by Jennifer Lim

Created on: March 26, 2009

Rosemary, (Rosmarinus officinali) is a popular Mediterranean plant that is commonly used as for culinary, medicinal and perfumery purposes. The leaves are usually dried or infuse into oil and essence.

The leaves are needle like and the pale blue or pink flowers blossom every summer. Every part of the plant has an aromatic fragrant and it stimulate your senses when you brush past a rosemary shrub. Established rosemary usually survives winter conditions though not in very harsh winter places.

Rosemary is also a versatile plant, the uses of rosemary for health and general well being top the lists for essential oils. The following are some of the benefits and uses of rosemary essential oils.

- The essential oil of Rosemary is a good stimulant for the brain, it helps improve memory and aid mental clarity. It is a natural remedy for relieving migraine, headaches and mental fatigue. Inhaling rosemary oil will lifts your spirits, remove boredom and refresh your mental energy immediately.

- The diuretic properties of rosemary oil are useful with reducing water retention relating to disorder in menstrual cycles , obesity and cellulite condition.

- Rosemary oil is also widely used for its antiseptic properties and it is effective as a mouthwash for removing bad breath.

- Muscle pains, arthritis and rheumatism pains can be relieve by massaging with blended oils that contain rosemary. A few drops of rosemary oil in a bath are found to be effective for rheumatism.

- Rosemary oil should not be used during pregnancy and is unsuitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure

- When added to cream a cream or lotion, rosemary oil improve blood circulation and decongestion the skin. Regular massage with the oil helps will help tone your skin and remove dryness.

- The benefits of rosemary oil extend to giving relief to throat congestion, cold and flu; it is antispasmodic and has been used to treat bronchial - asthma.

- You will properly find rosemary oil in many natural hair care products like shampoos and lotions. Rosemary oil helps to stimulate hair follicles which in turn encourage hair growth. The oil is also believed to slow down premature hair loss and graying of hair.

- Instead of using commercially manufacture perfume, why not used rosemary oil as a room freshener, as bath oil and to remove bad odour from room. The scent of rosemary is refreshing and mesmerizing, it is an excellent inhalant.

Rosemary essential oils are usually blended with other types of essential oil and it blends especially well with cedar wood, lemongrass, peppermint, lavender and geranium.

Rosemary oil must not be consumed orally as it could cause vomiting and spasms. It is also unsuitable for people with epilepsy and high blood pressure and should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

You can buy rosemary oil from health shops or you can grow them in your garden or in a pot. There are books that will teach you how to infuse and extract the oil from the plant.

In conclusion, if you are not sure of which essential oil to buy, start with rosemary essential oil, you won't regret it.

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