Herb of the Week: Rosemary!
- asnailspaceapothec
- Sep 12, 2023
- 2 min read
Rosemary! One of my favorite herbs! Why? Not only is it amazing for aromatherapy and infusing oils for medicinal benefits, but it makes our foods taste so delicious! My favorite use is when I pan fry steaks, I add butter and a sprig of fresh rosemary! It gives my steak such a fantastic flavor. Another great favorite is when baking focaccia bread, placing fresh rosemary gives it a whole new life! Read on to find out what health benefits rosemary has to offer!
Fast Facts on Rosemary:
Is a perennial plant (it lives more than 2 years)
The leaves are often used in cooking
Health benefits include improved concentration, digestion, and brain aging.
Rosemary has a range of possible health benefits because it is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds which are thought to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation.
-Antioxidants play an important role in neutralizing harmful
particles called free radicals.
In Europe, rosemary is often used to treat indigestion; in fact, Germany's Commission E has approved rosemary for the treatment of indigestion!
In Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, research has shown that the aroma of rosemary can improve a person's concentration,
performance, speed, accuracy, and their mood.
Scientists have found that rosemary contains an ingredient called
carsonic acid which is good for your brain because it fights off damage
by free radicals in the brain. Furthermore, studies have suggested that
rosemary may significantly help prevent brain aging! Carsonic acid can
also promote eye health.
Ways to Use Rosemary
In the vegetable garden! Rosemary helps repel problem insects and attracts pollinators!
Dry rosemary then powder and add to olive oil or butter to use as seasonings for vegetables, add to bread dough, potatoes, and even pizza crust!
Use with chicken or even when baking fish, by layering the pan with rosemary sprigs and placing the meat on top!
Infuse vinegar by slightly bruising the leaves on a couple of rosemary sprigs and let it steep for several weeks! Makes a great gift!
Make your own rosemary white wine! Simply steep several fresh sprigs in dry white wine!
Medicinal uses: Make a quart of fresh rosemary tincture and take 1/2 tsp 3 times a day to support digestion and brain health! You can also use rosemary oil and make a salve/balm with coconut oil and beeswax!
As you can see, rosemary is not only good for cooking in the kitchen but is also very valuable as a medicinal herb! Why don't you start incorporating fresh rosemary into your life and see what a difference it will make for you?
Until next week, keep foraging on!
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