|
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is widely used as a culinary herb,
especially in Mediterranean dishes, and is also used as a fragrant additive in
soaps and other cosmetics. Traditionally, rosemary has been used by herbalists
to improve memory, relieve muscle pain and spasm, stimulate hair growth, and
support the circulatory and nervous systems. It is also believed to affect the
menstrual cycle, act as an abortifacient (inducing miscarriage), relieve
menstrual cramps, increase urine flow, and reduce kidney pain (for example, from
kidney stones). Recently, rosemary has been the object of laboratory and animal
studies investigating its potential in the prevention of cancer and its
antibacterial properties.
top
Plant Description
Native to the Mediterranean area, rosemary is now cultivated widely in other
parts of the world, although it thrives in a warm and relatively dry climate.
The plant takes its name from rosmarinus, a Latin term meaning "sea dew."
It is an erect evergreen shrub that can grow to a height of six and a half feet.
The woody rootstock bears rigid branches with fissured bark. The long, linear,
needle-like leaves are dark green above and white beneath. Both the fresh and
dried leaves are pungent. The small flowers are pale blue. The leaves and parts
of the flowers contain volatile oil.
top
The leaves and twigs of the rosemary plant are used for culinary and
medicinal purposes.
top
Medicinal Uses and Indications
Food Preservation
Most evidence for rosemary's medicinal uses comes from clinical experience
rather than from scientific studies. However, recent laboratory studies have
shown that rosemary slows the growth of a number of bacteria such as E. coli and
S. aureus that are involved in food spoilage, and may actually perform better
than some commercially used food preservatives.
Alopecia
As stated above, one traditional use of rosemary has been to try to stimulate
hair growth. In one study of 86 people with alopecia areata (a disease of
unknown cause characterized by significant hair loss, generally in patches),
those who massaged their scalps with rosemary and other essential oils
(including lavender, thyme, and cedarwood) every day for 7 months experienced
significant hair re-growth compared to those who massaged their scalps without
the essential oils. It is not entirely clear from this study whether rosemary
(or a combination of rosemary and the other essential oils) was responsible for
the beneficial effects.
Cancer
Both laboratory and animal studies suggest that rosemary's antioxidant
properties may have activity against colon, breast, stomach, lung, and skin
cancer cells. Much more research in this area, including trials involving
people, must be conducted before conclusions can be drawn about the value of
rosemary for cancer.
top
- Dried whole herb
- Dried, powdered extract (in capsules)
- Preparations derived from fresh or dried leaves, such as tinctures,
infusions, liquid extract, and rosemary wine
- Volatile oil (to be used externally, not to be ingested)
top
How to Take It
Pediatric
There are no known scientific reports on the medicinal use of rosemary in
children. Therefore, it is not currently recommended for this age group.
Adult
Listed below are the recommended adult doses for rosemary. (Total daily
intake should not exceed 4 to 6 grams of the dried herb.):
- Tea: 3 cups daily. Prepare using the infusion method of pouring boiling
water over the herb and then steeping for 3 to 5 minutes. Use 6 g powdered
herb to 2 cups water. Divide into three small cups and drink over the course
of the day.
- Tincture (1:5): 2 to 4 mL three times per day
- Fluid extract (1:1 in 45% alcohol): 1 to 2 mL three times per day
- Rosemary wine: add 20 g herb to 1 liter of wine and allow to stand for
five days, shaking occasionally
Externally, rosemary may be used as follows:
- Essential oil (6 to 10%): 2 drops semisolid or liquid in 1 tablespoon
base oil
- Decoction (for bath): Place 50 g herb in 1 liter water, boil, then let
stand for 30 minutes. Add to bath water.
top
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and
treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger
side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For
these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a
practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.
Rosemary is generally considered safe when taken in recommended doses.
However, there have been occasional reports of allergic reactions. Large
quantities of rosemary leaves, because of their volatile oil content, can cause
serious side effects, including vomiting, spasms, coma and, in some cases,
pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).
Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use rosemary in quantities
larger than those normally used in cooking. An overdose of rosemary may induce a
miscarriage or cause damage to the fetus.
