Rosemary: medicinal properties and contraindications, benefits and harms, application

The healing properties of rosemary have been known since ancient times. In the Mediterranean countries and in North Africa, in the homeland of the plant, it has long been used in medicine, cosmetology, and cooking. The shrub does not withstand Russian cold weather; rosemary can only be grown as an indoor crop. Consider the medicinal properties of rosemary, the scope and contraindications for use.

Chemical and vitamin composition

For medicinal purposes, mainly the leaves and young shoots of the plant are used, which is why rosemary is sometimes called a herb. In fact, an evergreen shrub grows up to 2 meters, chooses dry ventilated slopes.It has thick needle-shaped leaves on short petioles that shine in blue. Flowering - April-May, bluish-purple flowers.

Studies have revealed a lot of useful substances included in leaves, flowers and shoots:

• vitamins - A, E, C, PP, group B;
• special rosemary oil - 0.3-1.2% by weight of raw materials, it contains a set of terpenes and terpenoids;
• tannins;
• micronutrients - zinc, calcium, zinc, potassium, iron, copper;
• omega and other unsaturated acids;
• alkaloids;
• amino acids;
• resin;
• bitter;
• phytoncides.

Without knowing the composition, people have used rosemary fresh and dried since ancient times. When dried without heating, the beneficial substances are preserved almost unchanged.

The benefits of rosemary for the human body

On the basis of rosemary, medicinal products are used to treat and prevent various diseases. During the plague epidemics, the plant was used in Europe to protect against infection. Rosemary was part of the famous balm of mother d'Artagnan, with which he treated himself and supplied wounded friends.

The following medicinal properties of the plant have been identified:

• antiseptic, disinfectant - for internal use and cleansing of premises from pathogenic flora, especially important during the cold season;
• stimulates the activity of the nervous system - with neurological abnormalities, exhaustion, apathy and lethargy;
• stops pain syndromes - muscular, neurogenic, spastic in nature with osteochondrosis, neuralgia, migraines, pain in the heart and colic in the gastrointestinal tract;
• improves the secretory activity of the stomach, stimulates digestion;
• activates the work of the heart muscle, increases blood pressure;
• improves bile production;
• anti-inflammatory effect - with pathologies of the throat, diseases of the small pelvis;
• helps to overcome the consequences of a stroke - restores the patency of cerebral vessels, stimulates memory and vision;
• has antioxidant and immunostimulatory effects;
• removes phlegm from the lungs, improves asthma and bronchospasm;
• accelerates the recovery processes in the dermis - relieves inflammation, has a wound healing effect, is used to treat boils, abscesses;
• increases skin turgor by restoring water-fat balance, accelerates hair growth, activating dormant follicles.

Rosemary inhibits the activity of pathogens of dangerous infections (fungi, some cocci, Giardia).

Reference: rosemary leaves are part of the phytopreparation Canephron-N, which has antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial effects.

For women

Useful properties of rosemary are widely used for the treatment and prevention of female diseases. The plant stabilizes the hormonal background, strengthens resistance to psycho-emotional stress and stress. Rosemary helps to endure menopause more easily, relieves irritability and pain during PMS. Women note that the spice relieves migraine attacks. With amenorrhea, the plant stabilizes the cycle, with vaginitis, leucorrhoea, it is used to irrigate the mucous genital organs.

For men

In Eastern tradition, rosemary is considered an aphrodisiac - regular use increases male power. The plant is used for the prevention and treatment of inflammation of the male genital organs - the prostate, urethra. Infusions help support the production of hormones, stabilize the state of the nervous system in old age.

For kids

The use of rosemary for children is recommended from 6 years of age. In childhood, the plant is used for the following purposes:

• strengthen the nervous system - improves attention, ability to concentrate;
• for skin pathologies - heal wounds, restore damaged epidermis;
• for disinfecting children's rooms during the period of influenza, other infectious diseases;
• for colds - for gargling, relieving inflammation of mucous membranes;
• improve circulation - especially for children with perpetually cold hands and feet.

Essential oil is used in inhalation for inflammation of the respiratory system.

Use in traditional medicine

When preparing home remedies, you can use fresh or dry raw materials. It's important to keep the proportions. Recall that phytotherapy is used as an adjuvant, in the treatment of complex diseases, a doctor's advice is required.

Decoction

To prepare a medicinal decoction, pour 2 tablespoons of leaves into a glass of boiling water. In an enamel saucepan, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a minimum and incubate for 15-20 minutes. Close the lid and wait for complete cooling. Express. Take a teaspoon of a decoction before meals. Helps with colic, exhaustion of the nervous system, inflammation of the respiratory tract, dysmenorrhea, cycle disorders.

