Botanical Index No. 876

Rosemary

rosmarinus officinalis

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Antiaging, Antialzheimeran, Antianaphylactic, Antiarthritic, Antiatherosclerotic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticapillary Fragility, Anticholinesterase, Anticomplementary, Anticonvulsant, Antiedemic, Antigonadotropic, Antiimplantation, Antiinflammatory, Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Antiprostaglandin, Antipyretic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Astringent, Candidicide, Carminative, Cerebrotonic, Cholagogue, Choleretic, CNS Stimulant, Contraceptive, COX-2 Inhibitor, Detoxicant, Diaphoretic, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Epileptigenic, Antiseptic against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, Smooth muscle stimulant, Major source of the COX-2 inhibitor, Fungicide, Hepatoprotective, Hyperemic, Insecticide, Memorigenic, Myorelaxant, Myostimulant, Negative Chronotropic, Negative Inotropic, Parasiticide, Photosensitive, Positive Inotropic, Protisticide, Sedative, Spasmogenic, Sterilant, Stimulant, Stomachic, Thymoleptic, Tonic, Climacteric

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Aperitif Capillary Fragility molds Corynebacteria Escherichia Staphylococcus and Vibrio Effective against opportunistic infections like Cryptococcus neoformans Analgesic actions Insectifuge Nervine Rubefacient Vulnerary Alopecia Alzheimer’s Amenorrhea Anaphylaxis Anorexia Arthrosis Asthma Atherosclerosis Bacteria Bronchosis Bruise Cancer breast liver mouth skin spleen Candida Cardiopathy Cataract Catarrh Cholecystosis Circulosis Condyloma Convulsion Cough Cramp Dandruff Diabetes Diarrhea Dizziness Dropsy Drowsiness Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Eczema Edema Enterosis Epilepsy Fatigue Fever Fungus Gas Gastrosis Gout Headache Head Cold Heart Hemorrhoid Hepatosis Hoarseness Hypotonia Hysteria Induration Infection Infertility Insomnia Ischiosis Lethargy Leukorrhea Low Blood Pressure Migraine Myalgia Mycosis Nausea Nephrosis Nervousness Neuralgia Neurosis Pain Palsy Paralysis Parasite Pleurodynia Polyuria Pulmonosis Rheumatism Sciatica Senile Dementia Septic Shock Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Sprain Stomachache Stomatosis Swelling Syncope Tension Toothache Varicosis Vertigo Virus Wart Water Retention Wound Yeast

General Dosage

1 tsp chopped leaf/cup water; 4–6 g herb; 2 tsp herb in cold or hot tea; 2–4 ml herb 3 ×/day; let 20 g rosemary steep 5 days in 1 liter wine; 0.3–1.2 ml rosemary spirit; 2–4 g shoot in tea 3 ×/day; 2–4 ml liquid shoot extract 3 ×/day; 3–6 drops internally; 10–20 drops EO would be more reasonable). 1 tsp chopped leaf/cup water; 4–6 g herb; 2 tsp herb in cold or hot tea; 2–4 ml herb 3 ×/day; let 20 g rosemary steep 5 days in 1 liter wine; 0.3–1.2 ml rosemary spirit; 2–4 g shoot in tea 3 ×/day; 2–4 ml liquid shoot extract 3 ×/day; 3–6 drops internally; 10–20 drops EO would be more reasonable).

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b. Abortifacient, emmenagogue, and uterotonic. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. For the leaves, Commission E reports none known. Commission E reports for the root, contraindications: pregnancy, lactation; adverse effects: harmless red discoloration of the urine. Like any EO, that of rosemary can be toxic in large quantities, causing irritations to the intestines, kidneys, skin, and stomach. Epileptics should be careful with rosemary and other herbs heavy with camphor. CAN cautions that camphor in the volatile oil may cause convulsions. Michael Castleman is apparently talking about the herb, not the more dangerous EO, when he says, “Like most other herbs, rosemary should be used in large amounts only in consultation with your health care provider. If you are pregnant, you should avoid such amounts because they can cause uterine contractions”. The Herbal PDR scares the pants off us by saying large doses of rosemary leaves, inadvisedly have been used to attempt abortion, may lead to coma, gastroenterosis, nephrosis, pulmonary edema, spasm, uterine bleeding, vomiting, and even to death. But this seems to be speculation! The PDR concludes “No documented cases have come to light.” Just another dead-end on another bibliographic echo. Class 2b. Abortifacient, emmenagogue, and uterotonic. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper thera-peutic dosages”. For the leaves, Commission E reports none known. Commission E reports for the root, contraindications: pregnancy, lactation; adverse effects: harmless red discoloration of the urine. Like any EO, that of rosemary can be toxic in large quantities, causing

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