{"id":6273,"date":"2019-05-09T01:59:55","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T01:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=6273"},"modified":"2021-11-10T11:03:19","modified_gmt":"2021-11-10T11:03:19","slug":"20-health-benefits-of-rosemary-usage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/20-health-benefits-of-rosemary-usage\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Health Benefits of Rosemary Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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This fragrant herb originates from the Mediterranean, and most people associate it with cooking, where it has a use for flavoring a variety of dishes. Rosemary is a member of the same family as thyme, oregano, and basil. This perennial shrub lives for longer than 2-years, and it\u2019s grown all over the world in commercial farms and private herb gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rosemary also features surprising health benefits as well. The herb is rich in calcium, iron, and vitamin B6, as well as polyphenol micronutrients that have potent effects on the nervous and digestive systems. Perfume manufacturers rely on rosemary in their formulation, as it provides a distinct earthy fragrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its spice format, rosemary comes as whole leaves, or a ground powder to flavor chicken, beef, and lamb recipes. However, rosemary has benefits in traditional medicinal treatments as a muscle relaxant, immune booster, and circulatory enhancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the top eight health benefits of consuming rosemary in your diet.
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1.    Potent Polyphenol Compounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Polyphenols <\/a>are compounds found in fruit, vegetables, and herbs \u2013 producing the plant’s natural characteristics. Polyphenols give plants their color and flavor, as well as their therapeutic properties. Rosemary is rich in polyphenol antioxidants, making it a particularly useful herb for treating a variety of health conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the same family as mint, the menthol properties of the herb provide potent anti-inflammatory properties for the skin and digestive system. Eating crushed rosemary helps to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation responsible for a slew of digestive diseases and dysfunctions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consuming rosemary in your diet also helps to reduce systemic inflammation in other areas of the body. If you suffer from arthritis or issues affecting the nervous system, then eating rosemary can help relieve your symptoms of pain and irritation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combining the oil; with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or olive oil, allows you to use it as a skincare lotion to help heal the crack on your feet and elbows.
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2.    Aids Digestion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eating crushed rosemary <\/a>in your meals has a positive effect on your gut, reducing intestinal inflammation. While only anecdotal evidence exists to support this claim, thousands of people swear by the results of consuming crushed rosemary in their diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we eat foods high in refined carbohydrates, such as sugary snacks and soda, our digestive system responds by increasing inflammation of the intestinal wall. The intestines are permeable, and the swelling spreads the gaps in the wall, allowing toxins to escape into the bloodstream. As a result, we experience bloating, gas, and stomach cramps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The polyphenol antioxidants prevent the swelling of the intestinal wall, retaining the toxins and expelling them in feces. The next time you feel bloated after eating a high-carb meal, try mixing a teaspoon of crushed rosemary with half a glass of water and drink it down. You should notice your symptoms start to subside in twenty to thirty minutes.
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3.    Protects the Brain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the day, we absorb toxins from our environment, as well as the food and beverages we drink. These toxins accumulate in the digestive system<\/a> and the bloodstream. The blood carries the toxins to the brain where they start to choke up neural pathways, making you feel tired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the magical natural ingredients in rosemary responsible for its therapeutic and medicinal properties is carnosic acid. This compound fights off free radical damage in the brain, helping it clear the neural pathways of toxins accumulated during the day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of this cleansing effect on the brain, the user will notice they sleep better at night, and they can maintain a stable, balanced mood throughout the day. Mix some crushed rosemary into your meals, and add a few drops of the essential oil to a diffuser for use when you sleep. The medicated steam does wonders for the brain’s recovery from oxidative stress.
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4.    Skin Therapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can purchase rosemary as a whole shrub for planting in your herb garden at home, or you can pick up the dried or fresh spines of the plant at your supermarket for use in flavoring your meals. Rosemary essential oil extract is also available for therapeutic use as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Search your online health store for rosemary oil<\/a> and order a bottle, it’s inexpensive and excellent value for money when you consider the therapeutic benefits on offer. Manufacturers make rosemary essential oil using a steam distillation process, where the steam leeches the polyphenols from the plant matter, leaving them behind in the oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use rosemary oil as a topical administration for soothing skin inflammation. However, we recommend adding it to a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil before applying it to your skin. Rosemary oil extract may cause irritation and inflammation of the skin if you use it to treat cuts and sores.
