Rosemary Oil

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosemary essential oil may have health benefits, including supporting brain function and hair growth, among others

1. Improve brain function

In ancient Greece and Rome, rosemary was thought to strengthen memory

Research indicates that inhaling rosemary oil helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical important for thinking, concentration and memory

In a study that tested cognitive measures of 20 young healthy adults who were randomly assigned to be exposed to diffused rosemary oil for various lengths of time in a small room, it was found that speed and accuracy increased in direct proportion to the duration the oil was diffused

Additionally, their blood levels of certain rosemary compounds likewise increased — illustrating that rosemary can enter your body through breathing alone

Other research suggests that inhaling rosemary and other essential oils may improve brain function in older adults with dementia, including those with Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Stimulates hair growth

One of the most common types of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, better known as male pattern baldness, though it can also affect females

Androgenetic alopecia is suspected to be partially due to a byproduct of testosterone attacking hair follicles

When men with androgenetic alopecia massaged diluted rosemary oil into their scalp twice daily for six months, they experienced the same increase in hair thickness .

Other research indicates that rosemary oil may fight patchy hair loss, or alopecia areata, which affects up to half the population below age 21 and about 20% of people above 40

3. Helps relieve pain

In herbal medicine, the use of rosemary is used as a mild pain reliever. It has also been studied as a non-pharmaceutical adjunct to pain management

In a two-week study, stroke survivors with shoulder pain who received a rosemary oil blend with acupressure for 20 minutes twice daily experienced a 30% reduction in pain. Those who received only acupressure had a 15% reduction in pain

4. Repels certain bugs

For deterring harmful insects that may bite you or infest your garden, consider rosemary oil as a natural alternative to chemical products.

Rosemary also helps repel certain blood-sucking insects that can spread harmful viruses and bacteria.

When rosemary oil was measured against 11 other essential oils, it had the longest repellent effect on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread the Zika virus. A dilution of 12.5% rosemary oil repelled 100% of the mosquitoes for 90 minutes

Additionally, a spray containing 10% of rosemary oil was similarly effective as the chemical insecticide bifenthrin for controlling the spread of black-legged ticks — which harbor Lyme disease — in tick-infested areas in the northeastern US

5. Ease stress

Many factors can cause stress such as school tests. Inhaling rosemary oil may help reduce test anxiety.