Infusion

To prepare a medicine, a tablespoon of raw materials is infused in a glass of boiling water for half an hour. Divided into 4-5 receptions and drink per day. Water infusion is useful for gastrointestinal pathologies, cardiac and nervous disorders. They are also used to irrigate the mucous membranes of the throat, genital organs in case of inflammation.

Inhalation

In the absence of a nebulizer, water is boiled in a saucepan. Per liter of water, take 4 tablespoons of dry raw materials or 2 branches of fresh rosemary. Breathe over the pan for 5-10 minutes. To restore the he alth of the mucous membranes, it is important to correctly alternate breathing through the mouth and nose.

Healing tea

Foliage and flowers are used to make tea. Pour ½-1 teaspoon of raw materials into a cup. Pour in very hot, but not boiling water. Tea is drunk to prevent colds, used as a general tonic for stress and immunity decline.

Relaxing bath

For the preparation of bath infusion, leaves, flowers and top shoots of rosemary (30-50 grams) are used. Brewed in any container (you can thermos) and poured into water. Healing baths help with diseases of the joints, skin, spine, muscles. An excellent tool for relieving stress, fatigue.

Use in cosmetology and weight loss

Infusions, decoctions and rosemary oil have long been used to restore female beauty in cosmetology. Ready-made shampoos, creams, masks are produced by the cosmetic industry. You can improve the composition of purchased products or prepare home-made potions yourself.

Uses:

• with brittle nails - rub oil into the plates, make baths for hands and feet with a decoction of rosemary;
• for hair loss - massage with rosemary oil, masks for the scalp with the addition of other components, the infusion is used for rinsing;
• for acne, oily skin - lubricate the rashes with oil, wipe the skin with a frozen decoction;
• to eliminate stretch marks, scars - use creams with oil, baths.

Antimicrobial action helps eliminate inflammation on the face and body, after the use of products with rosemary, regeneration processes on the skin go faster. By adding a drop of rosemary oil, you can improve the composition of conventional creams and lotions.

Aromatic seasoning "accelerates" the metabolism, stimulates the production of gastric juice and bile, so it is used by those who want to lose weight. Tea, infusion or decoction of rosemary for weight loss is drunk in a course, 20 minutes before meals for 2-4 weeks.

Use as seasoning

The coniferous smell of spices can give a new taste to ordinary dishes. Rosemary is used as a seasoning, keeping in mind the following rules:

• when cooking, only one of the ingredients is used - laurel or rosemary, spices do not combine;
• seasoning is used with any kind of meat, fish;
• rosemary improves the taste of legumes, root vegetables, enhances the smell of cheese;
• using spices to flavor vegetable oils;
• seasoning kills pathogens, added during canning;
• used in soups, pizza, marinade, casseroles.

The strong smell of rosemary can spoil the dish by blocking the natural flavors of the food. Add no more than a teaspoon of dry spice, fresh - use even less.

Reference: food should be seasoned with rosemary 3-5 minutes before cooking, although it is believed that the aroma of the spice does not change with long cooking.

Possible harm and contraindications

When using rosemary in any way, the existing contraindications and limitations should be taken into account:

• hypertension;
• allergy;
• kidney pathology due to diuretic action;
• epilepsy;
• breastfeeding;
• children under 6.

For any chronic diseases and pregnancy, rosemary treatment should be agreed with the doctor, use the spice with caution.

Collection, storage and harvesting

In Russia, many grow rosemary in large containers - they take it outside in the spring, and clean it indoors for the winter. How to properly prepare and store:

1. Cut branches of the plant keep fresh for a month (stored in a bag).
2. Harvesting flowers and shoots with leaves.
3. Cut young shoots to half length.
4. The best time to collect is May (the highest content of nutrients).
5. Spread the branches on a cloth or paper in one layer, dry at room temperature without access to sunlight, in a dryer or oven.
6. Readiness is determined by the shedding of gray-green leaves (in 2-4 weeks).

Dry rosemary can be ground into powder or stored as leaves. They are poured into paper or linen bags, kept in dry places where the seasoning is not saturated with foreign odors. Shelf life - 6-12 months.

Rosemary is one of the top most useful plants. The active effect of spices on the body requires taking into account contraindications, coordinating a treatment regimen with a doctor in the presence of serious he alth problems.With the help of rosemary, you can strengthen hair, nails, improve the appearance of the skin. Seasoning gives food a unique flavor, branches and flowers are used in medicine and magical rituals.

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