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May improve brain function -

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that rosemary helped to strengthen memory. Today, we can confirm that they may have been onto something!

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May improve brain function -

Indeed, research suggests that inhaling rosemary oil may help to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical that is important for thinking, concentration, and memory.

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May help with dementia -

There is also research that suggests inhaling rosemary oil can improve brain function in older adults suffering from dementia, including those who have Alzheimer’s disease.

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May help with dementia -

That said, this is an ongoing area of research, and more studies are needed before scientists can categorically confirm that rosemary oil is good for brain function.

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Stimulates hair growth -

Rosemary oil can also be used to treat male pattern baldness. It prevents a byproduct of testosterone from attacking the hair follicles, which is the cause of this condition.

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Stimulates hair growth -

There is also research that suggests rosemary oil can help fight patchy hair loss, another type of alopecia that affects up to half the population below age 21.

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May help relieve pain -

According to folk medicine, rosemary oil is great for pain relief. Again, we now have evidence that there may well be something to it.

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May help relieve pain -

Indeed, one animal study showed that rosemary oil was more effective as pain relief than acetaminophen, an over-the-counter pain medication.

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Repels certain bugs -

If you have a problem with harmful or annoying insects in your home or garden, you might consider using rosemary oil as a natural alternative to chemical deterrents.

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Repels certain bugs -

Indeed, one study of a rosemary oil-based pesticide EcoTrol and tomato plants showed that the pesticide was able to safely reduce the population of two-spotted spider mites by 52%.

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May ease stress -

Studies have shown that inhaling rosemary oil helps to relieve stress related to external factors, such as taking an exam or test.

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May ease stress -

In one study, nurses breathed rosemary oil from an inhaler before and during an exam, and their pulse decreased by around 9%. Since a high pulse rate is a symptom of short-term stress, it may be concluded that rosemary oil helps to relieve stress.

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May increase circulation -

It may be the case that rosemary oil is good for circulation. More research is needed in this area, but if you suffer with cold hands and feet it might be worth a shot.

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May increase circulation -

Scientists have theorized that rosemary oil may help by expanding our blood vessels, thereby warming the blood and helping it reach our fingers and toes more easily.

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May help with fatigue -

As well as reducing short-term stress, rosemary oil may help to relieve longer-term mental strain and fatigue. This is an area of ongoing research, however.

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May help with fatigue -

One study showed that 20 young adults felt around 30% more mentally refreshed having inhaled rosemary oil compared to a placebo oil.

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May reduce joint inflammation -

There is preliminary evidence to suggest that rosemary oil may help to reduce tissue inflammation that can lead to swelling, pain, and stiffness.

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May reduce joint inflammation -

It is thought that rosemary oil may stem the migration of white blood cells to injured tissues to release anti-inflammatory chemicals. Again, more research is needed in this area.

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Other uses -

There are also a number of other potential uses for rosemary oil that scientists are actively looking into. Currently, however, human studies are lacking.

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Other uses -

For the following applications, test tube studies may have been conducted, but this is no substitute for human studies that test rosemary oil by inhalation or topical application.

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Other uses -

Additionally, some of the animal studies used have administered the rosemary oil orally, which is definitely not recommended for humans, since essential oils should not be ingested.

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Fighting cancer -

One such application is in the fight against cancer. Test tube studies have shown that rosemary oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that may fight cancer cells.

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Improving liver and digestive health -

There are animal studies that suggest rosemary oil may be good for liver and digestive health; it may stimulate the release of bile and activate antioxidant defense mechanisms.

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Preventing food poisoning -

Rosemary oil may also help inhibit the growth of certain strains of bacteria that are known to cause food poisoning. It is important not to experiment with this at home.

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Improving antibiotics -

Rosemary oil, along with other essential oils, may help to increase the effectiveness of certain antibiotics. This would mean lower doses of antibiotics for patients, and therefore fewer side effects.

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Reducing antibiotic resistance -

Last but not least, rosemary oil may help to weaken the walls of antibiotic resistant bacteria. This not only damages the bacteria, but also allows antibiotics to enter.

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How to use -

In terms of application, rosemary oil can be inhaled or applied topically. The oil is very concentrated, so it should only be used a few drops at a time.

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How to use -

The small bottles in which rosemary oil is sold usually contain plastic droppers that make it easy to work with single droplets.

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Not to be swallowed -

Bear in mind that although some manufacturers may claim it is safe to swallow or consume their essential oils, this is never the case. Essential oils should never be swallowed.

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All in all -

Rosemary oil, an old favorite in folk medicine, is now proving to be beneficial in a number of serious medical studies. Indeed, there are many potential benefits to this aromatic essential oil, although much of the research is only preliminary.

Sources: (Healthline)

See also: The many health benefits of sea salt

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