4 Ways To Use Rosemary Everyday

Salvia rosmarinus- Rosemary

I am officially obsessed with rosemary.
It’s the embodiment of beauty, multi-use, easy to grow, hardy, fresh and supportive for most folks.

Most don’t know that rosemary is actually in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and similarly to other plants in this family it contains large amounts of volatile oils which are responsible for its favourable scent and taste chosen for cooking.

But rosemary has SO many medicinal benefits:

✹ Liver Support

✹ Concentration

✹ Hair Growth

✹ Sore Muscles

✹Digestion

HERE ARE 4 WAYS TO USE ROSEMARY EVERYDAY:

Rosemary Tea

Rosemary is often not drank on its own as a tea but is occasionally found in blends. If you are new to drinking rosemary tea on its own I would recommend mixing it with a bit of mint and honey to compliment and balance out its unique flavour.

Rosemary tea is the easiest way to use this plant. Because it is so rich in natural oils responsible for giving off the strong scent it does, it infuses well into hot water.

Drinking rosemary tea can be helpful for indigestion such as gas and bloating, after a heavy meal to soothe the stomach, to support peripheral blood flow, concentration for studying, as well as help to clear your airways and support your immune system if you feel you are getting sick/ are already sick with a cold.

How to:

Steep 2 tsp. dried rosemary (or sub 1tsp for mint), or 4 sprigs fresh rosemary with 1 cup of hot water. Place lid on top of cup to prevent the therapeutic oils from evaporating out. Let steep for at least 10 minutes. Add sweetener as desired.

Rosemary Hair Rinse

Rosemary is a supportive addition to anyone’s haircare routine. Its known to help stimulate the scalp and support hair growth, as well as reduce itchiness and dandruff due to its antimicrobial benefits. It also feels amazing!

The addition of the apple cider vinegar helps to balance the pH of your hair and often helps to increase shine and softness! It is additional (but recommended) and the rinse can be made without it.

How to:

Steep 4 tsp dried rosemary or a handful of fresh rosemary in 2 cups of how water. Cover with a lid to prevent the therapeutic oils it contains from evaporating and let steep until completely cooled. You can also place it in the fridge for a few hours to speed up this process. Once cooled strain the rosemary out of the liquid and add in 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar into the liquid. During your next shower, after your regular washing hair care routine, slowly pour the hair rinse over your scalp and throughout your hair, slowly massaging the scalp slowly to disperse the mixture. Let mixture sit for a few minutes before rinsing off if desired (but not necessary!). Additionally you can add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to the mixture before using if you deal with dandruff and want more scalp stimulation. Your hair should smell fresh and your scalp should feel incredible.

Rosemary Honey

Rosemary infused honey is sooo yummy! It can be used in replacement of however your favourite way to use honey is. You can add it to tea, on toast, drizzled over a pizza, drizzled over fresh fruit or in desserts to add an additional complex flavour.

Therapeutically a spoonful can be taken if you are dealing with a tricky cough or feel your voice getting hoarse from sickness or overuse. Great as a cough remedy for kids over the age of two as well!

How to:

Fill a jar with fresh rosemary (taken off of the sprig). If your rosemary is wet or recently harvested, I recommend letting it sit out on a tray in your kitchen to dry just slightly to reduce the amount of moisture added to the honey (moisture can cause unwanted microbial growth!) Additionally you can use dried rosemary but the potency of the flavour won’t be as vibrant. If using dried use half the amount as fresh.

Melt your honey on low heat if not already in a liquid state. You can also use a double boiler by placing the honey in a bowl over top of hot water in a pot, or placing your honey jar in a pot with hot water. You want to honey to be liquid but not heated too much as you want to keep the enzymes it contains intact! These can be damaged if the honey is heated too much.

Once your honey is liquid pour it into your jar or rosemary, making sure the rosemary is submerged and covered by the honey.

Let the mixture sit for at least a few days to infuse. I often let mine sit for a few weeks in a sunny warm space to really allow the rosemary flavour to infuse the honey.

Once it is ready to your liking you can strain the rosemary from the honey! If your honey has solidified you may need to re-melt it before straining using the double boiler method mentioned above.

I recommend using honey locally to you if possible for additional health benefits and to support your local farmers!

If made properly your honey infusion should last for up to a year on the counter.

Rosemary Smoke Cleansing

Smoke cleansing is an age old ritual used in various cultures around the world. Everyone’s purpose of use is individual to them but it’s often used with the intention of cleansing and purifying a space.

Burning of rosemary is a favourite of mine as it releases its aromatics sought after for its uplifting qualities. It is used for increased concentration,stress relief and energetic protection.

Note: Often times white sage is used and sought after as a “smudge.” I encourage most folks to rethink this as it is a sacred North American Indigenous practice that shouldn’t be appropriated (white sage is also an at risk plant; this is furthermore a reason to use alternatives if this isn’t a plant from your lineage!) I encourage folks to explore their own cultural roots when choosing a plant to use for a burning ritual.

How to:

Option #1-Loose Herb:

Place a small handful of dried rosemary in a dish large enough to keep the herb protected from its surroundings. Light the dried herb and let burn.

Option #2- Bundled Herb:

Collet a handful of fresh rosemary sprigs roughly the same length. Assemble them so the leaf ends are all pointed in the same direction. You can also add in other plants to your choosing such as lavender, mugwort or thyme. Using a cotton or hemp twine (or similar material) wrap the rosemary securely so it is snug in the twine. You want to use as little of the twine as possible, but enough to keep the bundle secure. Once your bundle is wrapped let it try for at least a few days or ideally a few weeks so the rosemary is more combustible and able to burn. Once you are ready to use it light the end of your rosemary bundle and place in a dish large enough to hold the bundle as it burns. Your bundle should last a while to be used on multiple occasions!

IMPORTANT: Only burn in a well ventilated space clear from any flammables. Keep watch of the herb as it is burning. Extra caution is always warranted whenever you are burning indoors.