Rosemary is a plant which is most commonly associated with flavouring food, think of a beautiful cut of lamb or some seasoned veggies. However, rosemary essential oil is actually one of the most popular within the world of aromatherapy due to its many uses and benefits.
In this article, we are going to be exploring some of the uses of this essential oil and how it might be of benefit in your life.
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What Is Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil has a distinctive and woody aroma that is easily recognisable. The rosemary plant features leaves which resemble needles and originally came from Europe. However, the plant is now grown in many countries across the world including Algeria and India. The essential oil is extracted through a steam distilling process.
Rosemary Essential Oil Benefits
From treating skin conditions to improving your memory, rosemary essential oil has some surprising benefits, so it is little wonder that it is so popular. Let’s take a more detailed look at how this incredible essential oil can be used to your advantage.
Aids In Hair Growth
Baldness is common in men but it can also affect women from time to time but rosemary essential oil may be a potential solution to this problem. When one of the byproducts of testosterone is allowed to attack the hair follicles, this can cause hair loss, however, rosemary essential oil has the ability to stop this byproduct from having a negative impact.
What’s more is that through the use of this essential oil, many people noticed in a study that irritation of the scalp was greatly reduced. The oil can be applied directly to the scalp within a carrier oil in order to notice results.
Stress Relief
Our modern lives mean that stress is unavoidable at times, however, rosemary essential oil has the capability to reduce stress levels and bring a more calm feeling to the user.
Tests have shown that rosemary oil can reduce the heart rate which is excellent in reducing the effects of stress on the body. It has also been seen that when inhaling rosemary essential oil, users experience lower levels of the hormone, cortisol which is associated with heightened stress levels.
This means that the oil may also be useful in treating symptoms of anxiety which is another common condition that induces stress, For conditions such as these, rosemary oil also has the power to lift the mood and bring a greater sense of calm.
Become More Mentally Alert
There have been numerous studies which have shown that rosemary essential oil may have the power to improve your mental focus by making you much more alert. The oil has the ability to reduce feelings of drowsiness and can effectively bring your brain ‘back to life.’
This makes it ideal for those with busy lives who need to be mentally sharp. It is believed that rosemary oil is able to boost the amount of oxygenated blood sent to the brain, having an energetic effect.
Your energy levels can be significantly increased whether through inhaling the essential oil or through direct application to the skin, it is easily absorbed and able to reach the brain through this method.
What’s more, it is thought that rosemary essential oil may have the ability to improve the memory.
Treat Inflammation Of The Joints
Stress on the joints, age and lifestyle may all cause conditions such as arthritis in which the joints become swollen and painful. It has been noted that rosemary essential oil is a potent anti-inflammatory and can, therefore, reduce symptoms of such conditions.
It is thought that this is achieved through redirecting white blood cells which can release chemicals that cause inflammation in the joints.
The rosemary essential oil can be used with a carrier oil to massage any affected area, and studies have shown that noticeable results may be seen in as little as a fortnight.
Relieve A Headache
Headaches are experienced by many people the world over and modern pain medication may not always be an option. However, rosemary essential oil does have the power to effectively relieve the pain suffered from a headache. Rosemary oil is a strong analgesic and can be applied directly to the temples as a quick and reliable way to soothe a headache. It has been widely used in the treatment of migraines.
On top of this, the oil can be applied topically to other areas of the body which are experiencing pain to bring relief here too.
Improve Digestion
It has been observed that rosemary essential oil may be of great benefit to those looking to improve the health of their digestive systems. Not only does the oil have the ability to increase bile production within the liver, which is excellent for smoother digestion but it can also aid the body in producing anti-oxidants. This will keep the liver working well and ensure it stays healthy.
Use Alongside Anti-Biotics
Anti-biotics are an excellent option when it comes to modern medicine but for some people who have a resistance to this type of medication, the effects can be little to none.
However, when using rosemary essential oil to compliment this treatment, it has been observed that resistance to the drugs is reduced. The reason for this is that the bacteria which resist the anti-biotics are attacked by the rosemary oil, breaking them down and allowing the medication to do its work.
What’s more, is that the oil may also have the capability to improve the effects of these types of medications meaning that lower doses can be prescribed.
Safe Use Of Rosemary Essential Oil
When you begin using any essential oil, there are certain precautions which should always be observed, such as never ingesting the oil. When it comes to rosemary essential oil, there have not been many adverse reactions or toxic effects observed. However, it is wise to adhere to certain guidelines when using the oil.
- Rosemary oil should not be used by anyone under the age of four.
- Those with severe allergies may be sensitive to this particular essential oil and so a patch test is recommended.
- For some people, rosemary oil may act as something of a stimulant and cause excitement, if this occurs, you should discontinue use of the oil.
- and so use in pregnancy is not recommended.
- Rosemary essential oil is not recommended for anyone suffering with high blood pressure or epilepsy.
Summary
Rosemary essential oil is one which is highly favoured in the aromatherapy world due to the wide range of benefits that can be gained from its use. Despite being most commonly associated with cooking in its natural form, the essential oil from the rosemary plant can aid in everything from hair loss to digestion and many things in between.
As always, it is important to use essential oils with care and follow advice to ensure the best experience possible.