Rosemary - My Kitchen Herb of the Week

I love growing Rosemary in the Garden and yes I do keep it close to the front door for Love

 ROSEMARY

Rosemary is an herb in the labiatae (mint) family. In its native habitat it
grows in rocky Mediterranean soils as a shrubby, evergreen plant that can
grow to 6 feet tall in sheltered areas. However, conditions on the windswept
slopes of the region usually keep the bush smaller. Rosemary's name is
fitting given its wild growing conditions: the Latin word ros means dew, and
marinus means sea. The aromatic green and silver, needle-like leaves of
rosemary are often sprayed by the sea mists blowing in from the
Mediterranean.

In early spring rosemary bears clusters of mottled, sky blue flowers on the
previous season's growth. The flowers contain large amounts of a sweetly
pungent essential oil with an aroma reminiscent of pine needles.

Cultivated forms of rosemary include plants with decorative golden foliage,
pink and white flowered forms, and interesting bonsai-like sprawling plants.
The chemical make-up of the essential oils varies in the many different
cultivars.

Rosemary has a long history of culinary and medicinal use, it's also been
used in magic and religious ritual. Like many other pungent herbs, rosemary
has antibacterial properties. In the days before refrigeration, herbs like
rosemary, thyme and hyssop were rubbed into fresh meat to prevent spoilage.
The flavoring possibilities of many herbs were most likely discovered
through this preservative effect. Today rosemary is widely used in cooking,
especially with roasted meats like lamb.

The 17th century herbalist Gerard gives us an indication of how rosemary was
regarded in early medicine:

"Rosmarie is given against all fluxes of bloud; it is also good, especially
the floures thereof, for all infirmities of the head and braine, proceeding
of a cold and moist caufe; for they drain the brain, quicken the senses and
memorie..."

An old French term for rosemary was incensier. This may refer to the use of
rosemary as a substitute for expensive frankincense or myrrh-based incense
in ancient Greece and Rome. Rosemary was the incense of the poor or lower
classes, being easily harvested from the wild. The upper class and nobility
could afford the more costly imported resins and aromatic spices for their
rituals.

Before the advent of modern medicine rosemary was burned, along with juniper
berries, as a disinfectant in french hospitals.

Gerard's reference to rosemary being used to quicken the memory comes from
an ancient belief that rosemary can sharpen the memory and inspire fond
remembrance. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia says:


"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray love, remember..."

This tradition of regarding rosemary as the herb of remembrance has been
carried on by brides carrying sprigs of the plant in their wedding bouquets.
In some European countries it is still a custom to carry rosemary in funeral
processions and to cast the herb into the grave at the burial ceremony.

Rosemary's rich and varied history is attributable to its fragrant essential
oil. The main constituents include cineole, camphor and camphene, which give
the oil its medicinal eucalyptus-like aroma. Pinene and small amounts of
bornyl acetate, borneol and linalool produce the foresty, sweet undertone of
the oil.

When steam distilled, the fresh, flowering branchlets of rosemary produce
about .6% essential oil. Today most distillation takes place in Spain and
Tunisia. The distillation season coincides with the blooming of the plants
in spring. The flowers and leaves produce the highest quality oil with a
better balance of camphoraceous and sweet aroma constituents. The woody,
non-flowering portions of the plant produce a lesser grade essential oil,
with a pronounced camphor aroma.

At one time an expensive rosemary flower oil was produced in Spain and
France by distilling only the leaves and fresh flowers. These were carefully
stripped by hand from the woody stems. This sweetly scented, expensive oil
was especially good for use in perfumes, forest-type colognes and lavender
scented products. Today it's much cheaper to blend isolated constituents
such as linalool with a standard quality rosemary to achieve a similar
effect.

Current commercial uses for rosemary include the scenting of colognes and
aftershaves, soaps, detergents and disinfectants.

Aromatherapists use rosemary's briskly energyzing aroma to combat nervous
exhaustion and fatigue. This effect can be so powerful that rosemary is not
recommended for use by people with epilepsy or high blood pressure.

