Rosemary….the
Radiant Plant
Rosemarinus officinalis……a gorgeous evergreen like herb is
popular with estheticians as well as with chefs, herbalists, and
gardeners.
This beautiful and aromatic plant blooms pink and blue in early
spring. I first came
to know Rosemary as a student in
Santa Barbara at the
community college.
Rosemary was used prolifically in the landscape design.
As I made my way around campus I was refreshed each time
I passed these large shrubby fragrant plants.
Rosemary can reach a span of 5 feet in width and 4 – 5
feet high. Cut Rosemary will fill a room with it’s pine like
scent.
Most of us know Rosemary as a seasoning in bread or pasta sauce.
Other ways to use Rosemary are as a tonic for the skin,
in a shampoo for hair or as a gum strengthener in toothpaste.
As Rosemary is extremely astringent it is an excellent
choice for oily hair with the added benefit of stimulating hair
growth. You can find
this essential oil in many natural shampoo products or add the
essential oil to any shampoo base.
Rosemary is common in natural toothpastes as the
astringent nature of this plant help to strengthen and tighten
weak gums and teeth. A wonderful formula for the skin is as a
toner called Queen of Hungaries Water.
Place 1 part each of dried Rosemary, roses, sage,
chamomile, and lavender into a jar quart mason jar.
Use a good handful of each herb.
Cover the herbs with vinegar.
Allow to sit in a warm place for a month.
Strain the vinegar from the herbs.
Add 2/3 to 1 cup of rosewater or rosemary hydrosol to
each cup of your herbal vinegar.
Apply to the face after washing and removing makeup.
This gentle toner will give your skin a radiant glow.
Herbalists use Rosemary as a tonic to the nervous system and as
a stimulant to the brain. Blended in a tea or tincture with
ginko and gotu kola it can be a memory aid.
It can be useful for relieving respiratory congestion and
assist in maintaining liver function.
The scent of Rosemary essential oil is invigorating and
an excellent choice for sluggishness, fatigue and stress in
general. Rosemary makes a wonderful “smoke free” incense by
simply adding 10 drops of rosemary essential oil to a tablespoon
of olive oil. Place
a bit of this oil near the wick of burning candle or some other
type of aromatherapy tool.
The scent will strengthen your brain, gladden your heart
and inspire creativity. As noted by Shakespeare, Rosemary was
the herb of choice for lovers who used it to inspire
“remembrance.”
The flower essence brings clarity to a person’s
state of mind. A
unique way of using herbs, flower essences work on one’s
emotional state. The
vibrant nature of the Rosemary plant suggests this essence will
stimulate abundant creativity, strength and zest in life by
heightening the sensitivity of the body at a physical and
cellular level.
Remember, this article is
for informational purposes only.
These are suggestions.
Check with your family
practitioner, doctor or a qualified herbalist when using herbs
for health and beauty purposes.