A wonderful substitution for many herbs.
*Rosemary* Planet: Sun Element: Fire Main magickal uses: cleansing, confidence, consecration, courage, exorcism, good luck, grieving, happiness, healing, knowledge, love, memory, passion, peace of mind, prevents theft, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, release, ritual, rituals for the dead, water rites/sea rituals, weddings Other magickal uses: blessings, dreams, endings, energy, elves, fidelity, honesty, inspiration, invokation, longevity, meditation, new moon, prevents nightmares, sleep, strength, transformation, wisdom, Yule Lore: Rosemary is associated in Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" with remembrance, so its link to memory is old. Even older are its associations with general magic and healing, with feminine power--folklore had it that a healthy rosemary plant grew where a woman was head of the family--and with goddesses, especially of the sea. Catholic healers associated it with Mary. Aoumiel calls it attractive to elves. Its reputation is that of an all-purpose herb that will help with practically anything.
Parts used
The leaves and flowers as well as the essential oil are used.
Properties
Rosemary is a tonic, astringent, restorative herb that relaxes spasm and increases the rate of perspiration, while stimulating the liver and gall bladder. It improves digestion and circulation and controls pathogenic organisms.
It has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, spasmolytic, antioxidant, smooth muscle modulating, analgesic, venotonic, as well as anti-inflammatory properties.
It contains phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid), bitter diterpenes (carnosol, rosmanol) triterpenes (oleanic and ursolic acid), triterpene alcohols and flavonoids. The essential oil contained in the plant contains 1,8-cineole, a-pinene, camphor, b-pinene, borneol, iso-bornyl acetate, limonene, linalool, 3-octanone, terpineol and verbinol.
Therapeutic uses hair care
* Internal use
o It is used with great success for dyspeptic complaints, flatulence and to stimulate appetite and the secretion of gastric juices.
o It is also used as supportive therapy for rheumatism and circulatory problems.
o In herbal preparations it can be included to ensure proper circulation to the penis.
o Furthermore it is used for headaches, as well as for nervous complaints.
o Rosemary is used widely in Mediterranean cooking and the fresh or dried leaves are used to flavor meat (especially lamb and kid), sausages, stuffing, soups, stews and to make tea. The flowers can also be added to salads.
* External use
o Externally, rosemary helps to increase circulation and is very often used in hair care products and lotions as it stimulates the hair follicles to renewed activity and prevent premature baldness.
o It has two important properties – it is an outstanding free radical scavenger and therefore has amazing antioxidant properties, and secondly has an remarkable stimulating effect on the skin.
o Apart from this, it has good antiseptic properties and is traditionally used for hair and scalp stimulation, as well as anti-aging products.
o It has rubefacient properties and therefore is most useful when an increase of blood flow is required or when below-par circulation needs to be rectified.
o Rosemary is an effective treatment against scurf and dandruff.
o It can also be used in mouth rinses and gargles; and is applied topically to stimulate circulation.
o It has analgesic as well as antibacterial, antifungal and anti-parasitic properties.
* Aromatherapy and essential oil use
o This essential oil helps to clear the mind, sharpen the memory and boost the central nervous system. In the body it helps to clear respiratory congestion, including sinuses and relieving catarrh and asthma.
o Its analgesic properties are useful for treating rheumatism, arthritis and sore stiff muscles.
o Furthermore, it stimulates the liver and gall bladder and helps to lower high blood sugar.
o On the skin, it has a tightening effect and reduces bloating and puffiness. In hair care, it stimulates hair growth and fights scalp problems.
o It has analgesic, antidepressant, astringent, carminative, cephalic, cholagogue, cordial, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, hepatic, hypertensive, nervine, rubefacient, stimulant, sudorific and tonic properties.
Rosemary
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