Sunday, March 1, 2009

Rosmarinus officinalis Linn.


English Name : Rosemary and Oil of Rosemary

Family : Lamiaceae

Origin : Mediterranean (European and African parts)

Description
Evergreen diffusely branched aromatic shrub up to 2 m high. Leaves narrow, entire, with revolute margins; flowers few, in axillary racemes, bluish or white or pale violet; nutlets smooth, ovoid sub-globose.

Habitat
Prefers dry, rocky, cooler areas; the Mediterranean region (part of the "maquis") and cultivated in other parts.

Parts Used : Leaf (pharmaceutically) and essential oil

Herb Effects
Stimulates the secretion of gastric juices, diuretic, carminative, stimulates the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, antioxidant, antiseptic and slightly inflammatory.

Active Ingredients
1,8-cineole, alpha-amyrin, alpha-phellandene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-terpineol, alpha-thujone, apigenin, ascorbic acid, benzyl-alcohol, beta-amyrin, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, beta-thujone, betulin, borneol, bornyl-acetate, caffeic acid, camphene, camphor, carvone, caryophyllene, chlorogenic acid, delta-cadinene, diosmetin, ethanol, fenchone, gamma-terpinene, geraniol, limonene, luteolin-7-glucoside, methyl-eugenol, myrcene, nepetin, nepetrin, niacin, oleanolic acid, p-cymene, safrole, tannin, terpinen-4-ol, terpinolene, thymol, trans-anethole, ursolic acid (plant); acetic acid (resin); betulinic acid, carnosol, carnosic acid, carvacrol, diosmin, hesperidin, luteolin, rosmarinic acid (leaf).

Medicinal Use
Healing wounds in rheumatism and stimulating the apetite; stimulating the cardiovascular system (5% tincture); as a gargle for sore-throat, in headache and in tardy menstruation (oil).

Dosage
Infusion of 1 tsp of crumbled drug/cup boiling water consumed 2 to 3 times per day (between meals).
Tincture: 1/2 to 2 fl. dr. (2 to 8 mils).
Oil: 3 to 6 drops.

Contraindication
Should be monitored carefully when taken since it can cause harmful side effects (such as greatly irritating the lining of the digestive organs).

Reference

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