Rosemary
The Radiant Plant
By Cynthia Johnston - Herbalist & Owner of MoonMaid Botanicals
Rosemarinus officinalis……a
gorgeous evergreen like herb is popular with estheticians as well as
with chefs, herbalists, and gardeners.
This beautiful and aromatic plant blooms pink and blue in early
spring. I first came to know Rosemary as a student in Santa Barbara
at the community college. Rosemary was used prolifically in the
landscape design. As I made my way around campus I was refreshed
each time I passed these large shrubby fragrant plants. Rosemary
can reach a span of 5 feet in width and 4 – 5 feet high. Cut
Rosemary will fill a room with its pine like scent.
Most of us know
Rosemary as a seasoning in bread or pasta sauce. Other ways to use
Rosemary are as a tonic for the skin, in a shampoo for hair or as a
gum strengthener in toothpaste. As Rosemary is extremely astringent
it is an excellent choice for oily hair with the added benefit of
stimulating hair growth. You can find this essential oil in many
natural shampoo products or add the essential oil to any shampoo
base. Rosemary is common in natural toothpastes as the astringent
nature of this plant help to strengthen and tighten weak gums and
teeth.
A wonderful
formula for the skin is as a toner called Queen of Hungary’s Water.
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Place 1
part each of dried Rosemary, roses, sage, chamomile, and
lavender into a jar quart mason jar. Use a good handful of
each herb.
-
Cover the
herbs with vinegar. Allow to sit in a warm place for a
month. Strain the vinegar from the herbs.
-
Add 2/3 to
1 cup of rosewater or rosemary hydrosol to each cup of your
herbal vinegar.
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Apply to
the face after washing and removing makeup. This gentle
toner will give your skin a radiant glow.
Herbalists use
Rosemary as a tonic to the nervous system and as a stimulant to the
brain. Blended in a tea or tincture with ginko and gotu kola it can
be a memory aid. It can be useful for relieving respiratory
congestion and assist in maintaining liver function. The scent of
Rosemary essential oil is invigorating and an excellent choice for
sluggishness, fatigue and stress in general. Rosemary makes a
wonderful “smoke free” incense by simply adding 10 drops of rosemary
essential oil to a tablespoon of olive oil. Place a bit of this oil
near the wick of burning candle or some other type of aromatherapy
tool. The scent will strengthen your brain, gladden your heart and
inspire creativity. As noted by Shakespeare, Rosemary was the herb
of choice for lovers who used it to inspire “remembrance.”
The flower essence
brings clarity to a person’s state of mind. A unique way of using
herbs, flower essences work on one’s emotional state. The vibrant
nature of the Rosemary plant suggests this essence will stimulate
abundant creativity, strength and zest in life by heightening the
sensitivity of the body at a physical and cellular level.
Remember, this article is for informational purposes only. These
are suggestions. Check with your family practitioner, doctor or a
qualified herbalist when using herbs for health and beauty purposes.
