If I had to choose my top 5 essential oils, Rosemary oil would be one of them. Rosmarinus officinalis oil is good for so many everyday health problems, from muscle aches and pains to sinusitis and coughs. It is one of the most stimulating essential oils, and I use it whenever I’m feeling low on energy.
Home Uses and Benefits of Rosemary Oil
1. Relieve muscle aches and pains with a Rosemary bath. Blend Rosemary oil with the essential oils of Lavender or Marjoram (try 3 drops of Rosemary and 3 drops of Lavender, or 2 each of Rosemary, Lavender and Marjoram).
2. Use Rosemary in a steam inhalation to clear a stuffy nose or to relieve sinusitis. It is also helpful for coughs, bronchitis and catarrh. Add a few drops (up to 4-6) of the essential oil into a bowl of hot water, place a towel over your head and the bowl, and inhale up to 10 minutes.
3. Make a Rosemary oil for hair: add 3-4 drops of Rosemary essential oil to some olive, jojoba or coconut oil (how much base oil you need depends on how long your hair is!), mix well and massage the oil into your hair and your scalp. Wrap some plastic wrap around the hair and cover with a bath towel. (I try to avoid using plastic, and I simply use an old towel so I don’t have to worry about oil stains on my bath towels.) Leave the treatment on for at least 20-30 minutes (although you can leave it on for longer if you have time) before washing your hair. Rosemary boosts circulation in the scalp and is a great hair and scalp tonic. It is especially good for dark hair.
4. Blend 3-4 drops of Rosemary with 2 drops of Lemongrass essential oil in 2 teaspoons of sweet almond oil, and use as a massage oil before or after exercising. This oil helps to boost circulation and move lactic acid from muscles after exercise.
5. Blend Rosemary with Geranium, Juniper or Grapefruit for your own homemade anti-cellulite oil. Rosemary boosts the lymphatic system, and since a poorly functioning lymphatic system is one of the main causes of cellulite, Rosemary is one of the first choices against cellulite. Read more about making anti-cellulite oils in Aromatherapy remedies for cellulite.
6. Use Rosemary in your burner/vaporizer when you feel tired but need to concentrate, or whenever you lack focus: Rosemary is said to be for “remembrance”. Or put a drop on a tissue and keep nearby when you have to write articles and blog posts late into the night. This essential oil can clear the mind and stimulate the brain – Rosemary is ideal for those days when you feel half asleep but have a lot to do.
Many aromatherapists recommend that you should avoid Rosemary essential oil if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy (although some disagree). I would not use it in pregnancy.
Sources:
Patricia Davis: Aromatherapy: An A-Z: The Most Comprehensive Guide to Aromatherapy Ever Published
Robert Tisserand: Aromatherapy for everyone (Arkana, 1990)
Photo: THOR (Wikimedia Commons)
