Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ) is a shrub with very fine and evergreen leaves, in the shape of points, with a camphor scent (1).
It is often used in cooking as an aromatic herb.
But did you know that rosemary is also one of the most widely used medicinal plants in the world (2)?
Rosemary essential oil, which can be found in the form of small vials, is an extract of the volatile components of the plant, that is, its plant essence.
Despite its name, this herbal essence isn't really an oil because it's fat-free (1, 3).
In traditional medicine, rosemary oil is renowned for its incredible therapeutic virtues.
Thus, many researchers today are conducting studies on the health benefits of rosemary essential oil (4).
Most of the research is just beginning, but it has already scientifically proven some traditional uses for rosemary oil, and studies point to promising new applications.
So, without further ado, here are the 12 benefits and uses of rosemary essential oil . Watch:
The ancient Greeks and Romans used rosemary to enhance memory (5).
Modern scientific studies indicate that inhaled essential oil (EO) of rosemary helps prevent the destruction of acetylcholine (6, 7).
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in several cognitive functions, including memory and concentration.
In one of these studies, 20 young adults had to solve math problems in a room where rosemary essential oil was diffused.
Researchers have found that the longer the duration of rosemary EO diffusion increases, the more precisely and quickly young adults solve their problems.
The researchers also found an increase in some of the rosemary compounds in the participants' blood, proving that when rosemary EO is diffused, it is absorbed by the body (6).
In a similar study, nursing students took a written exam while diffusing essential oils.
Researchers found better concentration levels and better memory abilities in students who inhaled rosemary EO, compared to lavender EO or no essential oil. (8)
Other studies indicate that inhalations of essential oils like rosemary help improve brain function in older adults with dementia and Alzheimer's disease (9).
These early results are promising, but more research is needed.
Rosemary EO inhalations help increase concentration and strengthen memory. They also help fight memory loss as you age.
To discover: According to a Study:Smelling Rosemary Increases Memory by 75%.
Androgenetic alopecia is a progressive and permanent loss of hair, better known as male pattern baldness, although this condition also affects women (10).
However, studies prove that rosemary EO helps fight androgenetic alopecia.
It prevents a derivative of testosterone from inactivating the hair follicles – the main cause of this condition (11).
In one study, men with androgenetic alopecia massaged their scalps with diluted rosemary EO twice a day for 6 months.
Following this treatment, researchers found the same increase in hair thickness as in men who used minoxidil, a powerful medication commonly prescribed for hair regrowth.
In addition, those who use rosemary EO report having less scalp itching than those who use minoxidil.
For the researchers, this indicates that rosemary would be better tolerated by the body (12).
Another study indicates that rosemary EO is an effective treatment for alopecia areata, or alopecia areata.
This localized plaque attack affects up to 50% of the population under the age of 21, and about 20% of people over the age of 40 (13).
During the study, people with alopecia areata rubbed a mixture of rosemary EO on their scalp every day for 7 months.
Researchers found a decrease in hair loss in 44% of participants, compared to just 15% in the control group who used a blend of neutral oils (14).
According to the studies above, rosemary EO helps combat certain hair loss conditions, including male pattern baldness and alopecia areata.
In traditional medicine, rosemary is recognized for its pain-relieving properties (15).
In one study, researchers administered acupressure therapy to stroke victims who suffered from shoulder pain.
After 2 weeks of sessions with rosemary essential oil (20 minutes and twice a day), the researchers observed a 30% reduction in pain.
Those who received only acupressure sessions (without rosemary HE) saw their pain decrease by only 15% (16).
What's more, one animal study found that rosemary essential oil is slightly more effective against pain than paracetamol, one of the world's most widely used over-the-counter painkillers (15).
In traditional medicine, rosemary EO is recognized for its pain-relieving properties. Preliminary studies confirm that it is indeed an effective treatment for pain relief. Studies also indicate that rosemary EO is even more effective than paracetamol.
To avoid the bites of harmful insects or prevent them from attacking your garden, know that rosemary essential oil is a 100% natural alternative to commercial chemical pesticides.
