Posted inNutrition / Diet Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

Things you need to know about rosemary

April 17, 2021
Things you need to know about rosemary

Rosemary is a Mediterranean evergreen herb with a sweet scent. It’s used in cooking, as a perfume ingredient, and for its possible health benefits.

Rosemary, including oregano, thyme, basil, and lavender, belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae, which also includes oregano, thyme, basil, and lavender.

The herb is not only delicious in dishes like rosemary chicken and lamb, but it’s also high in iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6.

Teas and liquid extracts are made from fresh or dried leaves, and it is usually prepared as a whole dried herb or a dried powdered extract.

The herb’s medicinal properties have been praised since ancient times. Rosemary has been used for centuries to relieve muscle pain, enhance memory, strengthen the immune and circulatory systems, and encourage hair development.

Important facts about rosemary you should know

  • Rosemary is a perennial plant that can be grown year after year (it lives more than 2 years).
  • The leaves are often used in cooking.
  • Improved concentration, metabolism, and brain ageing are also possible health benefits.
  • Vomiting, coma, and pulmonary edema are also possible side effects of very high doses.

Health benefits

Rosemary
Rosemary has needle-like leaves and flowers that are pink, white, blue, or purple.

Rosemary does indeed have a range of potential health benefits.

Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances

Rosemary is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which are thought to improve blood circulation and strengthen the immune system.

According to laboratory research, rosemary is high in antioxidants, which help to neutralize harmful particles known as free radicals.

Enhancing digestion

Rosemary is commonly used to treat indigestion in Europe. In fact, rosemary has been approved by Germany’s Commission E for the treatment of indigestion. It should be noted, however, that there is currently no credible scientific evidence to back up this point.

Improving concentration and memory

The fragrance of rosemary can enhance a person’s attention, performance, speed, and accuracy, as well as their mood, according to research published in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology.

Security for the brain

Rosemary has been discovered to be beneficial to the brain by scientists. Rosemary contains a compound called carnosic acid, which can protect the brain from free radical damage.

Rosemary has been shown to be beneficial to people who have had a stroke in several animal studies. Rosemary helps to protect the brain from damage and can aid recovery.

Prevent the ageing of the brain

According to some studies, rosemary can significantly aid in the prevention of brain aging.

The therapeutic potential of rosemary in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease is promising, but further research is required.

Cancer

“Crude ethanolic rosemary extract (RO)” delayed the spread of human leukemia and breast carcinoma cells, according to research reported in Oncology Reports.

Another research published in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry concluded that rosemary could be used as an anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent.

In addition, applying rosemary extract to ground beef decreases the development of cancer-causing agents that can grow during cooking, according to a study published in the Journal of Food Science.

The prevention of macular degeneration

Dr. Stuart A. Lipton, Ph.D. and colleagues at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute published a report in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science that found that carnosic acid, a major component of rosemary, can dramatically improve eye health.

This may be useful for disorders of the outer retina, such as age-related macular degeneration, which is the most common eye condition in the United States.

Side effects

Rosemary is generally healthy in small doses. Extremely large doses, on the other hand, can cause severe side effects, though this is uncommon.

Side effects include:

  • vomiting
  • spasms
  • coma
  • pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)

Due to the risk of miscarriage from high doses of rosemary, it is not recommended for pregnant women to take any supplementary rosemary.

Drug interactions

Drugs abuse
Rosemary has the potential to alter the way certain drugs function.

Rosemary can affect the activity of some medications, including:

  • Anticoagulant drugs: These include blood-thinning medications, such as Warfarin, Aspirin, and Clopidogrel.
  • ACE inhibitors: These are used for treating high blood pressure. They include lisinopril (Zestril), fosinopril (Monopril), captopril (Capoten), and enalapril (Vasotec).
  • Diuretics: These increase the passing of urine and include hydrocholorothiazide and furosemide (Lasix).
  • Lithium: This is used to treat the manic episodes of manic depression. Rosemary can act as a diuretic and cause lithium to reach toxic levels in the body.

Sources

Last updated on April 17, 2021