Rosemary oil acts as an astringent and will help regulate or decrease oily
secretions of the hair folicles. For this reason rosemary hair care
preparations are often used by people with greasy hair and dandruff.

Energyzing rosemary hair oil:



To 3 ounces of a good virgin olive oil add:

5 drops rosemary
5 drops lavender
2 drops sandalwood
Gently massage a few drops of this mixture into the scalp and throughout the
hair. This will impart a fragrant, moisturizing sheen.

Refreshing Eau de Cologne Mist:



To 8 ounces of distilled water add:

12 drops bergamot orange
12 drops lemon
6 drops rosemary
5 drops lavender
5 drops petitgrain
Pour this mixture into a bottle with a spray atomizer attachment. Shake the
bottle vigorously and mist over exposed skin.

Grow your own aromatherapy. Inhaling the fragrance of fresh, living rosemary
is the most natural way to enjoy the therapeutic effects of this aromatic
herb. Rosemary is easy to grow year round on a sunny south-facing window
sill. Give the plant as much light as possible and keep the soil slightly
moist. As the plant grows, pinch out the growing tips for use.
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
ROSEMARY  was believed to stimulate the brain and help the memory and so it came to be associated with remembrance. The old custom of leaving rosemary at the graveside and for handing a bunch of it to those bereaved is carried on to this day.

Rosemary stood for fidelity and was included in bridal bouquets.
Rosemary grows will in light, well-drained, sandy soil in a sunny, sheltered spot. Propogation is by seed, cuttings, or layering; the best plants are those grown from seed, although it is a slow process as the seed takes about 3 weeks to germinate.


The leaves and flowering tips are the parts of the shrub used in the home. The leaves for drying are taken from the stems before the flowers appear. The flowering tips are cut when the flowers are fully open. They are dried and stored in the usual way.
 Rosemary is an effective remedy for digestive upsets and flatulence when taken with food. It stimulates the circulation and rosemary tea can be taken for a nervous headache while a compress of rosemary is applied to the forehead and temples.
 To make Rosemary Tea


Pour 1/2 a cupful of boiling water onto 1 teaspoon of dried herb, leaves or flowers tips. Leave to infuse for 5-10 minutes, then strain and add honey to sweeten. Drink it warm and make fresh each time. Do not take over long periods.  Rosemary tea allowed to cool, makes an effective mouthwash for those suffering with bad breath. Rosemary Cheese Wreaths
1 cup plain flour
2 tablespoons self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
125g butter, chopped
1 teaspoon carraway seeds
1/2 cup (60g) grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup (20g)grated parmesan
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves

Sift flours and paprika into medium bowl, rub in butter. Stir in seeds, cheeses and water to form a soft dough. Knead dough on floured surface until smooth. Divide mixture into 12 equal portions, roll into 60cm logs. Cut logs into 12cm lengths. Twist 2 lengths together, press ends together.
Place about 2cm apart on greased oven trays; decorate with fresh rosemary leaves (tucked into joins). Refrigerate 30 minutes. Bake in moderate over about 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on tray. Makes about 30.


  Rosemary is an excellent herb for the hair, stimulating the circulation of the scalp and thus helping get rid of dandruff and to improve the growth and condition of the hair. Rosemary lotion can be applied to the scalp four times a week.
To make the Lotion
Pour one cupful of boiling water onto 1 1/2 tablespoons of dried or fresh rosemary. Leave the infusion to stand for 20 minutes. Strain into a stoppered jar and store in a cool place. use within a few days. Dip cotton wool into the Lotion and rub into the scalp.This is a good Lotion for all hair types.
A decoction of rosemary is good for fading freckles and reducing wrinkles.To make a Skin Tonic
Add 2 handfuls of the herb to 2 cups of water in an enamel pan. Bring to the boil and boil for 2 minutes. Leave to infuse for 20 minutes, then strain into a stoppered bottle. Keep in a cool place and dab on skin morning and night.  A rosemary footbath is a refreshing remedy for tired, swollen, sweaty feet and, used 2 or 3 times a week, will help reduce excessive perspiration.
To make a footbath:
Make sufficient rosemary decoction to cover the feet when placed in a bowl. Allow it to cool to lukewarm then strain into the bowl. Soak the feet for 10 minutes and dry well afterwards. Make a fresh decoction for each application.


