Rosemary

Rosemary is a member of the Lamiaceae mint family, along with many other herbs, such as thyme, basil, and lavender. Rose Mary is a perennial plant that lives more than two years, and contains leaves in the form of needles and pink, white, blue, or purple flowers.

Benefits of Rosemary

• Rosemary is often used in the kitchen to flavor food, in addition to flavoring, as it is a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6.
• Laboratory studies have shown that rosemary is rich in antioxidants that play an important role in neutralizing harmful molecules called free molecules.
• Rosemary is traditionally used to help relieve muscle pain, improve focus and memory, enhance the immune and circulatory system, and promote hair growth.
• Likewise, the potential health benefits of rosemary improve digestion and brain aging.
• Because rosemary contains carnosic acid, it can resist damage that can be caused by free radicals in the brain.
• In a study published in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, they found that rosemary may be useful as an anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent.
• There are many reports that evaluate the effect of rosemary on cancer, where they found that the raw rosemary extract is slower than the spread of leukemia and breast cancer cells, as the anti-cancer enzyme stimulates, as well as polyphenol components that inhibit the metabolic activation of Procarcin compounds.
• Also, it was published in the Journal of Food Science that adding rosemary extract to ground beef reduces the formation of carcinogens that can develop during cooking.
• Stuart Lipton and colleagues at the Sanford-Burnham Institute for Medical Research revealed that the carnosic acid found in the rosemary plant could greatly enhance eye health.
• The Chinese used rosemary for headaches, indigestion, insomnia and malaria. Europeans also used it in traditional medicine to strengthen the heart and blood vessels.
• This herb also has a stimulating effect on blood circulation and the nervous system, and therefore it can help in lowering high blood pressure, and it is especially effective in young people who suffer from paleness and asthenia. It can also be used for asthenia and post-infection in the elderly.
• A study published in 2011 in plant therapy research found that rosemary has an anti-inflammatory and protective effect on the lining of blood vessels in young adults.
• A study applied by EEG on volunteers who inhaled rosemary oil for three minutes observed a significant change in alpha and beta wave brain activity indicating increased constriction, and they showed that they are faster (but not more accurate) in solving math problems compared to basic results ( Diego MA et al: Int J Neurosci 96 (3-4): 217-224, 1998).
• Rosemary leaf powder can also be used as an effective flea and tick repellent.
• Rosemary may relieve headaches, reduce stress and help treat asthma and bronchitis.
• Rosemary is also used in aromatherapy to treat chronic pain.