Red Hawk Ridge

Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis, is one of my favorite herbs, and it’s evergreen! Not only is it one of the few herbs I don’t have to fight to keep alive when trying to grow it myself, but it also has many uses that range from cooking, cleaning, and physical/mental health.

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean but grows freely in southern Europe and is cultivated throughout the world. Here in East Texas, with enough water, it will survive extreme heat, and if the roots are well established, she has survived pretty intense cold. She can be propagated by seed or cutting, but you will generally go the cutting or established baby plant route, as the seeds are on the harder end to germinate. I have almost successfully rooted cuttings, but as of now, I still buy small plants from my local nurseries.

Being a Mediterranean native, Rosemary grows great alongside Sage and Lavender. I have been successful growing Sage, but Lavender hates me. I haven’t gotten the hang of it, but I’m unsure if it’s my area or if I just can’t grow lavender in general. I think she is just picky.

Rosemary is a member of the mint family but isn’t invasive like your typical mints.

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Rosemary Contains:

• Volatile oils (1-2%) containing borneol, camphene, camphor, cineole
• Flavonoids (apigenin, diosmin)
• Tannins
• Rosmarinic acid
• Diterpenes
• Rosmaricine

Actions:

• Tonic
• Stimulant
• Astringent
• Nervine
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant

The volatile oils in Rosemary are scientifically proven to enhance memory, which makes this a great ally for students or anyone who needs a boost in their memory. I love to burn Rosemary, much like Sage, because the smoke kills bacteria in the air while helping my mind grab hold of things I am trying to remember because of its stimulating effects.

Rosemary is a powerful antioxidant that inhibits free-radical damage.

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Rosemary is an excellent source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6. Studies have found that she may help improve brain function, reduce inflammation, reduce stress, support eye health, and promote heart health, so whether you incorporate her into your diet, take as a supplement, or burn as an incense, you can benefit in one way or another from this lovely lady.

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Rosemary is on the pungent side, so use sparingly in your cooking.

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Rosemary-Infused Olive Oil

Fast Method: Combine olive oil and fresh Rosemary in a small saucepan and heat over low heat for about 10 minutes. Allow the oil to cool slightly, then strain out the Rosemary and store the oil in a glass jar.

For the Slow Method, check out my Infused-Oil post. This method does not use heat and is best for preserving all the good stuff Rosemary offers. Many benefits can still be found in a low-heat method, but there is always a risk of damaging what she offers when using heat. The fast method is fine for making vinegarette and food additives, but I would suggest the slow method for medicine.

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Rosemary goes great with pork, beef, lamb, potatoes, and so much more. It is a must-have in the kitchen for more dishes than not.

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Roasted Rosemary Potatoes:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Wash and slice a pound of potatoes into thin wedges.
• Toss the potatoes with olive oil and fresh rosemary, then season with salt and pepper.
• Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and golden brown.

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One of my favorite uses for Rosemary is stimulating hair growth. She fights against dandruff and skin irritation which can lead to dryness and can decrease the effects of testosterone on hair follicles that can lead to hair loss and balding. Rosemary oil can be put straight into your shampoo bottle and leave-in conditioner, or you can make an infusion with fresh or dried herbs and use it as a hair rinse. I have also infused apple cider vinegar with Rosemary and used it as a conditioner once a week.

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If you have a question, drop a comment, and I will do my best to answer.

Many blessings,
Emma Lee Joy