Rosemary Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

Rosemary essential oil benefits stem from the powerful, aromatic herb rosmarinus officinalis. This plant is a cousin of mint, and is native to the Mediterranean. Most people only know rosemary as a simple cooking herb. But this magnificent and hardy plant offers so much more, especially when utilized in its concentrated form.

For thousands of years, Rosemary essential oil has been prized for its healing qualities. It’s said to have been part of the original “Thieves oil” recipe that gypsies used to ward off the plague. Today, Rosemary essential oil is touted as being antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic in nature. Rosemary essential oil is made either by distilling or steaming the needle-like leaves of this plant until its powerful oils are released.

Rosemary Essential Oil Benefits and Uses

Rosemary as an Antimicrobial

Even organic gardeners often plant Rosemary strategically in their gardens near more vulnerable plants a way to protect them from pests. The concentrated oils that are present in the needles of this plant are said to effectively repel insects, mold, fungi, viruses and nematodes.

Stimulates Hair Growth

Rosemary essential oil is a common ingredient in natural hair products to help stimulate hair growth at the follicular level. It works even better for hair growth when paired with sage essential oil. It’s said to even help reduce the appearance of gray hair.

To make a great scalp treatment mix a few drops of rosemary essential oil with sweet almond oil and massage into your scalp. Allow to sit 20-30 minutes before washing it out. The scent of just the rosemary can be a bit overwhelimg, so you could try mixing it with some lavender or (my fave) sweet orange. They both smell great, and less likely to make you feel like your marinating.

Invigorating to the Body

Rosemary is a strongly scented and powerfully invigorating essential oil that only requires a few drops to be effective. When used on the body, rosemary oil should be diluted with a carrier oil.

This essential oil is a natural stimulant that speeds up both the heart and breathing rates as it wakes up the brain and increases neurological activity. Some people who are especially sensitive may react to the powerful effects of rosemary oil as an excitant.

You can put a few drops into your body wash or soap for a great pick me up in the morning.

Mood & Brain Stimulant

This study states “Rosemary EO are reported to stimulate the nervous system and thus perk up memory and concentration capacity. In a study, an improved performance was observed in a task due to the olfactory impact of rosemary EO with increase in overall quality of memory.”

When combined with a carrier oil to use in massage applications, rosemary oil is said to deliver mental clarity, relieve fatigue and act as a mood enhancer.

Holistic Uses

Recent research on the rosemary plant indicates that it may aid in nerve growth and regeneration. Additionally, rosemary essential oil is claimed as being anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Herbalists recommend rosemary essential oil for relief of muscle and nerve pain as well as for its use in detoxifying the liver, healing the gallbladder, and for improving memory function.

Where to get your Essential Oils

There are a lot of great essential oil companies out there. The key to picking a good oil is making sure its an actual, high-quality oil, and not just fragrance. I have used several different brands and my personal favorite is Plant Therapy.

They are high quality, and very affordable. They also offer fast, FREE shipping from the website. (I hate paying for shipping. It’s a personal pet-peeve of mine.) I prefer to get my oils directly from the company themselves.

You can purchase them on Amazon, but use caution with this. Their freshness isn’t guaranteed. And, contrary to popular belief, essential oils don’t stay good forever. Most of the oils only have a few year shelf life. With Amazon, it’s hard to tell how long the essential oils have been sitting on a shelf in their warehouse.

You can get my favorite rosemary essential oil here.

Rosemary Essential Oil Cautions and Concerns:

Rosemary essential oil should not be used on children less than 4 years of age.

If you are especially susceptible to allergies or sensitivities, you may wish to test rosemary mixed with a carrier oil on a small patch of skin such as your wrist, to determine if it will be well tolerated.

If you find the scent of rosemary oil to be overwhelming when used in a room diffuser, you can either use fewer drops, or use only in combination with calming oils such as lavender. It is possible that rosemary oil may be too powerful for extremely sensitive individuals — in which case, discontinue use.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. If you are experiencing unusual symptoms of any kind, please consult with your physician.

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