What is Rosemary (eriocephalus africanus)?
Derived from the Latin meaning sea dew, rosemary is a small evergreen shrub. With needle-like leaves that are dark green, rosemary is notable for its use in a variety of dishes. The leaf of the plant, however, is used for medicinal purposes. Here are some healthful advantages of using this herb.
Rosemary may improve memory, relieve muscle pain, and stimulate the nervous system. It is used for digestive problems, circulatory problems, pain, neuralgia, spasms, wounds, eczema, rheumatism, and depression. As an antispasmodic herb, it is used to increase urine production. Another fact about rosemary is that used in combination with St. John’s Wort and Ginkgo Biloba, it may improve disorders associated with brain inflammation.
The components in rosemary enhance a stronger blood flow. It not only improves brain function, as mentioned earlier but has also been used to treat disorders characterized by circulatory weakness such as high and low blood pressure; varicose veins; bruises; and sprains.
Rosemary is said to fight bad cells and has shown anti-cancer and anti-tumor activity. Because it possesses strong antioxidants, it may prevent cancer-causing chemicals from invading cells, most notably in the liver and bronchial areas. Described as potent enough to kill bacterial infection, it should be stated it cannot totally expunge bacteria from the digestive tract. However, rosemary has been shown to treat toxic shock syndrome.
Because rosemary stimulates and improves circulation throughout the body, it increases the blood supply to the skin, which is thought to help restore a youthful glow. Another benefit is if your hair is dull from product buildup, you can try a rosemary tea rinse. Rosemary cleans hair follicles and promotes hair growth.
Use it once a week to obtain thick, clean hair and scalp.
Along with sage and thyme, rosemary is yet another culinary herb that also embodies medicinal benefits. If you have an herbal garden or wish to plant one, you may prefer to begin with adding these three herbs as your starting point. At least you will be off to a healthy start!