Remember Rosemary: Medicine + Magic for All
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Rosemary harvest in Morocco
I’ve always, always loved rosemary. I’d never considered why this might be, but simply accepted it. I adore the fragrance, but there are plenty of delicious herbs out there…why this longtime love affair with rosemary? I guess I always credited my early cornball adoration of Practical Magic, which famously (yes, famously) made rosemary a household necessity for all budding pre-teen witches of the 90s, and cute meddling aunties alike.
I often find that the medicines we need grow where and when they are most needed, and intend to serve not only through holistic medicine, but spiritual too. They remind us who we are, and what we should be paying closer attention to so that we may grow healthy and strong in body, mind, and spirit alike. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I find myself surrounded by rosemary. My neighborhood is now speckled with the friendly pop of periwinkle flowers decorating each spike. I adore them from my window during this quarantine and on my dog walks around the neighborhood, gratefully adding a few into my tea from my small stock I keep indoors. I feel at home with rosemary; it’s a very sweet and accepting plant. It does well in dry and unruly soil; easily agreeing to find peace where planted, reminding us to do the same as best as we can.
During my journey in Morocco, I found the core reason for feeling so deeply comfortable and trusting of this particular herb. I hadn’t realized beforehand just how much rosemary grows there. It has been a long-used medicine of my heritage. What a light-bulb moment! I’m sure all the near ancestors were chuckling and rolling their eyes, amused by my amazement. As I traveled from the city to the mountains and to the coast, I found myself continually greeted by rosemary bushes, each reaching out as they do, or waving in the wind. This is the time of year when it is harvested, gathered and distilled - when the flowers open their eyes and say “go.”
Traditionally grown and harvested throughout North Africa and the Mediterranean, as well as around the world throughout time, rosemary has been used as a powerful herbal tonic and stimulant, used for headache relief, head colds, nervous tension, pain relief, and to aid in digestion issues. Phytochemicals in rosemary demonstrate hundreds of biological benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antispasmodic, antiviral, and tumor-fighting activities. It’s anesthetic (helps to numb pain), analgesic (actively reliving pain), anticonvulsant (reducing epilepsy and other forms of convulsion), cancer-preventive and liver protective. A perfect friend to have during times of sickness or unrest. Its medicinal properties have been applied in hospitals, healing spaces and hovels alike, and thankfully still are.
Diluted* and applied topically, rosemary essential oil is known to reduce pain, soothe inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and aid in the relief of headaches and muscle spasms. Through massage, rosemary oil stimulates blood circulation. This helps the entire body and mind function at a higher and calmer level, from thought to digestion. The anti-microbial, antiseptic, astringent and antioxidant properties of this oil make it a great addition to basic skincare for all skin types, meant to soothe dry or oily skin, eczema, inflammation, and acne. Practice self-massage while just out of the shower or bath. This gives the body the chance to absorb the oils, especially while muscles are already relaxed from the warm water.
*If you choose to use rosemary essential oil, be sure to dilute with a carrier oil. This can be anything from coconut oil to sesame. Some of my favorites are jojoba and sweet almond, which have very little fragrance ensuring that you’re able to enjoy the smell of the rosemary above that of the carrier.
Magically speaking, rosemary is a symbol of friendship, loyalty and remembrance. It’s been historically utilized in funerals and weddings alike, as well as other ceremonies. Rosemary is a joiner of life and death, reminding us of the magic of this suspended moment in between. It’s one of the original magical plant tools, used for incense intended to clear and protect. Because it grows in full sun, it’s associated with the sun and solar deities, the sign of Leo, and the element of Fire and sometimes air. When planted (in the ground or in a pot), they are said to attract faerie folk, and discourage thieves. Ancient Greek scholars wore rosemary garlands to sharpen their minds. You’ve likely seen the well known images of laurel garlands around the head, as well as olive leaf, oak, myrtle and grasses. Different crowns of various plants were worn to not only symbolize and reinforce an individuals glory and respective purpose, but to reflect the deities who wore such adornments too.
Homemade Disinfectant Spray
Recipe & Application
At home, I use rosemary in my tea, in my tub, and in my homemade disinfectant spray; a very simple to make and effective cleanser.
All you need is:
a spray bottle
1/4th bottle of alcohol
water
5 drops rosemary essential oil
If you’d like, you can add a spring of rosemary, or some drops of tea tree essential oil, or eucalyptus essential oil.
Spray on your bedding, clothes, or anywhere you’d like to clear energy or cleanse germs. If you do not have a spray bottle, you can also mix and apply to a cloth for surface wipe-downs.
Be gentle with yourself during this foggy time, and employ rosemary to help you heal and remember. Do research on your own lineage, and find out how this universal herb has been used for your ancestors. If you feel so inspired, burn a candle with a drop of rosemary oil to honor your lineage, or leave a sprig on your altar to give thanks for those who have brought you here.
Rosemary Essential Oil’s chemical composition consists of the following main constituents:
α -Pinene, Camphor, 1,8-Cineol, Camphene, Limonene, and Linalool.
α -Pinene:
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-septic
Expectorant
Bronchodilator
Camphor:
Cough suppressant
Decongestant
Febrifuge
Anesthetic
Antimicrobial
Anti-inflammatory
1,8-Cineol:
Analgesic
Anti-bacterial
Anti-fungal
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-spasmodic
Anti-viral
Cough suppressant
Camphene:
Anti-oxidant
Soothing
Anti-inflammatory
Limonene:
Nervous system stimulant
Psychostimulant
Mood-balancing
Appetite suppressant
Detoxifying
Linalool:
Sedative
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-anxiety
Analgesic
