14 Benefits and Uses of Rosemary Essential Oil

5/5/2563 14 Benefits and Uses of Rosemary Essential Oil
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NUTRITION u Evidence Based
14 Benefits and Uses of Rosemary

Essential Oil
Medically reviewed by Marsha McCulloch, MS, RD — Written by on November
15, 2018
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen shrub with needle-like

leaves and a woody aroma (1  ).
Though best known as a food seasoning, it is one of the most popular

aromatic and medicinal plants worldwide (2  ).
Rosemary’s essential oil — which holds the plant’s core components, or

essence — is extracted and sold in small bottles. Despite its name, it is not
a true oil, as it doesn’t contain fat (1  , 3  ).
Due to rosemary oil’s use in folk medicine, many scientists are now
testing its potential health benefits (4  ).
Though most of this research is just beginning, it supports some

traditional uses of the oil and illustrates possible new uses.
Here are 14 potential benefits and uses of rosemary essential oil.
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https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rosemary-oil-benefits 1/17
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1. May Improve Brain Function

In ancient Greece and Rome, rosemary was thought to strengthen
memory (5).
Research indicates that inhaling rosemary oil helps prevent the

breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical important for thinking,
concentration and memory (6  , 7  ).
When 20 young adults were asked math questions in a small room

diffused with rosemary oil, their speed and accuracy increased in direct
proportion to the duration the oil was diffused.
Additionally, their blood levels of certain rosemary compounds likewise

increased — illustrating that rosemary can enter your body through
breathing alone (6  ).
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Similarly, nursing students who breathed rosemary oil while taking a test
reported increased concentration and information recall compared to
breathing lavender oil or no essential oil at all (8  ).
Other research suggests that breathing rosemary and other essential oils
may improve brain function in older adults with dementia, including those
with Alzheimer’s disease (9  ).
Keep in mind that more research is needed.
SUMMARY
Breathing rosemary oil may help you focus and remember
information. It may also aid your memory as you age, but more
research is needed.
2. Stimulates Hair Growth

One of the most common types of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia,
better known as male pattern baldness, though it can also affect females
(10).
Rosemary oil treats androgenetic alopecia by preventing a byproduct of

testosterone from attacking your hair follicles, which is the cause of this
condition (11  ).
When men with androgenetic alopecia massaged diluted rosemary oil

into their scalp twice daily for six months, they experienced the same
increase in hair thickness as those who used minoxidil (Rogaine), a
common hair regrowth remedy.
Additionally, those who used the rosemary oil reported less scalp itching
compared to minoxidil, which suggests that rosemary may be more
tolerable (12  ).
Other research indicates that rosemary oil may fight patchy hair loss, or
alopecia areata, which affects up to half the population below age 21 and
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about 20% of people above 40 (13  ).
When people with alopecia areata rubbed a rosemary essential oil blend
into their scalp each day for seven months, 44% showed improvement in
their hair loss compared to only 15% in the control group, who used the
neutral oils jojoba and grapeseed (14  ).
SUMMARY
Rosemary oil may combat certain types of hair loss, including
male pattern baldness and patchy hair loss.
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3. May Help Relieve Pain

In folk medicine, rosemary is utilized as a mild pain reliever (15  ).
In a two-week study, stroke survivors with shoulder pain who received a

rosemary oil blend with acupressure for 20 minutes twice daily
experienced a 30% reduction in pain. Those who received only
acupressure had a 15% reduction in pain (16  ).
Additionally, an animal study determined that rosemary oil was slightly

more effective for pain than acetaminophen, a common over-the-counter
pain medication (15  ).
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SUMMARY
Rosemary oil is known in folk medicine as a pain reliever.

Preliminary studies support its pain relief benefits and suggest
that it may be more effective than acetaminophen.
4. Repels Certain Bugs

For deterring harmful insects that may bite you or infest your garden,
consider rosemary oil as a natural alternative to chemical products.
When a rosemary-oil-based pesticide, EcoTrol, was sprayed on

greenhouse tomato plants, it reduced the population of two-spotted
spider mites by 52% without harming the plants (17  ).
Rosemary also helps repel certain blood-sucking insects that can spread
harmful viruses and bacteria.
When rosemary oil was measured against 11 other essential oils, it had the
longest repellent effect on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread the
Zika virus. A dilution of 12.5% rosemary oil repelled 100% of the
mosquitoes for 90 minutes (18  , 19).
Additionally, a spray containing 10% of rosemary oil was similarly effective

as the chemical insecticide bifenthrin for controlling the spread of black-
legged ticks — which harbor Lyme disease — in tick-infested areas in the
northeastern US (20  ).
SUMMARY
Rosemary oil is used in natural pesticides to kill certain insects.
Additionally, the oil helps repel some blood-sucking insects, such
as particular mosquitoes and ticks.
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5. May Eases Stress