In one study, researchers sprayed rosemary EO pesticide (EcoTrol) on greenhouse tomato plants.
They found that EcoTrol reduced infestations of weaver spider mites, a major crop pest, by 52% without harming tomato plants (17).
Rosemary is also an effective remedy for repelling certain species of sucking insects, which feed on blood and can spread harmful viruses and bacteria.
A study of 12 essential oils showed that rosemary has the longest repellent effect against Aedes aegypti , a species of tiger mosquito that transmits dengue fever and the Zika virus.
Indeed, a 12.5% dilution of rosemary EO can repel 100% of these mosquitoes over a period of 90 minutes (18, 19).
In a similar study, researchers found that 10% rosemary EO sprays are as effective as bifenthrin.
This chemical pesticide is commonly used in the Northeastern United States to prevent the spread of ticks, which transmit Lyme disease (20).
Used in natural pesticides, rosemary EO is effective in eliminating certain insect pests. In addition, rosemary EO helps repel certain blood-feeding insects, including Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. and ticks.
To discover: Ticks:the Best Way to Get Rid of Them WITHOUT Risk.
Many factors can cause stress, including school exams.
However, a scientific study has proven that rosemary EO inhalations help reduce anxiety related to school exams.
When nursing students breathed in rosemary EO using an inhaler before and during an exam, their pulse rate dropped by 9%.
Researchers did not find a change in pulse rate in students who did not receive rosemary EO inhalation (8).
A higher pulse is a symptom of acute stress and anxiety. Thus, researchers believe that rosemary EO may naturally reduce stress (21).
In another study, 22 young adults inhaled rosemary essential oil for 5 min. Following these inhalations, the researchers analyzed the participants' saliva.
They found a 23% decrease in cortisol, the stress hormone, in those who smelled rosemary EO, compared to a control group (22).
However, increased levels of cortisol in the body can weaken the immune system, contribute to insomnia and cause mood swings (23).
Studies prove that simply inhaling rosemary EO helps reduce stress levels during a situation like an exam. Rosemary EO can also lower levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone that can have adverse effects on the body.
Poor blood circulation in the hands and feet is a recurring problem.
Do you often have cold fingers or toes, even when the temperature is relatively temperate?
So know that rosemary essential oil may be the solution to your little colds problems.
In a study on Raynaud's disease, a woman suffering from this circulation disorder received hand massages with a mixture of rosemary EO.
The woman said that massages with rosemary essential oil were more effective in warming the fingers than massages with a neutral oil.
These benefits have been confirmed by thermal imaging of the woman's hands (24).
In people with Raynaud's disease, blood vessels in the fingers and toes constrict when exposed to cold or stress.
As a result, the circulation is slowed down, which explains the color changes and the cooling sensation.
Rosemary EO helps dilate small blood vessels, which helps warm blood so it can flow more easily to the fingers and toes (25).
Although more research is needed to confirm these benefits, rosemary EO appears to be an effective and inexpensive remedy.
If you have cold fingers or toes, massaging with rosemary EO can help warm them up. Studies indicate that rosemary EO may also help with Raynaud's disease.
In traditional medicine, rosemary essential oil is a well-known remedy for combating fatigue and nervous tension (26).
In one study, researchers asked 20 healthy young adults to inhale rosemary EO and compare its effects to a placebo oil.
Researchers have found that those who inhale rosemary EO report about a 30% reduction in mental tension and about a 25% reduction in fatigue levels (1).
This increase in mental alertness has been measured by changes in brain waves and an increase in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure (1).
Diluted and applied to the skin, rosemary EO quickly penetrates the skin to reach the brain.
Thus, it has similar invigorating properties topically (26).
In a study in 35 healthy people, researchers evaluated the effects of applying rosemary essential oil to the skin, compared to a placebo oil.
After just 20 min, those who received rosemary EO noted a marked increase in levels of focus, mental alertness, energy, and well-being (26).
Small studies indicate that rosemary EO helps fight fatigue and improves mental alertness, energy levels and mood.
