1. Moves the Blood and Qi, Clears Cold and Damp, Benefits the Heart: -cold diseases of the Heart and Liver; ‘comforts’ the Heart -Heart disease and as a Heart tonic; poor circulation, functional Heart complaints, Angina Pectoris -circulatory debility in the elderly, weakness and paleness in young adults –‘Strengthens the nerves, preserves health, and keeps back old age’ (Salmon). Kneippsaid Rosemary was the best tonic for the elderly.
2. Moves the Blood and Qi, Clears Wind, Calms the Mind: –Stress, Nervous Tension, Depression, Hyper-emotionalism and Repressed Emotions. -Epilepsy, Apoplexy, Vertigo, Dizziness; Hypertension and Hypotension -resists Madness, has been given for Insanity. -relaxes and calms the mind and nerves -Headaches from poor circulation; Cerebral Arteriosclerosis.
4. Benefits the Brain and Senses: -warms and clears the Brain, and quickens the Senses -Lethargy, Dullness of the mind and senses, Stupidity, Dumb Palsy, Loss of Speech, -benefits the Memory and the Eyesight (decocted in Wine). –The Grete Herbal(1526) listed it ‘against weakness of the Brain and Coldness thereof’. -Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease
5. Moves the Blood, Warms the Womb, Promotes Menstruation: -Leukorrhea -Threatened Miscarriage from cold -painful menstruation with cramps -cleanses the Uterus, promotes Fertility (Lonicerus); Infertility
6. Warms the Stomach, Opens Obstructions, Moves the Qi: -coldness of the Stomach, promotes digestion; indigestion, poor appetite; long used to improve appetite. -opens obstructions of the Liver and Spleen; enlarged Liver and Jaundice -helps Fat metabolism.
7. Clears Cold and Damp, Promotes Urine: -early stages of Edema. -Gout and Rheumatic diseases.
8. Externally: -Leaves or Oil have been much used externally in ointments, oils, baths and plasters, or as a wash to help cold numb joints, sinews etc. -topically for ‘all diseases of the Head’. -astringent and antiseptic; used for Wounds. -Cosmetic: ‘boil the leaves in White Wine and wash thy face therewith and thy browes and thou shall have a fair face … the Timber thereof, burn it to coals and make powder thereof and rub thy teeth thereof and it shall keep thy teeth from all Evils’. (Banckes herbal, 1525) -the ashes make yellow teeth white when used to brush them, and were used for diseases of the gums. -as a hair wash it prevents premature baldness and Dandruff, and helps to promote lush hair growth. -the fumes is good for Catarrh, and for diseases of the Womb (Hysteria etc.) -topically for Cancer (Lonicerus) -decoction gargled for Bad Breath -applied to Hemorrhoids
Dose:
INFUSION or BRIEF DECOCTION: 2–6, up to 9 grams (dried), or 1 teaspoonful can be used per cup (when the flowers were Decocted, they were usually added at the end being tied up in cloth); TINCTURE (1:5): 1–3, 4, or 5 mls, 2–3 times daily; POWDERED HERB: 300mg–1 gram, up to 3 grams, often taken with Wine; ESSENTIAL OIL: ½–3 drops, and sometimes up to 5 drops, taken on Sugar; SPIRIT (B.P.): 5–20 drops.