ROSEMARY

Masculine, Sun, Fire.

Magical attributes: Improve memory, sleep, purification, youth, love, power,
healing, protection, intellectual.

Uses: Promotes healing of wounds, acts as an antiseptic, and can be a mild
stimulant. Good in teas for treating flu, stress, and headaches or body
aches. Mental and physical booster. Used for treating (oil form) muscular
sprains, arthritis, rheumatism, depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine
headaches, coughs, flu and diabetes. Excellent remedy for acne or cellulite.
When the leaves are soaked in wine for two weeks, small glasses may be taken
as a digestive aid. Oil of rosemary is excellent in hair conditioners, and
the flowers of this herb may be added to lotion recipes to improve the
complection. Add to all purification bath sachets, love incenses, and
protection incenses. Make a simple of rosemary and use it to cleanse the
hands before working magic, if you have no time for a regular ritual bath.
Burn rosemary and juniper as a healing and recuperation incense.


"There's rosemary, that's for remembrance."
-- Shakespeare's Hamlet to Ophelia

Description

Rosemary is an attractive evergreen shrub with pine needle-like
leaves. It's trusses of blue flowers last through spring and summer
in a warm, humid environment. It will grow to a height of between 3
and 5 feet.

Cultivation

Propagate from cuttings of the twisted wood of non-flowering branches
in early summer, or layer established branches. Rosemary can also be
grown from seed. Choose a sheltered position and well-drained soil,
and allow the plant lots of sun. The thick shrub tolerates clipping
so that the size can be kept in check. In hot weather it will
appreciate a good hosing down. In a warm climate it can remain in the
same location for up to 30 years, but in climates where freezing
temperatures are expected it is best grown in pots so that it can be
brought indoors in winter.

Rosemary for Remembrance

Scientists at the University of Cincinnati say that the scent of
rosemary is an effective memory stimulant. This might make a nice
potted plant for your desk at work, or where the kids do their
homework!

Harvesting

The leaves can be harvested any time. Harvest no more than you can
use fresh, as they loose most of their flavor when dried.

Rosemary Remembrance Wreaths

Form heavy gage wire into the shape of a heart by twisting it into a
circle about 8 inches in diameter, then pinching at the base and the
top to form a heart. Bind slender sprays of rosemary to the heart-
shaped frame with florists' wire. Decorate the rosemary heart with
dried flowers and herbs, as shown. Rosebuds, also a symbol or
remembrance, add a nice touch.



Medicinal Uses

Cancer Prevention Properties
Several studies done in the last several years show that oil from the
leaves of the very plant sold as a spice for flavoring can help
prevent the development of cancerous tumors in laboratory animals.
One study, led by Chi-Tang Ho, Ph.D., professor in the Department of
Food Science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey,
showed that applying rosemary oil to the skin of experimental animals
reduced their risk of cancer to half that found in animals that did
not receive the application of oil. In other studies by the same
research team, animals whose diets contained some rosemary oil had
about half the incidence of colon cancer or lung cancer compared with
animals not eating rosemary. And researchers at the University of
Illinois in Urbana found that rosemary cut by half the incidence of
breast cancer in animals at high risk for developing the disease.
Future studies will demonstrate whether these properties extend to
humans as well.

Though these experiments have used rosemary oil to test the
effectiveness in preventing cancer, the oil should not be taken
internally. Even small doses can cause stomach, kidney and intestinal
problems, and large amounts may be poisonous. Use a tea instead.
Pregnant women should not use the herb medicinally, although it's
okay to use it as a seasoning.

Other Medicinal Properties
Rosemary helps to relax muscles, including the smooth muscles of the
digestive tract and uterus. Because of this property it can be used
to soothe digestive upsets and relieve menstrual cramps. When used in
large amounts it can have the opposite effect, causing irritation of
the intestines and cramps. A tea made form the leaves is also taken
as a tonic for calming nerves and used as an antiseptic.