Many factors can cause stress — including school tests. Inhaling rosemary
oil may help reduce test anxiety.
When nursing students breathed rosemary oil from an inhaler before and
during test time, their pulse decreased by about 9% — while no significant
change occurred without rosemary oil (8  ).
Because increased pulse rates reflect short-term stress and anxiety,

rosemary oil may naturally reduce stress (21  ).
Additionally, when 22 young adults sniffed rosemary oil for 5 minutes,

their saliva had 23% lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol compared
to those who smelled a non-aromatic compound (22  ).
Increased cortisol levels can suppress your immune system, contribute to

insomnia and cause mood swings, among other potential problems (23).
SUMMARY
Simply smelling rosemary oil may ease your stress levels in
situations like exam taking. Rosemary may reduce levels of
cortisol, a hormone that can have harmful effects on your body.
6. May Increase Circulation

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Poor circulation is a common complaint. You may notice it most in your
hands and feet.
If you experience cold fingers and toes — even in relatively warm

temperatures — rosemary oil is worth considering.
In one study, a woman with Raynaud’s disease — which impairs

circulation — massaged her hands with a rosemary oil blend, finding that
it helped warm her fingers more than a neutral oil. These effects were
confirmed by thermal imaging (24  ).
If you have Raynaud’s disease, blood vessels in your fingers and toes
constrict when you’re cold or stressed, causing them to lose their color
and turn cold.
Rosemary oil may help by expanding your blood vessels, thereby

warming your blood so that it reaches your fingers and toes more easily
(25  ).
More research is needed to confirm these effects — but rosemary may

prove a worthwhile, low-cost experiment.
SUMMARY
If you experience cold fingers or toes, massaging with rosemary
oil may help warm them. It may aid conditions like Raynaud’s
disease, but more research is needed.
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7. May Help Perk You Up

Rosemary oil is commonly used for mental strain and fatigue in folk
medicine (26).
When 20 healthy young adults inhaled rosemary oil, they reported feeling
about 30% more mentally refreshed and about 25% less drowsy
compared to smelling a placebo oil (1  ).
This increase in alertness corresponded to changes in brain waves and

increases in heart rate, breathing and blood pressure (1  ).
Applying diluted rosemary oil to your skin may provide similar benefits, as
it can reach your brain via this route (26).
In one study, applying diluted rosemary oil to the skin caused 35 healthy
people to feel significantly more attentive, alert, energetic and cheerful
after 20 minutes than when using a placebo oil (26).
Still, more research in this area is needed to confirm these results.
SUMMARY
A few small studies suggest that rosemary oil may boost
attention, alertness, energy and mood. Yet, more research is
warranted.
8. May Reduce Joint Inflammation

Preliminary evidence suggests that rosemary oil may help reduce tissue
inflammation that can lead to swelling, pain and stiffness (4  , 27  ).
It may do so by stemming the migration of white blood cells to injured

tissues to release inflammatory chemicals (28  ).
When people with rheumatoid arthritis were given 15-minute knee

massages using a rosemary oil blend three times weekly, they had a 50%
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decrease in inflammatory knee pain in two weeks, compared to a 12%
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decrease in those not given the oil (29  ).
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s

own immune system attacks tissues, such as knees and other joints,
injuring the joint lining and causing inflammation.
More research is needed on rosemary’s impact on inflammation.
SUMMARY
Applying diluted rosemary oil topically may help lower
inflammation in injuries and rheumatoid arthritis. However, more
research is needed to confirm this.
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9–13. Other Uses

Scientists are investigating several other uses of rosemary oil, but human
studies are lacking.
Test-tube studies aren’t equivalent to human research that tests essential

oils via inhalation or topical application, which are accepted uses for
people.
Additionally, some animal studies have administered rosemary oil orally,

but this is not recommended. Essential oils should not be swallowed.
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Still, rosemary oil may prove useful for:
Cancer: Rosemary oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects,

which test-tube studies suggest may fight cancer cells (30  , 31  ,
32  ).
Liver and digestive health: Animal studies indicate that rosemary oil
may stimulate the release of bile, which is important in fat digestion,
and activate your own antioxidant defense mechanisms to protect
your liver (33  , 34  , 35  ).
Food poisoning: Rosemary oil can help inhibit the growth of certain
strains of bacteria that cause food poisoning. This requires using
precise, very small amounts of food-grade oil. Don’t experiment with
this at home (36, 37, 38  ).
Antibiotic side effects: Rosemary and other essential oils may

increase the effectiveness of certain antibiotics. This may allow for a
lower dose of these drugs, which could reduce side effects (3  ,
39  , 40  ).
Antibiotic resistance: Rosemary and other essential oils may

weaken the cell walls of antibiotic-resistant bacteria — not only
damaging them but also enabling antibiotics to enter (3  , 41, 42  ).
SUMMARY
Potential future uses of rosemary oil include preventing cancer
and food poisoning, as well as supporting liver and digestive
health. Yet, no human studies on these effects have been
conducted.
14. Easy to Use

