Remedies Using Rosemary
Make an infused oil to use as a hair conditioner, to rub on temples to relieve stress, or even to use in cooking. Pick fresh sprigs and let them sit overnight. Remove needles, place in a jar, and cover entirely with oil. Do not let any herb expose to air or it will mold. Cover and set in a warm place like a sunny windowsill. Shake every day from 14 days to 6 weeks. Strain, label, and date, and store in a cool, dark place.
Facial Steams
These provide thorough deep cleansing. The heat produces perspiration, which eliminates toxins and stimulates circulation. The steam softens the skin and opens the pores, which helps the skin absorb the beneficial properties of the herbs. Recommendations: for normal skin, once a week-for oily skin, 2 or 3 times a week-for dry skin, once every 2 weeks.
To Prepare: Use 2 handfuls of fresh herb or 3 TBS dry. Tie back hair; remove make-up. Pour 6 cups boiling water over herbs. Stir with a chopstick. Hold your face 12" from the solution, making a tent over your head with a towel. Close your eyes. Takes 10 to 15 minutes.
Rinse with warm water, then cold, then with witch hazel. A diluted vinegar or infusion of peppermint, elderflower, sage, or yarrow dabbed on with cotton will tighten the pores. Avoid sudden changes in temperature for an hour.
The Latin name of this plant, Rosmarinus officinalis, means dew-of-the-sea, probably because rosemary generally grows well by the seashore. Rosemary was used as incense by the ancient Romans and according to legend, Mary sheltered the baby Jesus under a rosemary bush.
Rosemary was used in Roman burial rites, and that practice continued well into the middle ages when it was customary to lay branches of rosemary on the coffin at funerals. It was believed quite wrongly that oil of rosemary could be used to treat patients infected with plague. A sprig of rosemary placed in a buttonhole is said to bring good luck and improve memory.
One of the loveliest of all herbal legends is the story of why rosemary has blue flowers. When the holy family fled into Egypt, a weary Mary spread her cloak on a white flowered rosemary. The flowers miraculously changed to the blue of Mary’s cloak. The Spanish name for rosemary is romero, or pilgrims plant, and derives from this legend. For botanical accuracy there is a species with white flowers, but the rest bloom in shades of blue.
Another legend states that rosemary will never grow taller than a person, nor exceed Christ’s age at death. Integral to Biblical and medieval gardens, rosemary is also found in Shakespearean gardens, for the various references to rosemary in his plays such as this line from Hamlet, "There’s rosemary; that’s for remembrance."
Rosemary, Rose of the Sea, Dew-of-the-Sea and Rose of Mary, is not mentioned specifically in the Bible but is a plant of ancient lineage and extensive coastlands. Beginning with Dioscorides, the first century doctor to the Roman Legion who wrote of rosemary and its virtues in Materia Medica, a list of 400 healing plants, rosemary has been written about more than any other herb.
Rosemary can be used in many varied ways:
Household (1) Place a fresh bough in a room to cool the air.
(2) Boil a handful of rosemary in two cups of water for 10 minutes to yield an antiseptic solution for washing bathroom and kitchen.
Practical When stripped of leaves, rosemary stems can be burned on a fire or barbecue for a lovely aroma.
Medicinal Stimulates circulation and eases pain by increasing blood supply where applied. Aids fat digestion. Good for aching joints and rheumatic pains. Use as an antiseptic gargle and mouthwash.
Recommended dosage:
Tea
For digestive problems, steep one teaspoon of dried leaves in one cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Drink one cup before meals, up to 3 times daily.
Oil/CreamFor sore joints or muscles, rub a few drops of the essential oil or a cream standardized to contain 6 to 10 percent essential oil into the area up to four times daily.
Liquid extractOne half teaspoon 3 times daily before meals, or as directed on the package.
Rosemary Tincture
This tincture is good to take internally to
prevent colds or to fight infections. Because
of the antibiotic nature of this tincture, it is
also good to use to clean cuts and scrapes. It
removes bacteria and prevents infections.
Add 1/2 cup of rosemary needles to 2 cups of
vodka and allow to sit for 2 weeks. Strain and
use 1/2 dropperful every 2 hours for a couple
of days. Then cut back to 2 times daily for
about 2 weeks. Treats infections and colds.