Head, Brain: 1. For Vertigo, Migraine, Epilepsy, Convulsion, and Paralysis, and to strengthen the Heart, Rosemary with Rose, Violet, Licorice, Cinnamon 2. Headache: i. Rosemary, Vervain, Betony ii. Rosemary, Dandelion, Skullcap, Mint, Vervain (equal parts), form a decoction. (Valuable Herbal Prescriptions, late ‘s) iii. Rosemary, Peony, Mistletoe, Betony, Sage iv. Rosemary with Valerian, Peony, Calamus, Mistletoe, Betony, Sage, Marjoram, Calamint, Rue, Juniper 3. Vertigo: i. Rosemary with Sage, Betony, Mistletoe, Peony ii. Rosemary with Eyebright, Thyme, Marjoram, Betony, Lavender, Aniseed, Fennel seed, Peony root, Clove, Aloeswood (as in Tincture for Vertigo) 4. Epilepsy: i. Wine decoction of Rosemary with Rue (Wittich, Vade mecum, 1594) ii. Rosemary, Sage, Peony 5. Paralysis: i. Rosemary with Hyssop, Sage (as in Decoction for Paralysis) ii. Rosemary with Asparagus root, Peony root, Hyssop, Betony, Cowslip, Four Cold Seeds, Calendula (as in Tincture for Paralysis) 6. Apoplexy: i. Loss of speech and Apoplexy, Rosemary water rectifies (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630) ii. Rosemary with Sage, Lavender, Juniper (as in Wine for Apoplexy) iii. Rosemary with Sage, Marjoram, Wild Thyme, Lily of the Valley flowers, Lavender, Cinnamon, Clove (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798) iv. Rosemary with Peony, Nutmeg, Coriander, Mistletoe, Galangal, Cubeb, Cinnamon (as in Tincture for Apoplexy) v. Rosemary with Lavender, Borage, Castoreum, and Bitter Musk Powder (Diamoschu amara) (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630) vi. Rosemary with Doronicum, Peony, Costus, Lavender, Siler, Peony, Aniseed, Cinnamon, Clove, Aloeswood, Amber (as in Powder Against Apoplexy) vii. Rosemary with Calamus, Orris, Marjoram, Cowlsip flower, Sage, Fennel seed, Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon, Aloeswood, Myrrh (Pharmacopoeia Generalis, 1783) 7. To enhance Memory: i. Rosemary with Sage, Balm, Calamus ii. Rosemary with Sage, Betony, Balm, Peony, Basil seed, Cinnamon, Zedoary, Caraway, Nutmeg, Clove, Cardamon, Licorice, Frankincense (as in Powder of Great Use Against Forgetfulness of Grulingus) 8. Depression, Rosemary, Sage, Balm, St. John’s wort
Heart, Circulation: 9. Poor circulation: i. Rosemary with Balm, Rosehip ii. Rosemary with Hawthorn, Calendula 10. Strengthen Heart and Brain, Conserve of Rosemary 11. Cardiac and Renal Edema, Ascites, Rosemary with Horsetail, Parsley root, Prunus spinosa (Müller) 12. Nervous Heart disorders, Rosemary with Elder flower, Mallow flower (Kroeber) 13. Palpitation, Arrhythmia, Vertigo, Migraine, Rosemary with Rose, Violet, Licorice, Clove, Indian Spikenard, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Zedoary, Aloeswood (as in Powder of Rosemary Compound)
Gynecology 14. To promote Menstruation: i. Rosemary Water or Wine taken for 7 days promotes menstruation ii. Rosemary, Mugwort iii. Rosemary with Bay berry, Rosemary, Juniper berry, Cinnamon, Saffron (as in Decoction Against Retention of Menstruation) iv. Rosemary with Roman Camomile, Rue, Balm (Meyer) 15. To promote Fertility, decoct Rosemary and Balm and wash the pubis. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
Other: 16. Pleurisy, Rosemary decocted in wine (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630) 17. Stomach Pain, Rosemary with Camomile, Meliot, Rue, Marjoram, Pennyroyal, Cumin, Aniseed (as in Decoction for Stomach Pain) 18. Intestinal Pain, Rosemary and Cumin decocted in wine. 19. Carminative, Rosemary with Elecampane, Rosemary, Marjoram, Fennel seed, Aniseed, Caraway, Cinnamon, Orange peel 20. Boils and Abscesses, Rosemary with Horehound, Centaury, Wormwood (as in Decoction for Boils and Abscess) 21. Arthritis: i. Rosemary with Willow bark, Elder flower (as in Decoction for Arthritis) ii. Rosemary with Sarsaparilla, Guaiacum, Mistletoe, Germander, Ground Ivy, Sage (as in Wine for Arthritis) 22. To promote Urine, Rosemary, Fennel seed, Parsley seed, Mugwort 23. Jaundice, wine decoction of Rosemary, Scolopendrum, Borage (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
Externally: 24. Eyewash for Poor Eyesight: i. Rosemary with Eyebright and Rue (Ulrich) ii. Rosemary juice mixed with Fennel water, with a little Tutty (Zinc oxide) added. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485) 25. Douche for Leukorrhea, Rosemary with Sage, Yarrow, Oak bark (Meyer) 26. Bath for Rheumatism, Rosemary with Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Mint 27. Gangrene, Rosemary with Sage, Thyme, Ammonium chloride, Camphor (Ratier) 28. Oil of the Nerves, Rosemary with Camomile and Thyme 29. Oil for Lameness, Rosemary with Rue 30. Edema, Rosemary, Calamint boiled in oil and wine, rubbed on the skin. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485) 31. Bleeding Hemorrhoids, Rosemary and Plantain topically
