A SUPERSTAR:
Rosemarinus officinalis, or Rosemary is a beautiful evergreen herb that grows with ease in southern California’s Mediterranean climate. Easy to care for, this herb can be planted in the yard, kept on a window-sill indoors, or potted on the patio. This herb can offer exceptional aromatics in favorite recipes and pack some awesome health benefits. Talk about win-win!
A Powerful Antioxidant
Dried rosemary spice has an ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of 165,280 μ mol TE/100g and fresh rosemary leaves have an ORAC of 11,070 μ mol TE/100g. To put this in layman’s terms, rosemary is a powerful antioxidant that can help mitigate the harsh effects of harmful free radicals, reduce oxidative stress, and protect us on a cellular level! There are quite a few studies that exemplify the protective capacity of rosemary, and shows this herb offers liver, lung, and skin protection! Evidence is even suggestive to support rosemary’s effectiveness in combating numerous cancers by inhibiting and destroy cancer cells!
A Neuroprotectant
Carnosic acid, an antioxidant quality in rosemary, has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in studies. Protecting neurons from oxidative stress is important as oxidative stress plays an important role in cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
A Gut Superstar
Used for years to sooth digestive complaints, rosemary can enhance digestion. By stimulating the appetite, food can be digested and assimilated easier by the body. In studies, extract from rosemary leaves has shown rosemary to be a therapeutic anti-inflammatory for digestive conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Other research suggests rosemary is has antiulcer properties, and was capable of decreasing ulcers in rats by nearly half. Traditionally, rosemary has been used for indigestion, clearing congestion of the liver and gallbladder, and flatulence relief.
A Mood Enhancer
The scent of lavender is well known for it’s calming, mood enhancing properties but a study finds rosemary did more for mood enhancement than did lavender. So take a deep breath while cooking, smell the rosemary on the window sill, boil some in a pot for a pure uplifting household aromatic, or throw a few sprigs in the bath before soaking!
References:
1. “Dried Rosemary Spice.” Superfoodly, May 2010, www.superfoodly.com/orac-value/spices-rosemary-dried/.
2. “Fresh Rosemary Leaves.” Superfoodly, Jan. 2010, www.superfoodly.com/orac-value/fresh-rosemary-leaves/.
3. Sotelo-Félix, J I, et al. “Protective Effect of Carnosol on CCl(4)-Induced Acute Liver Damage in Rats.” European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2002, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12352220/.
4. Nuytinck, J.K.S., Goris, R.J.A., Kalter, E.S. et al. Agents and Actions (1986) 17: 373. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01982651
5. Pérez-Sánchez, A, et al. “Protective Effects of Citrus and Rosemary Extracts on UV-Induced Damage in Skin Cell Model and Human Volunteers.” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 July 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24815058/.
6. Moore, Jessy et al. “Anticancer Effects of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Extract and Rosemary Extract Polyphenols” Nutrients vol. 8,11 731. 17 Nov. 2016, doi:10.3390/nu8110731
7. Tai, J, et al. “Antiproliferation Effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) on Human Ovarian Cancer Cells in Vitro.” Phytomedicine : International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 Mar. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22325591.
8. de, M R. “The Dietary Components Carnosic Acid and Carnosol as Neuroprotective Agents: a Mechanistic View.” Molecular Neurobiology., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26553346.
9. Seyedemadi, Parisa et al. “The Neuroprotective Effect of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Hydro-alcoholic Extract on Cerebral Ischemic Tolerance in Experimental Stroke” Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR vol. 15,4 (2016): 875-883.
10. Azad, Nahid et al. “Neuroprotective effects of carnosic Acid in an experimental model of Alzheimer's disease in rats” Cell journal vol. 13,1 (2011): 39-44.
11. Minaiyan, M et al. “Effects of extract and essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L. on TNBS-induced colitis in rats” Research in pharmaceutical sciences vol. 6,1 (2011): 13-21.
12. Dias, P C, et al. “Antiulcerogenic Activity of Crude Hydroalcoholic Extract of Rosmarinus Officinalis L.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2000, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10661884/.
13. Whelan, Richard. “Rosemary.” Richard Whelan Medical Herbalist, www.rjwhelan.co.nz/herbs%20A-Z/rosemary.html.
14. Moss, M, et al. “Aromas of Rosemary and Lavender Essential Oils Differentially Affect Cognition and Mood in Healthy Adults.” The International Journal of Neuroscience., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2003, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690999.