Rosemary tea is popular for both its distinct taste and its many health benefits. This article highlights the key advantages of drinking rosemary tea, how to prepare it, and important safety tips, making it easy to add to your daily routine. Keep scrolling to check them out!
About Rosemary Tea
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant, culinary herb that belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to the Mediterranean region. What Are Its Benefits? It may aid in weight loss, support stress management, and improve digestion. Who Can Consume It? It can be consumed by anyone except for pregnant women and people who are allergic to aspirin or salicylate drugs. How Often? It is best to consume it around 3-4 times a day for optimal health. Caution It is generally considered very safe, however excessive intake might cause nausea and vomiting.
Apart from being used in cooking, medicine, essential oils, aromatherapy, making fragrances, and for other aesthetic purposes, rosemary has gained immense popularity among health freaks because of the benefits its tea offers. Rosemary tea is a simple preparation that smells of fresh forest and the sea. It has a soothing flavor and taste and can be combined with fresh lemon, mint, chamomile, and honey. Read on to find out the benefits of this subtle beverage.
Benefits Of Rosemary Tea
Rosemary tea is rich in diterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic derivatives, glycosides, and other phytochemicals that give it medicinal properties. The tea aids weight loss, boosts memory, prevents cancer, and aids digestion. Here’s a list of the wonders this tea does for you:
1. Treats Alzheimer’s And Related Disorders
Traditional medicine used rosemary to improve memory power, and concentration and prevent memory loss. Alzheimer’s is a condition that causes severe dementia and degradation of neuronal cells in people suffering from it. Rosemary tea has diterpenes that inhibit neuronal cell death and exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antidepressant, and anxiolytic properties (1). Hence, having rosemary tea can help decelerate the loss of memory and disability.
2. Helps In Gradual Weight Loss
The phytochemical components of this tea inhibit the activity of lipase – an enzyme that breaks fats down to generate lipids. Since lipase is inactive, there is no breakdown of fats. You will feel fuller and will not binge and pile on extra pounds.
3. May Help In Cancer Treatment
There are studies demonstrating the effect of rosemary on breast cancer . Specific constituents like rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid (found in rosemary tea) may support cancer treatment. These chemicals are potent antioxidants and anti-proliferativei The property of a substance to suppress the growth of cells, especially malignant cells, and help prevent cancer from spreading. and can protect your cells from free radical damage and may help boost the immune system (2).
4. Manages Stress And Anxiety
Lifestyle and occupational disorders are on the rise. And apparently, we are all more depressed than our parents and grandparents. That’s a bad sign! Including herbal teas like rosemary tea in your diet brings significant changes in your stress levels. It contains ursolic acid and rosmarinic acid that exhibit antioxidative and anti-depressant effects, thus it helps impart a sense of relaxation to the mind and body. Also, it helps provide stress relief and manage burnout and anxiety (3). Rosemary tea increases your tolerance levels and soothes you by working on your brain and hormones effectively, as opposed to steroidal drugs that have serious repercussions.
5. Aids Digestion And Prevents Obesity
Not all microbes are harmful because we house a bunch of them in our gut! The composition of these microbes affects your digestion and absorption. Rosemary tea supports the growth of those species (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, etc.), which helps in selective absorption of fiber and breakdown of lipids. This prevents obesity (4).
6. Protects Your Liver From Damage
Rosemary tea has bioactive compounds that have free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties . Carnosol is one such compound that protects your liver cells from chemical stress and inflammation. Rosemary tea inhibits the formation of harmful peroxides in the liver and preserves the structural integrity of hepatocytesi They are a type of cells in the parenchymal tissues in the liver, which make up 80% of the liver. (5). Say bye to cirrhosis and jaundice!
7. Has Anti-Aging Properties
Due to the presence of powerful antioxidants and antimicrobial phytochemicals, rosemary tea is a skin savior. Drinking it or applying it can cure bacterial or fungal infections, lesions, acne, and blisters. The antioxidants like rosmarinic acid eliminate the free radicals that cause wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation. Rosemary tea also tightens sagging skin to make it look younger, fresh, and glowing.
8. Is An Excellent Antidiabetic Additive
Traditional medicine used the leaves of rosemary to treat hypoglycemia (deficient levels of glucose in the blood). It contains camphene, borneol, luteolin, hesperidin, and carnosol that inhibit lipid peroxidation and trigger the production of antioxidant enzymes (6). These phytochemicals are potent antidiabetogenicsi The property of an agent or substance to prevent the onset of diabetes by controlling blood sugar content. and can also manage insulin dependence in diabetic individuals.
