Rosemary for Hypotension

Rosemarinus officinalus

Rosemary is an herb that grows in the Mediterranean and is commonly used to season food while cooking. But it has also been used medicinally since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Rosemary, like other herbs traditionally used to stimulate circulation (such as ginseng and cayenne), is considered to be a warming and energizing herb. Herbalists believe that it not only improves circulation of the blood, but also helps the digestive system and the liver to work more efficiently, and supports the release of toxins from the nervous system. There have been no clinical studies to support the claims that herbalists make regarding rosemary’s effects on blood circulation, but a 1995 study that involved rubbing essential oil of rosemary into the scalp concluded that hair growth was stimulated because the rosemary improved circulation to the scalp.

Using Rosemary for Hypotension

Method

• Take rosemary capsules or extracts.
• Drink rosemary tea or tea that has rosemary as one of its ingredients.
• Cook with rosemary.

Why It Works

Scientists have not yet verified that rosemary can improve circulation. However, rosemary contains several phytochemicals and flavonoids that are thought to improve the health and tone of blood vessels. Two of the flavonoids it contains are diosmin and hesperidin. Many doctors prescribe a combination of diosmin and hesperidin for edema, the swelling of soft tissues when an excess of water accumulates in them. It is likely that improving blood and lymph fluid circulation is the reason these flavonoids are so helpful for edema. Scientists are also studying diosmin as a remedy for vein diseases, such as varicose veins, but so far the studies of this application have been inconclusive.

Precautions

Rosemary is a food herb and is generally considered to be safe in small to moderate doses, except for the rare person who is allergic to it. Large doses of rosemary, however, can cause serious side effects, such as vomiting, spasms, a coma, or pulmonary edema – liquid in the lungs. Essential oil of rosemary should never be ingested, as it can be just as toxic as taking large doses of dried rosemary.

If you are taking a prescription drug, you should consult your doctor before taking rosemary, because rosemary interacts with some drugs. Rosemary should also be avoided by people who have high blood pressure, ulcers, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative colitis, and by women who are pregnant or nursing. It is not known whether medicinal doses of rosemary are safe for children.

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