Rosemary oil, taken orally, can trigger convulsions and should not be used
internally. Topical preparations containing rosemary oil are potentially harmful
to hypersensitive people who may be allergic to camphor.
top
Doxorubicin
In a laboratory study, rosemary extract increased the effectiveness of
doxorubicin in treating human breast cancer cells. Human studies will be
necessary to determine whether this is true in people. Meanwhile, those taking
doxorubicin should consult with a healthcare practitioner before taking
rosemary.
top
al-Sereiti MR, Abu-Amer KM, Sen P. Pharmacology of rosemary (Rosmarinus
officinalis Linn.) and its therapeutic potentials. Indian J Exp Biol.
1999;37(2):124-130.
Aruoma OI, Spencer JP, Rossi R, et al. An evaluation of the antioxidant and
antiviral action of extracts of rosemary and Provencal herbs. Food Chem Toxicol.
1996;34(5):449-456.
Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission
E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:326-329.
Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic
Medical Publications;1998:117.
Chan MM, Ho CT, Huang HI. Effects of three dietary phytochemicals from tea,
rosemary and turmeric on inflammation-induced nitrite production. Cancer Lett.
1995;96(1):23-29.
Chao SC, Young DG, Oberg J. Effect of a diffused essential oil blend on
bacterial bioaerosols. Journal of Essential Oil Research. 1998;10:517-523.
Debersac P, Heydel JM, Amiot MJ, et al. Induction of cytochrome P450 and/or
detoxication enzymes by various extracts of rosemary: description of specific
patterns. Food Chem Toxicol. 2001;39(9):907-918.
Elgayyar M, Draughon FA, Golden DA, Mount JR. Antimicrobial activity of
essential oils from plants against selected pathogenic and saprophytic
microorganisms. J Food Prot. 2001;64(7):1019-24.
Foster S, Tyler V. The Honest Herbal: A Sensible Guide to the Use of Herbs
and Related Remedies. 4th ed. New York: The Haworth Herbal Press; 1999:321-322.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 2nd ed.
Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000:645-646.
Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful
treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 1998;134(11):1349-1352.
Ho CT, Wang M, Wei GJ, Huang TC, Huang MT. Chemistry and antioxidative
factors in rosemary and sage. Biofactors, 2000;13(1-4):161-166.
Huang MT, Ho CT, Wang ZY, et al. Inhibition of skin tumorigenesis by rosemary
and its constituents carnosol and ursolic acid. Cancer Res. 1994;54(ISS
3):701-708.
Lemonica IP, Damasceno DC, di-Stasi LC. Study of the embryotoxic effects of
an extract of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Braz Med Biol Res.
1996;19(2):223-227.
Martinez-Tome M, Jimenez AM, Ruggieri S, Frega N, Strabbioli R, Murcia MA.
Antioxidant properties of Mediterranean spices compared with common food
additives. J Food Prot. 2001;64(9):1412-1419.
Newall C, Anderson L, Phillipson J. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care
Professionals. London, England: Pharmaceutical Press; 1996: 229-230.
Offord EA, Macé K, Ruffieux C, Malnöe A, Pfeifer AM. Rosemary components
inhibit benzo[a]pyrene-induced genotoxicity in human bronchial cells.
Carcinogenesis. 1995;16(ISS 9):2057-2062.
Plouzek CA, Ciolino HP, Clarke R, Yeh GC. Inhibition of P-glycoprotein
activity and reversal of multidrug resistance in vitro by rosemary extract. Eur
J Cancer. 1999;35(10):1541-1545.
Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler V. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physicians' Guide to
Herbal Medicine. 3rd ed. Berlin, Germany: Springer; 1998:105.
Singletary KW, Rokusek JT. Tissue-specific enhancement of xenobiotic
detoxification enzymes inmice by dietary rosemary extract. Plant Foods Hum Nutr.
1997;50(1):47-53.
Slamenova D, Kuboskova K, Horvathova E, Robichova S. Rosemary-stimulated
reduction of DNA strand breaks and FPG-sensitive sites in mammalian cells
treated with H2O2 or visible light-excited Methylene Blue. Cancer Lett.
2002;177(2):145-153.
Wargovich MJ, Woods C, Hollis DM, Zander ME. Herbals, cancer prevention and
health. J Nutr. 2001;131(11 Suppl):3034S-3036S.
top .
send to friend .
list of all herbs
Reviewed: 01/2006
|
|
del.icio.us
Digg
Furl
Google
StumbleUpon
Yahoo