Rosemary will make your hair grow! (Rosemary)

Member Name: Karael

Product:	Rosemary
Date:	10/03/01 (6439 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great for cooking.

Disadvantages: Not suitable for pregnant women

Rosemary may be of interest to some readers as it is said to promote hair growth. If this should be the case, please keep reading! But first I'll give a few other details that hopefully may be of interest to everyone.

HISTORY
Rosemary has been used for hundreds of years in foods, medicines and also in the world of magic and witchcraft. It was considered an essential ingredient for potions to preserve long lasting love. This was probably based on the premise that rosemary is a memory improver. In other words your mind would be sufficiently stimulated so you couldn't conveniently, or otherwise, forget you had a love at home. It was often used at weddings and included in the brides bouquet.

A sprig of rosemary was worn, when required, as an amulet to keep away evil spirits and also placed above the bed to stop or prevent nighmares.

USES
Rosemary is still used in much the same way as in days gone by:

(a) It's a herb that is used with foods such as eggs, meat, fish and also in soups, stews and even sweet jellies.

I personally like it in omelettes. Fry some potatoes so they are nice and crisp and then mix with fresh rosemary. Make an omelette in the usual way and put the potato mixture on half of the omelette. Fold over and garnish with more rosemary and serve while still hot. Or try making a lentil and rosemary soup, very tasty!

The herb has an almost perfumed flavour which is very distinctive and it's good for you!

(b) Rosemary can be used for medicinal purposes both as an oil and as a tea. The tea is made as you would a normal cuppa. Use about one teaspoon of dried rosemary for each cup required. Pour on boiling water and allow to brew for a good five minutes. Then drink! This is said to be good for digestion, helps ease flatulence and colic, promotes appetite and stimulates the liver.

Rosemary oil is very strong and should therefore always be diluted befo
re use. Mix a few drops of the oil with a teaspoon of something like almond oil. If it is used neat the oil is absorbed by the body in too large amounts which can put a strain on internal organs. The diluted oil can be rubbed on the temples to help with headaches and such things as anxiety and depression.

(c) Now the hair!

There apears to be some truth in the fact that rosemary stimulates hair growth. This is thought to be due to the camphor content of the plant. To promote hair growth simply massage diluted oil into the scalp. Rosemary tea can also be used as a conditioner following a normal shampoo and rinse. This helps to develop highlights in dark hair and if mixed with sage will deepen the natural shade.

(d) & (e) Other uses include in potpourri (use the oil) and it may be found in Eau-de-Cologne, along with bergamot and cardomon.

HOW TO GROW
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is really a Meditarranean plant so it needs a sunny position and a dryish soil with some lime in it. It is an evergreen bush with leaves like pine needles and it is these that have the lovely smell. In spring it has clusters of small blue flowers and may grow up to 2m tall. There are also miniature varieties suitable for rockeries. One of the problems is that the bush does not like the cold or frost. It can, therefore, be grown in tubs or pots and moved somewhere warmer when necessary.

Cuttings can be taken in June. Plant and keep them out of the sun until the root system is well established.

AND FINALLY
Rosmeary can be grown just for it's appearance and perfume (which is said to help the memory) but it is a shame not to make good use of the leaves for cooking and tea. One not so good point for men is that in 'days of olde' a rosemary bush flourishing in the garden indicated that the wife was the 'master' of the house. But on the other hand it was also said to preserve youthfulness. So you tak
e your pick - a woman as boss or eternal youthfulness? What would you prefer?

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