Rosemary makes a pleasant-tasting tea. Use one teaspoon of crushed
dried leaves in a cup of boiling water and steep for ten minutes.

Cosmetic Uses

Use an infusion as a rinse to lighten blond hair, and to condition
and tone all hair. Try mixing an infusion half and half with shampoo
to strengthen hair.

An infusion can also be used as an invigorating toner and astringent.
Rosemary added to a bath strengthens and refreshes, especially when
used following an illness.

Culinary Uses

Rosemary and lamb go well together. Make slits in lamb for roasting
and tuck in sprigs of the herb. Place larger sprigs over chops for
grilling and use chopped leaves sparingly in soups and stews. Use
rosemary in bouques garnis and sparingly with fish and in rice
dishes.

Recipe:
Italian Potatoes with Onion and Rosemary

Other Uses

Use the dried leaves as potpourri and in sachets to scent clothes and
linen and deter moths.

Rosmary is grown as a companion plant for cabbage, beans carrots and
sage. It helps to deter cabbage moths, bean beetles and carrot flies.
ROSEMARY

Masculine, Sun, Fire.

Magical attributes: Improve memory, sleep, purification, youth, love, power,
healing, protection, intellectual.

Uses: Promotes healing of wounds, acts as an antiseptic, and can be a mild
stimulant. Good in teas for treating flu, stress, and headaches or body
aches. Mental and physical booster. Used for treating (oil form) muscular
sprains, arthritis, rheumatism, depression, fatigue, memory loss, migraine
headaches, coughs, flu and diabetes. Excellent remedy for acne or cellulite.
When the leaves are soaked in wine for two weeks, small glasses may be taken
as a digestive aid. Oil of rosemary is excellent in hair conditioners, and
the flowers of this herb may be added to lotion recipes to improve the
complection. Add to all purification bath sachets, love incenses, and
protection incenses. Make a simple of rosemary and use it to cleanse the
hands before working magic, if you have no time for a regular ritual bath.
Burn rosemary and juniper as a healing and recuperation incense.

Please use caution when using herbs



*************************************
Rosemary Pin Cushion


Victorian needlewomen kept their needles in a little cushion stuffed
with dried rosemary leaves. The needle-sharp leaves kept the sewing
needles sharpened and free from rust.

Materials
2 diamonds of fabric 5x4 inches
2 handfuls well-dried rosemary leaves
braid and tassel to trim

With right sides facing, stitch the fabric on 3 sides, leaving a seam
allowance of 1/2 inch. Stitch in from the corners of the fourth side,
leaving a space of at least 2 inches in the center,

Turn the fabric right side out, press it, then fill with dried
rosemary until the sachet is plump and firm. Shake the cushion
frequently while filling it, so the rosemary packs down. Hand-stitch
the gap in the seam to close it.

Using a glue gun, or stitching by hand, fix the braid in place to
cover the seams, and stitch the tassels in place.

>From "The Herb Basket--Rosemary, Rue and Rose" by Hazel Evans

Rosmarinus officinalis
Parts Used: Leaves, Twigs & Flowering Tops

Rosemary is a very fragrant perennial evergreen shrub that has needle-like leaves.  It is easily shaped and is often used as hedges, or pruned into decorative animal shapes for ornamental gardening. During the holidays you can find table top trees decorated that are actually the Rosemary plant.

This shrub is a must for any garden, not just herb gardens. It is said that Rosemary is a companion plant for other herb and vegetable plants. It is also one of the most widely used culinary herbs, with healing properties that are just as vast and widely used throughout the world.

This pungent plant is a member of the Mint family.  It has the same kind of uplifting qualities found in Peppermint and in aromatherapy they are often used as a substitute for one another.

Most of Rosemary's current uses have been handed down from ancient times and include drinking Rosemary tea to treat indigestion, gas, bloating and other digestive and stomach ailments.  It also helps depression, headaches and cold and flu symptoms, especially affecting the upper respiratory system.  Drink to relieve bronchitis, asthma and whooping cough as well.