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5.    Enhances Cognitive Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re feeling drained and sluggish \u2013 with a bad case of \u201cbrain fog<\/a>,\u201d then try using rosemary essential oil to improve your mental state. The steam distillate essential oil has calming and soothing properties that relieve the effects of stress on the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add a few drops of the oil to your diffuser and let it run overnight in your bedroom. You breathe in the medicated steam, and your respiratory system sends the beneficial compounds into the bloodstream where they go to work in removing free radicals and reducing the output of cortisol \u2013 the stress hormone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have a diffuser, fill a Pyrex bowl with boiling water and add the oil. Throw a towel over your head and place your face a few inches from the dish. Breathe in the steam for a few minutes to gain the same benefit as using a diffuser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular use of rosemary essential oil in this manner can improve mental performance, as well as enhance concentration, and prevent the onset of mental diseases, such as dementia.
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6.    Slow Macular Degeneration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Macular degeneration is the most prevalent condition affecting the eyesight of Americans. As we age, we lose the ability to synthesize proteins, resulting in a loss of many bodily functions. Our skin starts to wrinkle<\/a>, and our hair begins to thin. While these age-related processes are nothing too concerning, the effect can also affect your eyesight, resulting in the onset of macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When macular degeneration starts, it affects the health of our eyes, and we gradually begin to lose our eyesight over the course of many years. Studies suggest that using rosemary oil extract, and breathing in the medicated steam through a diffuser at night, may slow the process of macular degeneration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rosemary gets its eye-protecting qualities from the carnosic acid found in the herb. While research is still ongoing, scientists are confident that rosemary has value in treating all types of eye issues, such as those affecting the outer retina.
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7.    Stimulate Hair Growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hair loss <\/a>affects both men and women, and both can benefit from using rosemary essential oils to combat the situation and prevent its spread. Alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness, occurs when testosterone converts to DHT in the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This increase in androgens attacks the hair follicles, thinning them out, resulting in bald spots. The baldness may occur over a large surface area on the scalp, or it may also confine itself to a small area the size of a bottle cap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many men can\u2019t take the thought of losing their hair at an early age and are willing to try anything to restore the health of their scalp. Rosemary essential oil may be the remedy that these individuals need to regrow their hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies show that using rosemary oil diluted in a carrier oil can help to regrow hair when applied to the area of the scalp suffering from alopecia. The research shows that 44-percent of men who rubbed rosemary oil combined with jojoba oil into their scalp twice a day for six weeks, experience hair regrowth comparable to results from hair regrowth drugs.
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8.    Natural Bug Repellant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rosemary extract oil also has an application as a natural bug repellent for humans and crops. Research into the use of rosemary as a natural pesticide <\/a>shows that a concentrated spray, featuring rosemary oil and distilled water, reduced spider mite infestation on plants by as much as 50-percent, without doing any damage to the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in or visit an area infested with mosquitoes, consider using rosemary oil as a natural bug repellant. Studies show that distilled water combined with a 12-percent solution of rosemary extract oil is effective at keeping mosquitos off of the skin for up to 90-minutes after application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the same solution also prevents black-legged ticks from settling on the skin. Since black-legged ticks cause the spread of the dreaded Lyme disease, this natural solution is a welcome home remedy for anyone living or traveling to the Northeastern United States where black-legged ticks are abundant in fields and wooded areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Boost the Immune System<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, we could all use a boost to our immune systems. The immune system regulates our body’s response to pathogens<\/a>. If you have a weak immune response, the invading virus or bacteria has an easier time spreading in your body. If you have a robust immune response, you might not even notice you’re sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might surprise you to learn that most of your immune system resides in your digestive system. Therefore, doing everything you can to limit inflammatory response in the digestive system will improve the immune system response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The polyphenol antioxidants and diterpenes found in rosemary, such as carnosol and carnosic acid, have a potent anti-inflammatory response in the digestive system. By consuming rosemary with your meals and as a supplement, you increase your exposure to these potent polyphenols, enhancing digestive health while boosting the immune response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add rosemary to your diet wherever you can, and diffuse with rosemary essential oils and aromatics to get exposure to the powerful antioxidants in this herb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Improve Circulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we age, our cardiovascular health starts to decline. Aging causes a decline in protein synthesis, affecting every biological system in the body. We begin to lose bone and muscle mass, mobility in the joints wanes, and our cardiovascular health weakens. Most people find that their max heart rate declines from around 186 bpm in their early thirties to about 