Rosemary has been used as a medicine since the time of the ancient Greeks. Some traditional practitioners believe that it can improve memory and regrow hair, but the scientific evidence is often scant or contradictory, and it may produce adverse effects in excess. Read on to learn the potential benefits and limitations of rosemary.<\/p>\n
Rosemary (R. officinalis) <\/i>is a widely used herb that originates from the Mediterranean region. It dates back to the ancient Greeks who hailed the plant for assisting memory and stimulating the brain [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The plant contains an essential oil that is needed for survival and known to boost memory [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Rosemary is known to have one of the highest antioxidant properties of spices and can combat fungus, bacteria, and cancer [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The antioxidant properties of rosemary extracts differ due to [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Rosemary can be taken in a wide range of forms including [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n The different forms of rosemary can produce different effects. The extracts especially differ depending on how the rosemary is extracted and what compounds are extracted.<\/p>\n Rosemary is made up of a wide variety of oils, phenolic acid derivatives, and phenolic diterpenes including [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n While rosemary is a safe and popular addition to a healthy diet, rosemary supplements have not been approved by the FDA for medical use. Supplements generally lack solid clinical research. Regulations set manufacturing standards for them but don’t guarantee that they’re safe or effective. Speak with your doctor before supplementing.<\/span><\/p>\n In a study of 144 volunteers, <\/span>aromatherapy with rosemary improved working memory performance, memory quality, and increased alertness. <\/b>However, memory speed declined compared to controls [<\/span>R<\/span><\/a>].<\/span><\/p>\n In a trial of 28 elderly subjects, low doses (750 mg) of <\/span>rosemary powder decreased the time taken to remember information<\/b>. However, at larger doses (>1500 mg) memory speed, attention, and quality of memory declined [<\/span>R<\/span><\/a>].<\/span><\/p>\n 20 volunteers scored better and more accurately in simple subtraction tests after being exposed to rosemary aromatherapy. The volunteers\u2019 reaction times were also shorter [<\/span>R<\/span><\/a>].<\/span><\/p>\n The following purported benefits are only supported by limited, low-quality clinical studies. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of rosemary for any of the below-listed uses. Remember to speak with a doctor before taking rosemary as a supplement, and never use it in place of something your doctor recommends or prescribes.<\/span><\/p>\n In a study of 10 healthy subjects, <\/span>rosemary extracts taken orally protected the skin from<\/b> UV<\/b><\/a> damage<\/b>. The extract appeared to become more effective the longer it was taken, with the greatest effect measured at the end of the 12 week trial [<\/span>R<\/span><\/a>].<\/span><\/p>\n More skin cells survived in the volunteers who received rosemary extracts. This protection may have applications in research on aging, cancer, or UV light damage [<\/span>R<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> R<\/span><\/a>].<\/span><\/p>\n Rosemary oil is also effective when applied directly to the bacteria (<\/span>P. acnes<\/span><\/i>) that cause acne. Further studies are required to determine whether rosemary oil could be an effective ingredient for acne-killing skin creams [<\/span>R<\/span><\/a>].<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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What It’s Made of<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Rosemary Health Benefits<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Possibly Effective For<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
1) Memory<\/span><\/h4>\n
Insufficient Evidence For<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
2) Skin Health<\/span><\/h4>\n