas, tinctures and foods. It goes well with fatty foods like meats, butters, oils or high carb foods like white or sweet potatoes, dark chocolate or even vanilla. Rosemary isn’t like thyme, which bands with flavors, Rosemary demands more attention so it needs to have flavors that blend with it. We love it in soups, roasted veggies, enhanced cooking oils or butters plant based or dairy. A little rosemary goes a long way because it is one of the most resinous herbs. It’s also hearty and you can throw it in the soup pot at the beginning and it doesn’t alter the flavor in the end unlike more delicate herbs like parsley. Many people like to strip the leaves and use the left over stems as skewers for mushrooms or shrimp as it imparts a milder flavor this way. 


In tea blends, I like to put it with either other bold flavors like mint, cinnamon or tulsi or really mild ones like orange or lemon balm.