Hair Care
Rosemary
A wild rockery shrub, rosemary, from the Lamiaceae family, can reach 2 m in height when cultivated. It is easily recognizable all year round, growing among Mediterranean bushes: its evergreen leaves are curled at their edges. They are much longer than they are wide, dark green in color, shiny on their upper surface and whitish on the underside. Its flowers, most often a purplish-blue tint (white ones are rarer), are gathered in short clusters from February to May. Their calyx has a downy appearance, the corolla is bilabiate and has four stamens, two of which protrude beyond the upper lip. The fruit of rosemary, globose in shape, is a brown tetrachene.
History of rosemary:
Rosemary is the subject of numerous historical and legendary mentions. The ancients held it in great veneration. It was used generously at all festivals, whether wedding ceremonies, funerals, or secular celebrations. Brides wore rosemary wreaths, symbols of love and fidelity, while guests received branches adorned with multicolored silk ribbons. Sprigs of rosemary were also placed under pillows to ward off evil spirits and nightmares.
The Egyptians placed sprigs of rosemary in the tombs of pharaohs to strengthen their souls. Rosemary is a symbol of remembrance and friendship. Greek students made wreaths from it, which they wore during exams to stimulate their memory.
During plague epidemics, rosemary was very popular: branches were burned to purify the air and sachets were carried around, which were inhaled when passing through areas affected by this terrible disease. The story also goes that the Queen of Hungary, who suffered from chronic rheumatism, was relieved of her problems thanks to a rosemary remedy when she was 72 years old.
In some rural areas, rosemary is steeped in red wine to make a fortifying drink. Rosemary is also used as an alcohol-based extract for wounds and as an ointment or balm to relieve rheumatism and neuralgia in both humans and animals.
Rosemary essential oil is widely used as an aromatic component in the cosmetics industry (soaps, perfumes, creams, etc.), but also in the food industry (alcoholic beverages, desserts, sweets, lipid preservation, etc.).
Medicinal properties of rosemary:
• Internal use:
- Promotes digestion, regulates lipids, improves blood circulation: cholagogue (helps with the evacuation of bile), antispasmodic.
- Diuretic: it reduces the risk of kidney stones or gout and prevents rheumatism.
- Anti-stress, anti-fatigue: it prevents insomnia and helps combat intellectual overwork.
- Antioxidant effect: against cellular aging.
- For skin conditions: infections, wounds, cleansing of the skin and genital areas.
- Accelerates hair growth.
- Helps fight certain pathogens: antimycotic and antibacterial.
- Relieves rheumatism.
• Usual therapeutic indications:
- The choline it contains acts as a lipid regulator in the liver and promotes digestion.
- Its diuretic properties facilitate renal activity and contribute to the prevention of rheumatism.
- Its antioxidant properties have a stimulating effect on brain activity and improve memory.
• Usual therapeutic indications:
Rosemary is also suitable as a fatigue-reducing herb, stimulating those suffering from asthenia, while also acting as a preventative against insomnia. It has antiseptic qualities that make it a good agent for cleansing skin and sensitive areas or acting directly on infected wounds. It can also be used for its cough suppressant properties.
Active ingredients:
Its essential oils contain essences of camphor, cineole, verbenone, and pinene. Rosemary contains flavonoids (diosmin, luteolin), diterpenes such as rosmadial and carnosolic acid, and lipids (alkanes and alkenes). It also contains steroids and triterpenes (aleanolic acid, ursotic acid), and phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid). Phytoestrogens have effects similar to those of female hormones.
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