Rosemary oil can be inhaled or applied topically. It’s very concentrated, so
you should only use a few drops at a time. The small bottles in which it’s
sold contain plastic droppers that make it easier to dispense single
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Though some manufacturers claim it’s safe to swallow or consume their

essential oils, there isn’t scientific evidence supporting this — especially
over the long term. Essential oils should never be swallowed.
Here are a few easy guidelines for inhalation or topical use of rosemary
oil.
Inhaling
The simplest way to inhale rosemary oil is to open the bottle and breathe
in. Alternately, you can place a few drops on a cloth or tissue and hold it
near your face.
Many people use aromatherapy diffusers, which distribute the essential

oil into the surrounding air.
In general, avoid placing a diffuser close to babies or young children, as

it’s hard to know the amount they’re inhaling.
Topical Use
Rosemary and other essential oils are readily absorbed into your
bloodstream when you apply them to your skin.
It’s generally advised to dilute essential oils with a neutral carrier oil, such
as jojoba oil. This helps prevent potential irritation of your skin and
premature evaporation of the oil (43  ).
Here are some general guidelines for diluting oils for topical use:
Dilution How to prepare it
Babies Use 1 drop essential oil per 1

0.3%
tablespoon carrier oil
Use 1 drop essential oil per 1

Children 1.0%
teaspoon carrier oil
Adults Use 3–6 drops essential oil per 1

2.0–4.0%
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
teaspoon carrier oil
Once diluted, apply the oil to the bottom of your feet or the body part
you’re targeting, such as a sore muscle. Next, rub the oil into your skin.
This improves blood flood and absorption of the oil (29  ).
Avoid applying rosemary and other essential oils to damaged skin or near
sensitive areas, such as your eyes.
It’s generally advised to avoid rosemary oil if you’re pregnant or have

epilepsy or high blood pressure. Rosemary oil may worsen the latter two
conditions (44  , 45, 46).
SUMMARY
You can inhale rosemary oil or apply it to your skin. A diffuser can
help distribute the essential oil in a room. If using rosemary oil
topically, dilute it with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, to avoid skin
irritation.
The Bottom Line

Rosemary essential oil, derived from the common cooking herb, has long
been popular in folk medicine and is now proving beneficial in scientific
studies.
Though most of this research is preliminary, studies note that this

essential oil may boost your health by improving mental focus and
memory, fighting hair loss, relieving pain and inflammation, repelling
certain insects and easing stress.
If you want to try rosemary oil, simply inhale it or apply a diluted version
topically. Remember that the oil is very concentrated, so you only need a
few drops at a time.
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5/5/2563 14 Benefits and Uses of Rosemary Essential Oil

Please accept our privacy terms

ACCEPT More information

NUTRITION u Evidence Based

14 Benefits and Uses of Rosemary

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen shrub with needle-like

Though best known as a food seasoning, it is one of the most popular

Rosemary’s essential oil — which holds the plant’s core components, or

Though most of this research is just beginning, it supports some

Here are 14 potential benefits and uses of rosemary essential oil.

1. May Improve Brain Function

Research indicates that inhaling rosemary oil helps prevent the

When 20 young adults were asked math questions in a small room

Additionally, their blood levels of certain rosemary compounds likewise

breathing lavender oil or no essential oil at all (8  ).

Keep in mind that more research is needed.

2. Stimulates Hair Growth

Rosemary oil treats androgenetic alopecia by preventing a byproduct of

When men with androgenetic alopecia massaged diluted rosemary oil

3. May Help Relieve Pain

In a two-week study, stroke survivors with shoulder pain who received a

Additionally, an animal study determined that rosemary oil was slightly

Rosemary oil is known in folk medicine as a pain reliever.

4. Repels Certain Bugs

When a rosemary-oil-based pesticide, EcoTrol, was sprayed on

Additionally, a spray containing 10% of rosemary oil was similarly effective

5. May Eases Stress

Because increased pulse rates reflect short-term stress and anxiety,

Additionally, when 22 young adults sniffed rosemary oil for 5 minutes,

Increased cortisol levels can suppress your immune system, contribute to

6. May Increase Circulation

If you experience cold fingers and toes — even in relatively warm

In one study, a woman with Raynaud’s disease — which impairs

Rosemary oil may help by expanding your blood vessels, thereby

More research is needed to confirm these effects — but rosemary may

7. May Help Perk You Up

This increase in alertness corresponded to changes in brain waves and

Still, more research in this area is needed to confirm these results.

8. May Reduce Joint Inflammation

It may do so by stemming the migration of white blood cells to injured

When people with rheumatoid arthritis were given 15-minute knee

decrease in those not given the oil (29  ).

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your body’s

More research is needed on rosemary’s impact on inflammation.

9–13. Other Uses

Test-tube studies aren’t equivalent to human research that tests essential

Additionally, some animal studies have administered rosemary oil orally,

Cancer: Rosemary oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects,

Antibiotic side effects: Rosemary and other essential oils may

Antibiotic resistance: Rosemary and other essential oils may

14. Easy to Use

Though some manufacturers claim it’s safe to swallow or consume their

Many people use aromatherapy diffusers, which distribute the essential

In general, avoid placing a diffuser close to babies or young children, as

Dilution How to prepare it

Babies Use 1 drop essential oil per 1

Use 1 drop essential oil per 1

Adults Use 3–6 drops essential oil per 1

It’s generally advised to avoid rosemary oil if you’re pregnant or have

The Bottom Line

Though most of this research is preliminary, studies note that this

Start a custom weight loss program

READ THIS NEXT

The Health Potential of Rosemary