You may have added a few sprigs of rosemary to your roast potatoes to enhance the deliciousness – but how do you use rosemary oil to boost your health?

Great question. No matter how tasty it may be, rosemary is a fragrant herb that has so many more benefits than improving your Sunday dinner!

But what’s the best way to use it? That’s exactly what we explore in this article.

A member of the mint family, rosemary is one of the most aromatic and distinctive evergreen herbs in the world.

The needle-like leaves of this perennial plant are often used as a food seasoning and in perfumes due to its woody and herbaceous aroma. During the Middle Ages, rosemary branches were often burned to protect against both bubonic plague and evil spirits!

What is rosemary oil? It’s simply the essential oil extracted from the leaves and flowers of the shrub through steam distillation. Rosemary oil has a plethora of health benefits and has been used in medicine since ancient times.

Where do we start? From hair loss to digestive health, rosemary oil is a worthwhile addition to any medicine cabinet.

Some studies have shown that inhaling rosemary can help boost memory and concentration – perfect for exam time! Meanwhile, a 2020 study suggested that compounds in rosemary are promising in the treatment of nervous system pathological conditions including anxiety, depression and Alzheimer’s disease, among others.

It is also understood that the oils in rosemary are beneficial for the digestive tract and can help relieve an upset stomach. However, this is only when massaged into the abdomen externally (never consume rosemary essential oil, which can be toxic). If you do want to consume rosemary, use the leaves in a freshly-brewed tea.

If you are concerned about hair loss, note that rosemary is said to increase the strength and growth rate of hair when applied to the hairline. One 2015 study that focused on rosemary oil as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia found that the oil was effective at increasing hair count significantly after six months.

For us, the prime benefit of rosemary oil is its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, making it an effective pain reliever for joint and muscular aches and soreness. Research from 2015 ‘supports the use of rosemary in the management of pain and indicate a therapeutic potential of rosemary essential oil in combination with analgesic drugs’.

These anti-inflammatory properties are one of the reasons why we use rosemary oil in our bestselling WholyMe Relief Balm. This popular remedy combines rosemary with 11 other effective natural ingredients to create a buttery balm with potent pain-relieving properties.

Rosemary essential oil is different to the rosemary plant, so simply pouring it onto food and consuming is out of the question.

So, if you can’t ingest it, how do you use rosemary oil effectively?

There are two ways. Firstly, you can inhale it, either directly from the bottle, by placing a few drops onto a tissue, or by adding drops to an aromatherapy diffuser. You can try the inhalation method if you want to benefit from the memory-boosting or stress-relieving effects of rosemary oil.

For sore joints and muscles, you can apply rosemary oil directly to the affected area, where it will absorb into the bloodstream and help ease pain. Before doing this, you should dilute the oil with a neutral carrier oil, such as olive, jojoba, sweet almond, or coconut oil to avoid skin irritation.