Rosemary Essential Oil

Belonging to the mint family, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an aromatic, refreshing, woody, evergreen herb that is found in the Mediterranean and Asia. It's my favorite these days, and due to its chemical makeup, rosemary oil has renewing properties that can be both energizing and settling, as it's both purifying and uplifting and calming at the same time.

Rosemary oil has a wide range of health benefits, and can contribute to increased learning, concentration and memory abilities, as an anti-inflammation helping with colds, to stress relief and more.

Improves Cognitive Function

Rosemary oil can be helpful for mental clarity. Consider diffusing or inhaling rosemary while studying or working to help maintain concentration. As the renewing, green aroma of rosemary oil spreads through the room, you’ll be able to focus on the task at hand. 

It is often used by students during exams because it increases concentration and helps in studying efficiently. It stimulates mental activity in general and is a good remedy for expanding the mind - especially during times of change, mental fatigue, and forgetfulness. (1) 

Use: Inhale directly from the bottle or add a drop to your hands or wrists, rub together, and inhale. You can also diffuse the oil throughout the room. 

Stress Relief

Rosemary oil has been proven to decrease the level of cortisol in the saliva. Cortisol is one of the main stress hormones that are released during the “flight or fight” stress response. According to a study in 2007, inhaling rosemary and lavender oils for five minutes significantly reduced cortisol levels in the subjects' saliva, potentially decreasing the dangers of chronic stress, which could ruin the delicate hormonal balance and disturb the normal metabolism, thus giving way to a number of other diseases. (2)(3) 

Use: Diffuse rosemary, or apply topically to help reduce tension, stress, and fatigue. Inhale directly from the bottle, rub over your temples, or apply to your neck, chest and feet regularly. 

Boost Immunity

Thanks to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties rosemary is an important essential oil for giving our immune system a helping hand. Rosemary essential oil can provide relief from bacterial or viral infections like a cough, a cold or a flu. When inhaled, it acts as a potent antibacterial agent and fights off these infections.

When it comes to protecting your body from diseases, antioxidants are your biggest weapons. Rosemary oil contains carnosol and myrcene, two chemicals that act as powerful antioxidants and hunt down free radicals that can damage your cells and cause a number of infections and diseases. Thus, inhaling rosemary oil on a regular basis can help boost your immune system. (4)

Use: Inhale, rub on skin or massage one to two drops over your chest and throat every few hours to relief a bad cough. 

Cure Headaches

Rosemary oil applied to the skin treats pain and improves circulation, meaning it might just relieve your migraine or throbbing headache. It's a soothing oil that relieve pain and ease tension and if your headache is stress related, then by using rosemary you will be addressing and healing the root cause of the pain. (5)

Use: Apply a drop topically to the aching parts of your head and neck. You can also try rubbing it in your hands and cupping them over your mouth and nose for up to a minute.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690999

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17291597

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19258850

4. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814608001520

5. https://www.everydayhealth.com/headache-migraine-pictures/soothing-scents-to-ease-headache-pain.aspx#03