1. Hungary Water, Compound Spirit of Rosemary: i. Rosemary flowers (1 lbs.), Lavender (4 oz.), Proof Spirit (6 lbs.). Digest 12 days, distil 3 pounds. (Pharmacopoeia Danica, 1805) ii. Rosemary, Wild Thyme, Thyme (1 part each), Proof Spirit (24 parts), Water (48 parts). Distil 20 parts. (Pharmacopee Usuelle, Louvain, 1821) iii. Rosemary (2 lbs.), Sage (3 oz.), Thyme (6 oz.). Alcohol 34% (16 lbs). Macerate 2 days, distil in a water-bath; rectify by re-distillation. (Farmacopea Ferrarensis, 1825)
2. Aromatic Vinegar: These are effectively reformed versions of Four Thieves Vinegar. i. Rosemary, Sage (1 oz. each), Lavender (½ oz.), Clove (½ dram), dilute acetic acid (2 lbs.). Macerate 7 days, filter. (Edinborough) ii. Wormwood, Rosemary, Sage, Peppermint (2 oz. each), Cinnamon (½ oz.), Clove, Nutmeg (2 drams each), Vinegar (8 lbs.). Digest, express, filter. (Pharmacopoeia Oldenburgica, 1801) iii. Zedoary, Clove (½ oz. each), Wormwood, Rosemary, Sage, Peppermint (2 oz. each), Vinegar (8 lbs.). Macerate, add to the strained liquor Rosemary Spirit (4 oz.). Mix. (Pharmacopoeia Hannoverana, 1819) iv. Wormwood, Rosemary, Sage, Rue (1 ½ oz. each), Calamus, Cinnamon, Clove (2 drams each), Vinegar (6 lbs.). Infuse 8 days, add to the expressed strained liquor Camphor (1 oz.). Garlic (2 drams) may be added. (Farmacopea Ferrarensis, 1825)
Cautions:
Not used during pregnancy.
Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the whole Plant, Distilled Oil, Balsam (made of the oil), Conserve of the Flowers, Rosemary Wine, Infused Oil of Rosemary
1. Conserve of Rosemary: i. Rosemary flowers, bruised (1 part), White Sugar (2 parts). Beat. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798) ii. Rosemary flowers, bruised (1 part), White Sugar (3 parts). Beat. (Pharmacopoeia Amstelodamensis, 1792)
2. Honey of Rosemary: i. fresh flowers of Rosemary (8 oz.), Spring Water (4 oz.), Warm depurated Honey (2 lbs.). Digest 10 or 12 days in a warm place; then boil in water-bath, express. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)
3. Vinegar of Rosemary: i. Rosemary (1 part), Vinegar (16 parts). Macerate 15 days in a covered vessel, shaking occasionally; strain, filter. (Pharmacopoeia Gallica, 1818)
4. Infused Oil of Rosemary: i. Rosemary flowers (1 part), Olive oil (3 parts); digest for 3–4 days, then boil to the consumption of the humidity and express. (Pharmacopoeia Hispana, 1798) Pliny of Rosemary: ‘There ore two kinds of rosemary ; one of which is barren, and the other has a stem with a resinous seed, known as “cachrys.” The leaves have the odour of frankincense. The root, applied fresh, effects the cure of wounds, prolapsus of the rectum, condylomata, and piles. The juice of the plant, as well as of the root, is curative of jaundice, and such diseases as require detergents; it is useful also for the sight. The seed is given in drink for inveterate diseases of the chest, and, with wine and pepper, for affections of the uterus; it acts also as an emmenagogue, and is used with meal of darnel as a liniment for gout. It acts also as a detergent upon freckles, and is used as an application in diseases which require calorifics or sudorifics, and for convulsions. The plant itself, or else the root, taken in wine, increases the milk, and the leaves and stem of the plant are applied with vinegar to scrofulous sores; used with honey, they are very useful for cough’. (The Natural History of Pliny, trans. by Bostock and Riley, Vol. 5, 1856) Pharmacographia, Fluckiger & Hanbury, 1879:
‘Rosemary is mentioned by Pliny, who ascribes to it numerous virtues. It was also familiar to the Arab physicians of Spain, one of whom, Ibn Baytar (13th cent.), states it to be an object of trade among the vendors of aromatics. In the middle ages rosemary was doubtless much esteemed, as may be inferred from the fact that it was one of the plants which Charlemagne ordered to be grown on the imperial farms. It was probably in cultivation in Britain prior to
the Norman Conquest, as it is recommended for use in an Anglo-Saxon herbal of the 11th century. In the “Physicians of Myddvai” a curious chapter is devoted to the virtues of Rosemary, called “Ysbwynwydd, and Rosa Marina in Latin.” The essential oil was distilled by Raymundus Lullus about A.D. 1330. John Philip de Lignamine, a writer of the 10th century, describes Rosemary as the usual condiment of salted meats.’
Ortus sanitatis, Cube, Johann von, 1501
Darstellung und Beschreibung Pharmacopoea Borussica, Berg, 1858