Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

Rosemary may not guarantee A’s on exams, marital fidelity, or vivid memories of the dear departed, but the ancients were right about its ability to preserve meats.

Food Poisoning Preventive - Meats spoil in part because their fats oxidize and turn rancid. Rosemary and its oil contain chemicals that are strongly antioxidant. In fact, rosemary’s preservative power compares favorably with the commercial food preservatives, BHA and BHT.

Rosemary’s preservative action may help prevent food poisoning on your next picnic. Mix the crushed leaves generously into hamburger meat and tuna, pasta, and potato salads.

Digestive Aid - Like most culinary herbs, rosemary may help relax the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract (making it an antispasmodic). The ancients appear to have been on the right track when they used it as a digestive aid.

Decongestant - Like other aromatic herbs, rosemary may help relieve nasal and chest congestion caused by colds, flu, and allergies.

Infection Prevention - Rosemary contains chemicals that may help fight infection-causing and food-spoiling bacteria and fungi. For minor cuts in the garden, press some fresh, crushed leaves into the wound on the way to washing and bandaging it.

Women’s Health - Antispasmodics soothe not only the digestive tract but other smooth muscles, such as the uterus, as well. As an antispasmodic, rosemary should theoretically calm the uterus, but Italian researchers have discovered that it does exactly the opposite.

Pregnant women should steer clear of medicinal preparations of this herb. Other women may try the herb to bring on their periods.

Rx for Rosemary

For a pleasantly aromatic infusion to settle the stomach or clear a stuffed nose, use I teaspoon of crushed herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 to 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day.

In a tincture, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon up to three times a day. Dilute rosemary preparations may be given cautiously to children under age 2.