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Rosemary – "Pick Me Up" for the Lazy
Days of Summer
By Marian Brown
In choosing our Essential Oil of
the Month for July, I wanted to stay with a common
oil but one a little less popular. My first thought
was Rosemary. It is a staple in my
aromatherapy box. However, in looking for a good
article, I became stumped. “Stop Hair
Loss with Rosemary” was not what I had in
mind. So, I decided to put off posting until I
could write a proper rosemary essential oil article.
“There’s rosemary, that’s for
remembrance” says Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Rosemary has a long history and is valued as
therapeutic oil, sacred and religious oil as well.
As noted by Shakespeare, rosemary is most commonly
used for its promoting mental clarity and memory
aid.
Rosemary has a stimulating effect on
the central nervous system – the most vital part
being the brain. Rosemary is often a key ingredient
in the “Wake Up” or “Pick Me” blends of aromatherapy
products. It is a crisp, fresh that is invigorating
to the brain. |
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The scent often quickly stimulates
thought process and many writers (including myself) use
it to remove writer’s block. If you need to clear the
“cobwebs” out of your memory, Rosemary is the essential
oil that may do the trick.
Because of its stimulating effect on the
nervous system, Rosemary is also used in lotions and
massage oils to stimulate blood flow and easy pain of
arthritis and muscle tension. It is helpful with sore
muscles as well. It should always be used in a carrier
oil and not applied directly to the skin. Antidotal
evidence has also associated Rosemary in aiding
temporary paralysis.
As a tea or tincture, Rosemary has been
used to strengthen the heart and for cleansing the liver
and gallbladder. |
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So, what about that “Stop Hair Loss”
claim? Rosemary has been a traditional ingredient in
hair and skin products for centuries. Many claim it has
rejuvenating effects on aging skin. (Again it is used
with a carrier oil or in floral waters misted on the
face and skin.) For hair loss, it is believed that the
Rosemary, when added to shampoos and conditioners does
stimulate the scalp. With this stimulation, blood
circulation increases and this could promote the growth
of hair. In any case, the use of Rosemary in
shampoo/conditioner will wake you up in the morning and
leave your hair smelling fresh all day. Not a bad side
effect!
Rosemary does have some
contra-indications. Because of the mental stimulation,
it should not be used by those suffering from epilepsy
or seizures. It should also, like most essential oils,
NOT be used on infants or pregnant women.
So, if you need a summer pick me up,
reach for the Rosemary. |
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