Plant Study
Rosemary
Family Name: Lamiaceae
Family Name: Mint
Latin Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
(Also known as): Rosemary
Common Names: Rosemary
Related Species: 'Prostratus', 'Tuscan Blue'
Body System Affiliations:
1. Digestive System
2. Musculo-skeletal System
3. Skin
4. Circulatory
Botanical Description:
Habit: Subshrub, evergreen
Size: Six feet in height (8)
Arrangement: Semi-erect
Leaves: Long and narrow, dark green, leathery
Flowers: Small blue flowers, summer blooming
Bark: Fissured (8)
Ecology:
Habitat: Widely cultivated
Native Where: Native to the Mediterranean
Places/Dates Observed/Description: I have a three year old rosemary bush
in my front yard. It is 3’ x 2’. 3/5/06
Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships:
Materials/Technology: culinary, cosmetic (soap, hair rinse)
Medicine:
Part Used: Leaf
Medicinal Actions: Carminative, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressive,
anti-microbial (6)
Indications: Used to calm nerves, relieve symptoms of depression, ease muscle
pain, and aide digestion (6)
Body System Associations: Digestive System, musculo-skeletal system, skin,
circulatory
Constituents: Rosemary leaves contain 1 – 2.5% essential oil, Therein,
1,8-cineol (30%), camphor (15 to 25%), borneol (16 to 20%), bornyl acetate
(max. 7%), a-pinene (max. 25%) (5)
Applications: Infusion
Preparation: One cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dried rosemary, steep
for 15 minutes (6)
Pharmacy: 3x/day (6)
Cautions: Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Part Used: Leaf
Medicinal Actions: Mild antiseptic (1)
Indications: Minor wound, sore
Body System Associations: Skin
Applications: Topical
Preparation: Dried leaves: 50 g in a full bath (1)
Pharmacy: 1x/day, see physician for prolonged use
Other: Eucalyptol, a violtale oil found in rosemary, is considered a strong
antibacterial drug (4)
Part Used: Leaf
Medicinal Actions: To relieve pain associated with rheumatic diseases (circulatory
problems) (3)
Indications: Muscle or joint pain
Body System Associations: Circulatory
Constituents: 6 - 10 percent essential oil in semi-solid and liquid preparations
(3)
Applications: Herbal bath
Preparation: 50g of herb for one full bath (3)
Pharmacy: One application as needed
Part Used: Leaf
Medicinal Actions: To stimulate hair growth (8)
Indications: Baldness, thinning of hair
Body System Associations: Skin
Applications: External
Preparation: infusion
Pharmacy: Massage into scalp as needed
Propagation:
Technique: Rosemary can be propagated from non-flowering stems, either rooted
in water or moist soil. Layering is another propagation method. (9)
Harvest:
Plant Part: Leaves
Season of Harvest: Leaves can be harvested at any time (9)
Method of Harvest: Snip off branches with leaves
Personal Experience:
Food: I have used the rosemary in my garden to flavor culinary dishes.
Materials/Technology:
Medicine:
Part Used: Leaves
Desired Medicinal Actions: Antiseptic
Targeted Indications: To help heal wound on forearm
Harvest:
Site Location: South Olympia
Site Description: Personal property, partly shady, one species
Technique: Clipped several sprigs of rosemary
Processing: Rinsed rosemary under running water
Application/Preparation/Pharmacy:
Applications: Rosemary tea
Preparation: Steeped two tablespoons of fresh rosemary in a cup of boiling
water.
Pharmacy: I repeated the preparation twice and each time poured the tea
in a shallow dish so that I could soak my arm in the tea bath.
Reason/Purpose: My findings showed that rosemary could be used as an antiseptic,
and I hoped to disinfect and heal my wound.
Experience: Outcome is uncertain.
Other Notes of Interest:
Historically, rosemary was burned with juniper in hospitals to ward off
sickness. (7)
Cautions: Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
References Cited:
1. Bartram T. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive
Guide to the Herbal Treatments of Diseases. New York (NY): Marlowe &
Company;1995.
2. European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP). Monographs on the Medicinal Uses of Plant Drugs. Exeter (UK): ESCOP;1997.
3. Author Unknown. Herbalgram Website. Online at http://www.herbalgram.org/youngliving/commissione/Monographs/Monograph_0319.html. Visited 2-25-06.
4. Author Unknown. True Star Health Website. Online at http://www.truestarhealth.com/Notes/2157009.html.
Visited 2-28-06.
5. Author Unknown. Spice Pages Website. Online at http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Rosm_off.html.
Visited 2-25-06
6. Hoffmann, David L. World Health Online. Online at http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?ID=1453
. Visited 3-3-06.
7. Kight, Julie. About.com website. Online at http://healthyherbs.about.com/cs/herbfaqs/p/prrosemary.htm.
Visited 3-3-06.
8. Author Unknown. University of Maryland Medical Center. Online at http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Rosemarych.html.
Visited 3-5-06.
9. Author Unknown. Garden Guides website. Online at http://www.gardenguides.com/herbs/rosemary.htm.
Visited 3-5-06.
Rosemary for kids
What is rosemary?
Rosemary is a small shrubby evergreen that grows 3-5 feet in height. Its
dark green leaves are long and narrow. During the summer months, small pale
blue flowers appear. Its Latin name is Rosmarinus officinalis. It is part
of the mint family.
Where is it found?
Although rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, it is grown in many different
regions of the world.
How can it be used?
Traditionally, rosemary is used to flavor food. It can also be used as a
hair rinse and to aide the digestive system. Its powerful oils can help
treat and disinfect minor skin wounds. Rosemary is a symbol of remembrance
and friendship. Shakespeare’s Hamlet said, “There’s rosemary.
That’s for remembrance.” Some studies show a link between the
scent of rosemary and an increase in memory. Folklore has it that a sprig
or two of rosemary underneath a pillow will keep away bad dreams.
Can I grow rosemary in my garden?
Rosemary can easily be grown in a sunny, well-drained area of the garden.
It can also be grown in a container, although it is important to let the
soil dry between watering. Rosemary can easily be propagated by rooting
a stem in water.
