Rosemary leaf - whole

Excerpts from the book Nutritional Herbology

Contains aromatic compounds that have a sedative effect and relieve depression. These compounds also increase the production of digestive fluids and are antiseptic. Rosemary has been used to treat menstrual disorders, dyspepsia, depression, flatulence, influenza, dropsy and nervous exhaustion.

Related Article: Can Spices Improve Your Brain Power?

"There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance…"
–Ophelia to Laertes, Hamlet

There are only a few things that make me break out in a cold, heart-stopping, sweaty panic: getting stuck in a dark, tight cave; snakes; and dying alone. Oh, uh, uh… I almost forgot. There is one other thing: losing my memory… my mind… to a life-robbing disease such as Alzheimer’s.

For many of us, the experience of watching a person (be it family, friend, patient, or hero) in the throes of Alzheimer’s is sad, frustrating, and heart wrenching. How helpless it must feel to watch a once vibrant, intelligent, and competent person slowly lose his ability to tie his own shoelaces or recognize his own children. If you know someone close to you or have a friend, there is a wonderful book called The 36 Hour Day by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins that drives home the point of how frustrating a day for the caregiver of an Alzheimer’s patient truly is. In fact, it is more like a day and a half – hence the title. Often the days are filled with impatience, anger, and “what ifs.” If you know anyone with memory problems or, like me, want to maintain your own mental prowess, try these simple spices in your food regularly. Just maybe we can avoid the predicament altogether.

One spice, Cinnamon, is especially powerful. It affects several physiologic functions of the body. Cinnamon kills bacteria and yeasts that cause stomach ulcers and urinary-tract infections, and even helps the body regulate blood sugar. But for me, the most important benefit of its consumption is increased brainpower. A few years ago, it was discovered that just the smell of cinnamon could improve cognitive function. In that study, it was true that either tasting (technically it was chewing) or smelling cinnamon worked to improve brainpower. WOW… this may lead me to renew my old grade-school days’ habit of chewing cinnamon toothpicks... read on

Excerpts from the book The How to Herb Book

Used in shampoos to help prevent baldness. The oil is used as a perfume for ointments.

Has been used in the following:Long used remedy for colds, coughs and nervous conditions especially nervous headaches.
Wash for mouth, gums, and sore throat.
Used for female problems.
Used for high blood pressure.

• Colds
• Nervous headaches 

Tid Bits You'll Want to Know:

Uses: Like many other folks, we add Rosemary as a spice to many food recipes (salads, meat dishes, soups, stews, etc.). However, Rosemary is also a powerhouse of a medicine when used in teas, tinctures, capsules, etc. Like many other bulk herbs, it can be used to benefit men, women (including before, during or after pregnancy, and nursing) and children. It can be used as often as you would like.

Storage: It should be kept in an airtight container and stored in a dark, dry, and cool place.

Questions?: Check out Frequently Asked Questions.