All About Rosemary | Know Your Spice Rusmari (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Rosemary or Rosmarinus officinalis is an evergreen shrub or a small tree from the Lamiaceae (Mint Family).

Rusmari a the native of Mediterranean region, is one of the plants that, according to the Capitulare de villis, was grown in medieval monasteries. It is now cultivated in Europe and California in the USA.

It is also grown in Algeria, China, Middle East, Morocco, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, and to a limited extent in India.

Temperate climate is suitable for the cultivation of Rusmari. The soil properties influence the yield and the composition of rosemary oil.

In Latin tongue, the plant was called rosmarinus; this is interpreted as made from ros dew (akin to Sanskrit rasa [रस] sap, juice) and marinus belonging to the sea (from Latin mare sea)

The herb has been used since the time of the early Greeks and Romans. Greek scholars often wore a garland of the herb on their heads to help their memory during examinations.

In the ninth century, Charlemagne insisted that the herb be grown in his royal gardens. The Eau de Cologne that Napoleon Bonaparte used was made with Rosmarinus officinalis.

The herb was also the subject of many poems and was mentioned in five of Shakespeare’s plays.

A sprig of the herb was often placed in the hands of the deceased at a funeral because it is a symbol of remembrance.

Brides often wore rosemary at their weddings because it was also a symbol of happiness, loyalty and love.

Legend has it that rosemary originally had white flowers which were changed to blue ones when the Virgin Mary placed her cloak upon it while resting during her flight to Egypt.

Dried sprigs of rusmari even showed up in Egyptian tombs from 3,000 B.C.

Dioscorides, a contemporary of both Pliny the Elder and Galen, wrote of rosemary in his opus De Materia Medica, the gold standard about the use & identification of medicinal herbs for 1,400 years.

Rosemary was cultivated by the Spanish in the 13th century where it became a popular condiment for salted meats from the 15th to 18th centuries.

• The herb is known to naturally repel moths and give your clothes an earthy pine scent.
• You can also place a drop or two of its essential oil on your pillows to help you unwind and fall into a relaxed sleep.
• It is known to naturally treat poor digestion, depression, headaches and sore muscles.
• It is widely used to season foods, particularly lamb, duck, chicken, sausages, seafood, stuffings, stews, soups, potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, other vegetables, and beverages.
• Both fresh and dried leaves of the herb have been used for their characteristic aroma in food cooking or consumed in small amount as herbal tea (recipe is given below).
• Its extracts are routinely employed as natural antioxidant to improve the shelf life of perishable foods.
• The plant is also known to be employed in traditional medicines in many countries even far beyond its native Mediterranean region where it grows wild.
• The other major use of rosemary is in the perfumery industry where the essential oils are employed as natural ingredients of fragrances.
• Infused into olive oil and use it externally for skin irritations like eczema and other irritations listed above.
• Rusmari-infused oil is an intensive treatment for bad dandruff of hair loss and can be rubbed on hair, left for at least an hour and washed out. This really improves scalp condition!
• Rusmari infused vinegar is used as a tonic hair rinse after shampooing and is useful to stimulate hair regrowth. It’s high antioxidant properties inhibit greying.

The herb has a strong piney, resinous flavor and can easily take over a dish, so it should be used sparingly, especially with fish or vegetables.

When stored properly, the herb will last around 10 to 14 days in the refrigerator. But if have more than you can use in two weeks, try freezing or drying it.

Simply wrap your rosemary sprigs in a damp paper towel and place it in a ziplock bag. Seal the bag and place it in the crisper of your refrigerator. This should keep it fresh for up to three weeks.

• Dried rosemary is a great substitute for fresh rosemary.
• Both oregano & basil work as a substitute.
• Dried savory, tarragon, and thyme are all suitable alternatives to rosemary.

You can find dried rosemary in the spice section of a grocery store. Fresh rosemary may be sold with other herbs in the vegetables section.

If buying online, try this link.

The following are health benefits of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) or Rusmari

• Health Benefits of Rosemary as an Antioxidant – Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are thought to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation.
• Health Benefits of Rusmari for Memory – Scientists have found that rosemary may also be good for your brain. Rosemary contains an ingredient called carnosic acid, which can fight off damage by free radicals in the brain.
• Health Benefits of Rusmari as an Anti-inflammatory Agent – Rosemary is a rich source of anti-inflammatory compounds. They help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation.
• Health Benefits of Rosemary as an Antimicrobial Agent – Rosemary is specifically powerful against bacterial infections. It is linked to preventing staph infections.
• Health Benefits of Rusmari for Memory Function – Rosemary is considered a cognitive stimulant and can help improve memory performance and quality. It is also known to boost alertness, intelligence, and focus.
• Health Benefits of Rosemary for Mood – The aroma of rosemary has been linked to improving mood, clearing the mind, and relieving stress in those with chronic anxiety or stress hormone imbalances.
• Health Benefits of Rusmari for Hair Care: The oil of rosemary has been known to promote hair growth prevent baldness, slow graying, and treat dandruff and dry scalp.
• Health Benefits of Rosemary for Digestion: Rosemary is often used for digestion problems, including heartburn, intestinal gas, liver and gallbladder complaints, and loss of appetite.
• Health Benefits of Rusmari against Cancer: A Research published in Oncology Reports, found that “crude ethanolic rosemary extract (RO)” slowed the spread of human leukemia and breast carcinoma cells.”
• Health Benefits of Rosemary for Eyes: Carnosic acid, which is a major component of rosemary, can significantly promote eye health.
• Health Benefits of Rusmari against Diabetes: Studies have shown that compounds in rosemary tea may lower blood sugar, suggesting that rosemary could have potential applications for managing high blood sugar among people with diabetes.