Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus blesses us with their vibrant aroma. Roadsides and neighborhoods boast wise, old rosemary plants. Many of which we simply walk past. Forgetting to say hi to this old friend.
Sometimes we forget how special something is when we see it all the time. Magic can become background noise. Nature gracefully reminds us to tune back in, to remember the medicine all around us. And rosemary is a plant that awakens this sense. Calling us back in to the earth, to self, and to presence.
Bringing us back to the thread of connection. The one where “when we connect with nature, we connect with ourselves- and from this space we can connect deeper with the world around us.” A phrase I live and breathe, and the true essence of Lively Wellness.
So today we talk about this plant that calls us into our senses- rosemary!
A divinely wise plant being that stimulates and warms the tissue states. We often see this herb in fall and winter cooking, but they are also an amazing medicine and plant ally.
Rosemary has highly volatile oils that help to move stagnation and waste. These volatile oils can help with gas and wind tension. The aroma calms our sense while bringing a stimulating focus to our brains.
Rosemary is very much a brain herb to me. They reflect clarity and calm to the beholder. The enhance circulation and have an affinity for the blood and the mind.
This is a plant ally I often find on walks. If I find myself in a state of anxiety or scattered energy I will rub a leaf of a nearby rosemary plant. Taking a concious moment to waft the medicinal aroma. This is usually a great time to set an intention and call awareness to whatever sensation I am currently feeling. It provides a moment of connection and always makes me feel held and supported. This is a plant that you can find everywhere! Which makes them a great travel ally when you are out and about and are needing some familiar earth energy.
This plant is not only supportive in the fall and winter when we are seeking more warming foods and spices- they are equally supportive in the spring and summer when energy may be more scattered and boisterous.
One of my favorite preparations for rosemary is an infused oil for topical use. I take freshly harvested rosemary and place them into a carrier oil like sesame oil. This same method can be used for making an internal use oil. Plants are simply amazing that way.
I let those herbs soak in the oil for a month or moon cycle. And then I process the medicine- separating the oil from the plant material; now infused with medicinal goodness.
I adorn the medicine by placing it in jars and adding a sprig of the rosemary to each jar. I use this oil on my hands and breathe in the aromatics when I need some grounding. But my most frequent use for this oil is as a scalp oil during the transition of seasons. As summer transitions to fall I find myself needing a lot more hydration- both internally and on the skin level.
Rosemary’s highly volatile oils with antimicrobial properties are very supportive to a scalp with build up. I massage the oil into my scalp and let sit for a couple hours or overnight. Then I rinse in my usual shower routine. I only do this about 2 times a month during the transition from summer to fall and fall to winter. I find it to be a very supportive remedy.
I even like to put a couple drops of the oil in the bath and let the steam vaporize the aromatics. This is gentle on the skin where as essential oils are very potent and can be very harming to the surface of our skin and also nasal passages.
Simply put…
Rosemary is one of those plants that can’t be underestimated- for their medicine is wise and substantial.
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salvia rosmarinus
Family: lamiaceae
Native habitat:
Mediterranean Region
Naturalized in North and South America, parts of Asia and China
Parts Used:
Shoots & leaves
Herbal Energetics:
Temperature: Warming
Moisture: Drying
Tone: Stimulating (also very relaxant)
Tastes:
Pungent/Spicy
Herbal Actions:
Circulatory stimulation
Neurotonic
Nervous system tonic
Antimicrobial
Anti-inflammatory
Tissue States:
Rosemary may help balance these tissue states:
-laxity
-damp/stagnation
-cold/depression
Subtle body wisdom from Rosemary:
Center yourself with calm focus
Don’t take things too personally.
Tune into your values and trust your instinct.
Don’t force doors open that you should be closing.
Trust that all anxiety eventually passes.
Don’t let emotion cloud your judgement.
Use your senses to soothe and support you.
Please remember to always use at least 3 identification sources when wildcrafting. Also be mindful of where you are harvesting. For example, making sure the plants are not near roadways or somewhere they can become polluted by exhaust or pesticides.
Disclaimer: These articles are for educational purposes only, they are not a substitution for professional medical advice, and as the reader you are responsible for your own health decisions.
