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Sultan Kiani
Rosemary is a great choice for your garden. Here are the advantages of this wonderful evergreen shrub.
Gardening is a healthy hobby that has incredible benefits. We can grow plants at home even within limited available space and resources. However, it is very important to carefully choose the right kind of plant species which should be good for our health and the environment. Some ‘ornamental flowers’ may do more harm than good and hence should be avoided.
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub that thrives well in warm climates requiring very little maintenance, having numerous benefits. It is also a suitable plant for pollen-allergic individuals. The herb belongs to the Mint Family 'Lamiaceae’. In this article, we will learn how to grow rosemary, its uses and benefits.
Growing Conditions: Rosemary is a sun-lover plant. Although it can flourish in harsh environments, the plant must be exposed to sunlight, and recommended to be grown in well-drained soil. Don’t try growing rosemary in shady and waterlogged patches of your garden. Early spring is the best season to grow this evergreen plant.
Rosemary Uses: The plant may be used in multiple ways such as food herb, oil for body massage or to prepare pesticide solution.
To Spice up the Food: Its leaves are mostly used as a culinary herb to give cuisines a distinct flavor. It is used in a variety of food; rice, fish, pasta, steak, sauces, and many more. Scientific studies have found that rosemary suppresses harmful bacteria including B. cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and S. aureus that may be present in food.
Essential Oil Massage: Regular scalp massage of rosemary essential oil can control hair loss. A 2022 research study published in Scientific African Journal discovered that the use of rosemary essential oil could reduce hair loss and help remove dandruff.
Apart from fixing hair problems, rosemary oil may be used for joint pain relief as well. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is generally considered safer than conventional topical creams and lotions.
Immunity Booster Supplements:Â Rosemary is loaded with antioxidants, iron, calcium, and vitamin B-6. For that reason, it is commonly used in herbal dietary supplements. It helps lower the risk of asthma, enhances memory, improves digestion, and is generally beneficial for our immune system.
Eco-Friendly Pesticides: Rosemary oil in its concentrated form can also be used as an effective pesticide. It is hard on pests like aphids, ticks and whiteflies, and gentle on the environment. This organic pesticide is considered to be more effective than Neem oil. Spraying Rosemary oil killed 100% Silver Leaf Whiteflies during an experiment conducted by Earth's Ally, a US-based business providing eco-friendly agriculture solutions. It Is worth mentioning that Silver Leaf Whiteflies’ infestation has also become a serious threat to non-cotton farming in Pakistan. So it’s time to experiment with eco-friendly alternatives to traditional toxic pesticides for sustainable agriculture.
Caution!
Taking rosemary in recommended doses is generally considered safe. Nevertheless, consuming too much herb extract in any form could be injurious to health. There are many side effects of rosemary overdose; vomiting, nausea, spasms, and pulmonary edema, to name a few.
Aged and sensitive individuals, particularly those with preexisting medical conditions, and/or taking medications, should seek their physician's advice on whether they can safely use rosemary. It is known to interact with certain medicines including blood-thinners and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.