Benefits and Uses of Rosemary
May Improve Brain Function
In ancient Greece and Rome, rosemary was thought to strengthen memory. Inhaling rosemary oil helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical important for thinking, concentration and memory .Breathing rosemary and other essential oils may improve brain function in older adults with dementia, including those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Stimulates Hair Growth
One of the most common types of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness, though it can also affect females. Rosemary oil treats androgenetic alopecia by preventing a byproduct of testosterone from attacking your hair follicles, which is the cause of this condition. When men with androgenetic alopecia massage diluted rosemary oil into their scalp twice daily for six months, they experienced the same increase in hair thickness as those who used minoxidil, a common hair regrowth remedy. Additionally, those who used the rosemary oil reported less scalp itching compared to minoxidil, which suggests that rosemary may be more tolerable.
May Help Relieve Pain
In folk medicine, rosemary is utilized as a mild pain reliever.It is said that rosemary oil might be slightly more effective for pain than acetaminophen, a common over-the-counter pain medication.
Repels Certain Bugs
For deterring harmful insects that may bite you or infest your garden, consider rosemary oil as a natural alternative to chemical products.
May Eases Stress
Many factors can cause stress — including school tests. Inhaling rosemary oil may help reduce test anxiety.
Because increased pulse rates reflect short-term stress and anxiety, rosemary oil may naturally reduce stress. Simply smelling rosemary oil may ease your stress levels in situations like exam taking. Rosemary may reduce levels of cortisol, a hormone that can have harmful effects on your body.
May Increase Circulation
Poor circulation is a common complaint. You may notice it most in your hands and feet.
If you experience cold fingers and toes — even in relatively warm temperatures — rosemary oil is worth considering. If you have Raynaud’s disease, blood vessels in your fingers and toes constrict when you’re cold or stressed, causing them to lose their color and turn cold. Rosemary oil may help by expanding your blood vessels, thereby warming your blood so that it reaches your fingers and toes more easily.
May Help Perk You Up
Rosemary oil is commonly used for mental strain and fatigue in folk medicine. The increase in alertness with breathing rosemary, correspondes to changes in brain waves and increases in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.
May Reduce Joint Inflammation
Preliminary evidence suggests that rosemary oil may help reduce tissue inflammation that can lead to swelling, pain and stiffness. It may do so by stemming the migration of white blood cells to injured tissues to release inflammatory chemicals.