A Rosemary bath helps overworked muscles and muscle spasms, arthritic joints, rheumatism, sciatica and neuralgia. The camphor in Rosemary is what helps poor circulation and its antibacterial action helps heal wounds.  It is especially beneficial to inhale the bath vapors when sick.  Rosemary blends well with many other herbs to make it easy to prepare a healing bath that is perfect for you no matter what your needs may be.

Rosemary essential oil is easy to use and a little goes a long way.  Add to a diffuser when studying to help memory retention, mental fatigue, and treating nervous exhaustion.  Add to your shampoo to stimulate the scalp and help prevent premature baldness.  Sinusitis sufferers can benefit from inhaling directly from the bottle. It helps soothe the nose membranes while clearing the sinus passages.

Rosemary has high concentrations of antioxidants and substantial amounts of minerals including calcium, magnesium, potassium and more.  Considering all the healing benefits of this culinary herb, one should use it all the time and with every member of the family.

Medicinal Properties include: Analgesic, Anti-bacterial, Anti-depressant, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, cephalic, cholagogue, choleretic, cicatrizant, cordial, cytophylactic, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, fungicidal, hepatic, hypertensive, nervine, parasiticide, restorative, rubefacient, stimulant (circulatory, adrenal cortex, hepatobiliary), stomachic, sudorific, tonic (nervous, general), vulnerary.


Blends well with: Basil, Cedarwood, Citronella, Frankincense, Lavender, Peppermint, Pine, Sage, Sweet Orange and Thyme.
***
Magickal Bleach
Steep a good spoonful of rosemary in hot water until it forms a dark tea.
In a non-metal bowl or basin, mix a couple of quarts of cold water with about
1/4 cup salt; add the rosemary tea and some more rosemary. Use to wash or
soak items. Purifies, grounds and protects.
If you want to get fancy, you can also pass the object over a flame and/or
sage smoke and recite Be thou purified by water, earth, fire and air.
Rosemary is associated with memory and with knowledge and keenness of
perception-- use in a 'remember me' spell, with pansies, or apply the oil
before an exam. The tea and the oil can be used as astringents, as well.
Rosemary can be grown indoors, and in fact is not hardy outdoors.

***

Some Rosemary Recipes for Beauty

Rosemary Hair Care 

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a traditional herb for hair care. It is 

used as a natural hair conditioner, especially for dark hair, and as old 

fashioned remedy for dandruff. You can quickly make many hair care products 

at home that have the wonderful aromatherapy benefits of Rosemary, the fresh 

woody evergreen smell and the beneficial healing properties of Rosemary using 

the Essential Oil. 

In a Hurry Rosemary Rinse 

One of the simplest ways to use Rosemary is to mix 10 drops of essential oil 

with 1 ounce of water. After shampooing pour the solution over your hair and 

work with your fingers to blend evenly. Do not rinse. This solution helps to 

condition your hair and makes it easier to comb through tangles. It will also 

help to control dandruff and itching. 

Rosemary Herbal Soothing Rinse

The last dog days of summer may exact their toll on hair and skin. Both can be soothed and revitalized 

by a simple infusion of rosemary in spring water. To do this, make a strong rosemary tea by steeping 

the herb in boiled spring water. Store the tea in a sterile covered jar, and keep chilled. Use as a wonderfully 

fragrant hair rinse to stimulate the scalp and revitalize your sun-damaged tresses. 

Take a rosemary-infused bath to calm itchy sun-exposed skin. Splash and smooth the chilled tea on skin before an evening outdoors; 

rosemary also acts as a natural insect repellent. Applied to stings and bites, rosemary helps quell the itching 

and inflammation. No wonder rosemary is cherished as an herb of powerful protective energies. 

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Soothing Scalp Treatment 

15-30 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

2 ounces Aloe Juice

1 tsp. Vinegar 

Mix ingredients well together. Evenly disperse the solution through your 

hair. Wrap your hair in a protective shower cap and allow the to remain on 

your hair for 30-60 minutes before shampooing. 

