Add a little spice to your life!

Have you ever thought much about Rosemary?  Sure, some will recognize this as one of the spices that goes into a marinade for chicken, turkey or fish but few will use it as a remedy for illness.  Rosemary is one of those remarkable herbs that has numerous uses both in the culinary and medical world.  It has qualities that help it stand out as one of the most beneficial herbs we can easily grow in our home gardens.  It is also used as a fragrance in many soaps, lotions and cosmetics.

Rosemary has been used through the years to improve the memory.  Just smelling a sachet made from Rosemary and Lavender will relieve stress, improve learning abilities and increase concentration. Another use is to relieve muscle and joint pain.  Rosemary oil used topically on sore muscles and joints usually relieves the pain within a short while.   The oil can even support hair regrowth!  It is said that folks who daily massage the oil into their scalp will see regrowth in about six months.  I cannot attest to that but hey, may be worth a try for some people! Rosemary has antimicrobial properties and can kill bacteria and fungi. This would be beneficial for a number of reasons!  Last year, I made a concoction to spritz on Ms. Ez.  She suffers from allergies and being a dog, romps through the tall grasses around the marsh.  Summertime usually sees her have an outbreak of the most horrendous rash.  Rosemary did relieve the itch for the poor dog without any side effects!  Although the leaves are widely used in culinary dishes the oil made from the leaves is volatile and can be lethal.  NEVER take Rosemary Oil orally! 

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean and can tolerate plenty of heat.  It is an upright shrub that can grow up to six feet in height and has small needle-like leaves and pale bluish-purple flowers.  The fresh leaves are highly aromatic and this aroma remains even when the leaves are dried.   Rosemary can be easily grown when given three things..plenty of sun..plenty of air circulation and good drainage.  It has been said that more Rosemary plants die of too much attention than a lack of care.

As wonderful as Rosemary is, some folks need to steer clear of it as a medicinal herb.  Those with high blood pressure, Crohn's Disease or ulcers should never take it on a regular basis.  Pregnant women should also avoid mass doses.  That said, it is quite safe for everyone to use a spice, however.