160 bpm in their sixties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decline in heart function also affects circulation <\/a>and oxygen delivery to the muscular system and brain. When circulation is low, we find ourselves feeling tired and lethargic. We have little energy, and we feel like taking a nap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people living with diabetes may experience circulation problems that cause their lower limbs’ amputation to prevent the onset of sepsis due to insufficient blood flow to muscle tissues in the foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consuming dried rosemary and essential oil extracts helps you take advantage of this herbal remedy’s circulatory benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Improve Mood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you’re dealing with mood issues, consider adding rosemary to your diet or supplementing with rosemary essential oil extract. Our mood has a close connection to our hormone <\/a>levels. Estrogen and progesterone in women can swing wildly during the menstrual cycle. As a result, some women may find themselves dealing with feelings of depression or low self-esteem during these times of the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The changes in hormone levels in the body due to your cycle typically rebound after a few days. However, it’s possible to mitigate these mood effects of your cycle by supplementing rosemary and rosemary extracts. The polyphenols in rosemary have a potent anti-inflammatory effect, and they also assist the body with hormone regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By adding rosemary to your diet and supplementation, you balance hormone issues, helping you with your physical and mental state during your cycle. Rosemary provides an anti-anxiety and calming effect that balances your hormone levels, keeping your mood stable throughout the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Relieve Stress and Anxiety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you feeling stressed after a hard day at the office? Stress affects many Americans, and if you find yourself in a stressful situation regularly, it could result in adverse changes to your physiology and psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People that experience high levels of stress frequently may end up developing a high-anxiety disorder. It’s normal for everyone to feel a little anxiety from time to time, but when it consumes your waking existence, it’s time to take action to unwind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of ways to destress while eating well and exercising as the two best choices for reducing anxiety<\/a>. However, some people need more help than diet and exercise. Adding rosemary extract or fresh rosemary herbs to your diet and supplementation schedule helps you mitigate the feelings of stress and anxiety in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The polyphenols in rosemary help relax the nervous system, reducing inflammation around the brain and spinal cord. As a result, you feel less anxious and find it easier to get rid of your stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Anti-Microbial Properties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to research, the polyphenol antioxidants<\/a> found in rosemary have a potent anti-microbial effect. Rosemary extract helps to kill pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and fungi. A study looked at the efficacy of rosemary extract oil in clearing infections. The results show that the extract effectively stops staph infections, aggressive bacteria found in wrestling rooms and other contact sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applying rosemary extract oil with carrier oil to the affected area of the skin reduced the spread and intensity of the infection without the use of prescription antibiotics. However, it’s important to note that you should always see your doctor about a staph infection and take their advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trying to treat it yourself using rosemary oil might not work, and you could end up in the emergency room. However, adding some rosemary extract oil to your favorite moisturizing cream provides a protective effect for your skin, preventing the onset of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. How to Use Rosemary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You have a few options for using rosemary<\/a>. The fresh herb is a great addition to cooking, seasoning lamb, chicken, and other roasts. However, you’re not going to get much benefit from using the herb in cooking. There aren’t enough polyphenols present to add any benefit to your food. Cooking the herbs at high temperatures also destroys the active polyphenols and any benefit they offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to consume rosemary for a health effect, you’ll need to turn to supplements or extract oils for the best results. Many supplements contain rosemary, and they come in encapsulated or pill format, making them easy to dose and administer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you’ll get the highest dose of polyphenols from the extracted oil. The oil comes available in different strengths to suit your medicinal needs. Before you add rosemary extract to your diet or supplement protocol, make sure you consult with your doctor for advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Rosemary Side Effects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rosemary is a natural herb. Therefore, it’s challenging to overdose or experience negative side effects from using it. However, the concentrated oil extract can cause some adverse events in users. Typically, and side effects experienced by the use of rosemary extract oil come from using too much of it. At high doses, rosemary extract oil can cause issues like spasms, cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a moderate dose of the oil won’t cause any issues, and you can use as much of it as you like for topical purposes. However, we recommend avoiding using pure extract oil directly on your skin. Add the extract to a carrier like extra-virgin olive oil or coconut oil. This technique dilutes the rosemary extract, ensuring that you don’t experience an adverse skin response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add rosemary oil extract to your body lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. All three of these products can benefit from adding the oil, boosting its nutritional value for your skin and hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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