According to studies, rosemary EO helps reduce tissue inflammation linked to joint swelling, pain and stiffness (4, 27).
Researchers believe that rosemary EO works by inhibiting white blood cells, which migrate to injured tissue to release inflammatory substances there (28).
In one study, people with rheumatoid arthritis received knee massages with a mixture of rosemary EO, 15 min and 3 times a week.
In just 2 weeks, inflammatory pain in the knees decreased by 50%, compared to 12% in those who received massages without rosemary EO (29).
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks the tissues of the knees, fingers and other joints, deforming the joints and causing inflammation.
More research is needed to assess the anti-inflammatory impact of rosemary.
Studies show that dermal applications of diluted rosemary EO help reduce inflammation caused by injury or rheumatoid arthritis.
Animal studies indicate that rosemary EO helps stimulate bile production, which plays an important role in fat digestion.
Researchers believe that rosemary EO also helps boost antioxidants that protect the liver (33, 34, 35).
Rosemary EO helps inhibit the growth of some of the bacteria that cause food poisoning.
On the other hand, this use requires the ingestion of a food-grade oil, and in very small, extremely precise quantities.
So don't try it at home or without consulting a doctor (36, 37, 38).
According to studies, essential oils like rosemary can increase the effectiveness of certain antibiotics.
Researchers believe this would allow lower doses of these medications to be given, reducing their adverse effects (3, 39, 40).
Essential oils such as rosemary can weaken the cell walls of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
What's more, studies indicate that essential oils also help antibiotics better penetrate bacteria (3, 41, 42).
Rosemary essential oil can be used inhaled or topically (in cutaneous application).
Particularly concentrated, only a few drops should be used at a time.
Rosemary essential oil is sold in small bottles equipped with droppers.
This makes it easy and precise to pour the essential oil drop by drop.
Traditional medicine and some manufacturers claim that essential oils are safe to swallow or consume.
However, there is no scientific evidence to prove the benefits of internal use of essential oils, especially over the long term.
Essential oils should not be consumed orally without first consulting a physician.
Here are some tips for easily using rosemary essential oil for inhalation or topically :
Inhaled :the easiest way to inhale rosemary essential oil is to simply open a bottle, hold it close to your nose and breathe in.
You can also pour a few drops of EO on a piece of cloth or tissue, and hold it close to your face.
To spread essential oils into the air, many people use an essential oil diffuser, like this one
Be aware that with a diffuser, it is difficult to determine the exact amount of essential oil you are inhaling.
Thus, in general, the use of an essential oil diffuser is not recommended near babies and young children.
Dermal application :as is the case with all essential oils, using rosemary EO by skin application allows rapid passage into the blood.
If you use an essential oil topically (on the skin), it is advisable to dilute it with a neutral vegetable oil base, such as jojoba oil.
Diluting not only helps prevent possible skin irritation, but also your essential oil from evaporating too quickly (43).
Here's how to dilute your essential oils for skin application for adults :
- Recommended dilution:2 to 4%
- How to do it:dilute 3 to 6 drops of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil.
Once diluted, apply rosemary essential oil to the soles of the feet or to the affected area.
Then, rub on the skin to improve blood circulation and essential oil absorption (29).
As with all essential oils, avoid applying rosemary essential oil to sensitive areas, such as skin lesions, around the eyes or in the eyes.
In general, the use of rosemary essential oil is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, babies and adolescents.
Similarly, rosemary essential oil is not recommended for people with epilepsy and high blood pressure, as it may aggravate these conditions (44, 45, 46).
Modern scientific studies confirm the many virtues of rosemary essential oil, whose benefits have been recognized for centuries by traditional medicine.
Most of the research is preliminary, but studies indicate that rosemary EO does indeed have incredible health benefits.
It helps to improve cognitive functions, boost concentration and mental alertness, combat hair loss, relieve pain and arthritis, repel certain species of insects and reduce stress.
Plus, enjoying the benefits of rosemary essential oil is simple.
You can use it undiluted for inhalation or diluted for dermal application. Only a few drops are enough, as it is a very concentrated oil.
