Part of the plant used for medicinal purposes: leaves (Rosmarini folium)
Other names: dew of the sea, sea dew, elf leaf, guardwobe, incensier, compass weed, polar.
Description and harvesting
Rosemary is a medicinal plant native to the warm Mediterranean region. It can also be cultivated in gardens in Slovenia, but because it needs more warm sun than it gets, it holds a smaller amount of effective substances. It is an up to 2 metre-tall densely branched bush from the sage family Lamiaceae. Its green branches, which eventually lignify, contain thick, leathery and needle-like leaves. The flowering period is in March and April; flowers are pale blue or pale purple. After being stripped from the branches, the leaves are dried quickly and stored in tightly closed containers. The dried leaves have a distinctive, aromatic fragrance and aromatic and slightly bitter flavour.
Constituents and medicinal use
Rosemary leaves contain essential oil which contains camphor, cineole, and borneol. Rosemary also contains rosemary acid, triterpenic acids (ursolic acid), flavones (apigenin, luteolin), and bitter substances.
Rosemary helps with exhaustion and fainting because it accelerates blood circulation. It helps with paleness and improves blood circulation in extremities. It increases a low blood pressure and improves concentration by accelerating blood circulation in the brain; to this end, it is added to tea blends for memory improvement. Due to flavones it has an antioxidative effect, hence it is added to food as a spice. It is also effective for digestive problems: gas and mild cramps, helps digestive glands pour secretions, promotes liver health and bile secretion, and stimulates appetite. An herbal vinegar with rosemary can be a great addition to dishes.
Used in massage oils, rosemary increases blood circulation in the skin: the blood better eliminates the toxic products and transfers leukocytes to fight bacteria. Rosemary acid soothes inflammations. In traditional medicine, massage oil with rosemary is an excellent remedy for neuralgia, pain resulting from gout and rheumatism, and for stiff joints and strained muscles.
Monk Simon Ašič’s product containing rosemary leaves:
Sources:
1. Kukman J. Domača lekarna patra Simona Ašiča. Priročnik za nabiranje zdravilnih zelišč. Celjska Mohorjeva družba, Celje, 2014.
2. Galle-Toplak Katja. Zdravilne rastline na Slovenskem. Založba Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana, 2002.
3. Saupe J. Naravni zdravnik, Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana, 1992.
4. Karlin M. Slovenska imena naših zdravilnih rastlin. Priloga Farmacevtskega vestnika, št.1-3/XV. 20.
