Already in ancient times, the aromatic fragrant rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) was used in the Mediterranean region. It was dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite and symbolized love and beauty. The name of rosemary is derived from the Latin “ros marinus” and means “dew of the sea”. Through Charlemagne, this herb reached Germany in the Middle Ages and quickly found its way into the medicinal herb books of the monasteries. In the past, rosemary was placed in the cradle of children or used as a grave decoration, and as a bridal bouquet it is still known in Upper Bavaria.
Rosemary in your own garden
Rosemary flowers appearing from March to May, which are whorled at the end of the shoots provided with the evergreen needle-like leaves, are separated into upper and lower lip and show the typical structure for the plant family of labiates.
Rosemary prefers warm, sunny locations in the garden and is a beautiful bee pasture at flowering time. Unfortunately, only a few varieties of rosemary are winter-hardy, which is why you usually have to keep this semi-shrub in containers, so you can overwinter it indoors in cool and bright conditions.
Active substances and healing properties of rosemary
Normally, rosemary leaves are used for the medicine cabinet, but the flowers are also medicinal. Ingredients are mainly the essential oils and fragrances such as camphor, verbanol, eugenol, limonene, cineol, borneol, terpinol and thymol. However, rosemary also contains resins, tannins, flavonoids, bitter compounds, plant acids and saponin.
Rosemary has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antifungal effects. The fact that rosemary is one of the few herbs that can strengthen blood pressure is known to few. In particular, the “old age heart” is supported by strengthening the heart and circulatory system. This medicinal herb continues to have a balancing effect on the nervous system, so it is also used successfully for nervous heart complaints and cardiac arrhythmias, as well as headaches.
Rosemary can also:
- Help with missed periods, fatigue and menstrual cramps,
- Cure upper abdominal colic and
- Relieve rheumatism and gout.
Application of rosemary
The leaves are best collected just before flowering. They must be gently dried to preserve the valuable essential oils. As a tea preparation, a heaping teaspoon of rosemary leaves is poured over ¼ liter of hot water and allowed to steep for 15 minutes. For general states of exhaustion, one should drink a cup of rosemary tea in the morning and at noon. But be careful, pregnant women should avoid rosemary tea!
Rosemary oil is obtained by steam distillation and is available in pharmacies. However, this oil should only be used externally and diluted, otherwise it can cause irritation. Rosemary baths should not be done in the evening, as rosemary has an invigorating effect and can disturb sleep.
Rosemary as a culinary herb
In the kitchen, the fresh shoots of rosemary can be used throughout the year, because it is an important spice of Mediterranean cuisine, which, however, should be used sparingly. Rosemary goes very well with meat, cheese, potatoes, salad and vegetables. Fried fish, pancakes and pizza can also be seasoned with rosemary.
