Herbs: Her Majesty - The Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

To me, rosemary is mostly about memories. Its distinctive smell teleports me straight to the ranch-type, yellow painted vacation home with the rosemary hedge around on the beach. All that is far away and far back in the past of my childhood. But without a mistake, this time travel happens to me every time I slide my hand over the rosemary bush in front of my house. The magical smell fills up my nostrils and the pleasure of innocent childhood happiness starts rising in my body

Not only is the aroma, rosemarys taste is also distinguishing. Thats a good reason to be conservative whenever using it as a spice. A fresh sprig of rosemary makes a nice decoration with many foods, especially fish. Just dont try to put it in your mouth and chew on it.

Some sources mention the use of rosemary essential oil as a cure for stomachaches and to stimulate the blood circulation. Other natural healing uses: eyestrain, for shiny dark hair, headache, as cellulite eliminator, as pain relief. Only, Im not a doctor and cant prescribe you anything.

For now, plant rosemary in a sunny spot somewhere around your home. It will also grow in a pot. Rosemary plants prefer fertile, well drained soil. Different kinds of rosemary are hardy in different zones. If youre not sure, bring it in the house before freezing. In case you have several plants, leave one or two established plants outside and see if they survive.

Rosemary twigs look great in vases (see the pictures at: www.TheSunflowerGardens.com ) plus, they make the inside of your home smell fresh. Every rosemary bush can be pruned to a desired shape. Another attribute of rosemarys aroma is - it keeps the rodents away!

As soon as Im done typing this article, Im going out. Theres a rosemary bush in front of our house. In less than two years it grew from a tiny plant from the nursery to the size of about a yard across. Im going to brush the top with my hand, close my eyes and spend a few moments on a beautiful distant beach

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What is herbal medicine?

An approach to healing which uses plant or plant-derived preparations to treat, prevent, or cure various health conditions and ailments. This approach is incorporated into various medical systems. Although herbal medicine does not have a specific point of conception, at present an estimated 80% of the world’s population rely on medicinal plant preparations for their primary healthcare needs, according to the World Health Organization. ...
Herbal medicine involves the use of any or all of the different parts of plants (roots, leaves, stems and seeds) to treat illnesses and maintain health. Medicines are given to improve the body’s natural functions and to restore a natural balance of health. Herbal medicines can be given in many forms, such as liquids, infusions, tablets, creams and ointments.
Herbs are used in both Eastern and Western medicine. The aim is to use all parts of the herb and particular emphasis is laid on the energetic content of the herbs and its ability to stimulate healing. Thus the method of picking the herb and the time of day can affect the potency. The whole herb has a wider healing potential than the single active agent used by the pharmaceutical industry.