Rosemary Shampoo 

8 ounces Unscented Shampoo Base

1 tsp. (120 drops) Rosemary Essential Oil. 

Blend the Rosemary Essential oil until thoroughly mixed. Use as you would 

normal shampoo. 

Rosemary Shampoo

This gentle shampoo has the added benefit of Rosemary, long known for its hair conditioning and strengthening properties. Also stimulates hair growth!

1 Bunch Fresh Rosemary

 1/2 Pint Distilled Water

 4 1/2 Fl. Oz. Unscented Baby Shampoo

 4 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil

Boil the fresh rosemary in the distilled water for 1/2hour, reducing the amount of liquid by half. Allow to cool.Strain the rosemary and water into a large screw-top jar and add the unscented shampoo and essential oil.Shake well to mix. Decant into decorative bottles.

Rosemary Hot Oil Treatment 

1 ounce Vegetable Oil (Olive, Sunflower, Jojoba etc.)

15-40 drops Rosemary Essential Oil 

Warm the oil to 98- 105 degrees. Add the essential oils and blend well. 

Evenly disperse the oil through your hair. Wrap your hair in a protective 

shower cap and allow the oil to condition your hair for 1 hour before 

shampooing. You will not need to condition your hair after this treatment. 

Aromatherapy Properties: Rosemary Essential Oil is clarifying, warming, 

invigorating, improves memory, confidence and perception. 

Medicinal Properties: Antiseptic, anti-microbial, antispasmodic, astringent, 

diuretic, fungicidal. Rosemary as a liniment eases muscles pains. Diluted oil 

applied to temples or rubbed onto the hair can help to relieve headaches. 

Production Method: Steam distillation from flowers and leaves. 

Safety Warning: Do not use if pregnant, if suffering from high blood 

pressure, or suffering from epilepsy. It may cause irritation of the skin. 

If you would like more recipes for products you can make at home visit our 

recipe center. http://www.wildroots.com/recipe/index.html 

Rosemary Mist

      

Brace yourself This sense-stimulating mist is a superb post-shower, after

you've toweled off but skin is still a bit damp. In spray bottle place 5

ounces distilled water, 1 tsp olive oil, 6 drops rosemary essential oil and

1 sprig fresh rosemary. Shake well to mix -- spritz on as desired 

Soothing Rosemary Lotion

1 ounce rosemary leaves

1 cup rain water

1 cup vinegar

In a stainless steal or enamel pan, simmer leaves and rain water. Simmer 

for 10 minutes over medium heat. Remove from heat, add vinegar and strain.

Let cool and pour into a glass jar with a lid. Keep in a cool dark place.

Apply to sore areas with a cotton ball. Rub small amounts on skin as a 

lotion.

Overall skin softener. Also soothes swellings, stiffness from exercise 

and sports, and sore spots.

Rosemary Infusion

by Sandy at All Herbal Recipes

Put 1 1/2 handfuls of fresh rosemary or 1 ounce of dried rosemary into a

heatproof container (NOT aluminum or copper) with a tight-fitting lid. Bring

2 1/2 cups distilled water to a boil. Pour over the rosemary and immediately

cover with a lid to prevent the loss of any volatile elements through

evaporation. Steep for at least 1 hour. Strain and store in refrigerator for

up to 3 days. Makes 2 1/2 cups.

Infused Oil of Rosemary

Chop 3-4 ounces of fresh rosemary or 2-3 ounces dried rosemary. Put half

into the top of a double boiler. Cover with 1/2 pint pure vegetable oil.

Place water in bottom pan of double boiler and bring to a boil. Place top

pan on bottom; cover and bring oil/rosemary mixture to a simmer. Simmer

gently for 2 hours. Strain and throw away used herbs. Put remaining half of

rosemary into top of double boiler and add the oil back to the pan. Place

pan back over boiling water; cover and simmer gently for another 2 hours.

Strain once more. Pour into clean bottle, label and date