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How does rosemary help with headaches?
Rosemary is an amazing herb that can be used for a number of health benefits. Its reputation as a natural remedy for headaches comes from its ability to increase circulation.
Not all headaches are the same. It’s important to know the type of headache rosemary can help remedy.
What type of headache is it?
Rosemary’s warming, stimulating properties make it useful for headaches caused by a lack of blood flow or blood that is stagnant or sluggish. This would be referred to as a cold headache.
Symptoms of a cold headache include a dull, achy or throbbing pain that feels improvement with heat.
A hot headache is sharp, with a stabbing pain that worsens with heat. In this case, rosemary would not be helpful.
Knowing the type of headache you are treating will determine the best remedy to use. Rosemary is an amazing natural remedy for cold headaches.
More About Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)…
Rosemary Properties
- Warm
- Dry
- Stimulant
Parts Used
- Leaves
Influence
- Circulatory System
- Nervous System
- Respiratory System
- Digestive System
Rosemary Uses
- Headache Relief (For Headaches Caused by Slow/Sluggish Blood Flow)
- Hair Growth (Rosemary Oil Used Topically)
- Improve Memory
- Weak/Fatigue States
- Cold/Depressed States
- Poor Circulation
- Poor Digestion
Rosemary should not be used in cases of high blood pressure or for health conditions made worse with heat.
Consult your healthcare professional for safe and appropriate medicinal use of rosemary.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. If you are in need of medical attention, seek the advice of a trained medical professional.
How do I make Rosemary Tincture?
This is an easy and simple way to make your own rosemary tincture using rosemary from your local grocery store.
If you already have a rosemary plant or want to grow your own, by all means use what you have and do what works best for you.
- Using a cutting board and sharp knife, chop rosemary leaves into small pieces. I will also use the stems if they are still tender and easy to cut, otherwise compost.
- Place chopped rosemary into a mason jar.
- Using 80 proof vodka (40% alcohol content), fill jar so that all plant material is covered and alcohol is approximately one to two inches more in volume than the herb.
- Mason jars usually come with glass or metal lids. If using a metal lid, use a square of wax paper to separate the metal from the alcohol so it does not rust.
- Label your jar with the name of herb, parts used, type of alcohol and percentage as well as date made.
- Place in dark cupboard, giving a shake once in awhile.
- Let the tincture steep for 4-6 weeks. You will see the medicinal properties of the rosemary causing the alcohol to grow darker in colour.
- Once your tincture is ready, use a cheesecloth lined strainer to pour out your tincture into a clean mason jar. I usually leave the jar I’m straining upside down for an hour or so to let the liquid separate from the plant material.
- Once liquid has been strained, compost the plant material.
- Add a lid and label to your finished tincture and store in a dark cupboard until needed.
- Or pour into tincture bottles for convenience.
- Remember to label your tincture with the name of plant, parts of the plant used, alcohol and date it was made. You can add more details if you like such as Latin name of the plant, ratio of herb to solvent used, source of ingredients (wild/organic), and dosage recommendations.
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General herbal tincture dosage…
She recommends beginning with a small dose (3-5 drops) when you are new to a herb. Notice how you feel, whether that particular plant resonates or not before increasing the dosage.
A general dosage guideline…
One dropper full (approximately 1/4 tsp) taken one to three times a day.
For an acute situation, 1/2 – 1 tsp taken four to six times a day.
As a general guideline for children, one drop of tincture per 5lbs of body weight taken one to three times a day.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. If you are in need of medical attention, seek the advice of a trained medical professional.
FAQS…
What is a tincture?
- Tinctures are liquid extracts made using herbs and alcohol. The alcohol (usually 80 – 100 proof vodka) extracts the medicinal properties from the plant as it steeps for approximately 4-6 weeks. The plant material is then filtered from the liquid, creating a tincture ready to be used.
Why make it?
- There are so many reasons to make your own tinctures. They are easy and cost effective to make, you control what goes in it and they have a long shelf life. They are also a great way to have access to herbal medicine regardless of the seasons or if you’re on the go.
How long are tinctures good for?
- Tinctures have a long shelf life. Some herbalists will say tinctures are good indefinitely while others say a few years.
What tincture dosage should I use?
- As a general guideline, one dropper full taken one to three times a day.
What is the folk method of tincture making?
- There are a few different ways to make tinctures. I use the folk method of tincture making which is a simple, practical way for the home herbalist as it relies more on an estimation of herb to alcohol ratio rather than an exact measurement of weight and volume.