9. Promotes Hair Growth
Rosemary tea is a blessing in disguise for all those who have been suffering from hair loss. It improves blood circulation (carrying oxygen and nutrients) to your hair follicles, which, in turn, boosts hair growth. Rinsing your hair regularly with rosemary tea will solve problems like baldness, dandruff, hair fall, premature graying, and thinning. The antioxidants remove any product build-up and treat fungal infections on your scalp, giving you healthy hair.
10. Relieves Inflammation And Pain
The herb has antinociceptivei It is the action or process of blocking the sensory neurons from detecting a painful or injurious stimulus. properties and can heal aching joints, inflammation, and painful allergic reactions. Rosemary tea acts by improving blood circulation, reducing inflammation, and eliminating free radicals or chemical stress to relieve cramps or neuralgici A short, severe pain felt suddenly along the nerves (generally in the head or neck) due to damaged or irritated nerves. pain.
11. May Relieve Allergic Reactions
Rosemary tea may offer relief for allergy symptoms due to its rich rosmarinic acid content. Rosmarinic acid is renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and has been utilized in the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and other allergic disorders. Studies show that rosmarinic acid may effectively reduce allergic responses and is often used in conjunction with antioxidants and other plant-based supplements. It demonstrates its effectiveness in managing allergies by scavenging free radicals and suppressing allergic immune reactions (7). In particular, rosemary extract has also shown promise in inhibiting mast cell activation, a key player in allergic hypersensitivity (8). Thus, this tea is a valuable natural option for those affected by allergies. It is hard to believe that a wild herb growing in your backyard can do such wonders for you, isn’t it? Wouldn’t you want to make the magic potion all by yourself and get a taste of its abilities? Yes, this is the surprise I mentioned about. It’s time to learn how to make rosemary tea. Scroll down for the recipes.
How Do You Make Rosemary Tea?
Here’s the recipe to make rejuvenating rosemary tea.
What You Need
1 teaspoon rosemary leaves and stems (dried, fresh or powdered) 1 cup filtered water 1 teaspoon honey or sugar (optional)
Let’s Make It!
You can also try different versions of rosemary tea by adding lemon, ginger, or mint. These extras not only boost the taste but also offer more health benefits. Jess, a blogger, shared her experience about preparing and consuming tea with rosemary, ginger, and lemon to boost digestion in her personal blog. She said, “This is perfect for chilly winter days when the meal you’ve just eaten is sitting like lead in your tummy, and you need a little bit of warming and revitalization. The rosemary will pick you up a bit (and help with headaches, if you’ve got one), the ginger is soothing and aids in digestion, and the lemon is cleansing and astringent, thus lending a decided freshness to the completed tea (i).” She added, “Rosemary, or any herb for that matter, retains its energetic imprint and personality even after harvesting, which is what allows it to turn into medicine in our bodies.”
Antioxidant Properties Of Herbal Teas
Flavonoids are leading antioxidant compounds in plants that exhibit several therapeutic properties. But the phenolic content of herbal teas prepared by plant extracts rich in flavonoids is often determined by their brewing temperature. Rosemary tea has the highest flavonoid content when brewed at 100 degrees C. Here is the total flavonoid content of different herbal teas brewed at different temperatures.
Antioxidant Properties Of Herbal Teas
The Rosemary Rinse (For Smooth, Shiny And Healthy Hair)
What You Need
2 tablespoons of fresh rosemary leaves or 1/2 cup of rosemary tea (recipe above, do not add sweetener) 2 cups of water
Optional Add-ons
1 tablespoon of fresh or dried thyme, sage leaves, and lavender flowers Almond oil or argan oil
Let’s Make It!
Note: Wait for 2-3 minutes before washing the mixture off with water. After all the praises and uses, what if I tell you that like all herbal formulations, rosemary tea also has its share of side effects? Yes, unfortunately, it does.
Side Effects Of Having Rosemary Tea
Most side effects are due to the herb itself. There is very less information about rosemary tea specifically. Ingestion of a high amount of rosemary herb in any form might have the following drawbacks:
Allergy
If you are allergic to aspirin or salicylate drugs, you might develop an allergy to rosemary tea.
Pregnancy Risks
Pregnant women might face a risk of uterine bleeding if they consume a high amount of rosemary extract. It might also cause menstrual cycle and abortions in such women.
Worsens Seizures
Though it has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties, an overdose of rosemary tea might worsen seizures or epilepsyi A central nervous system disorder in which abnormal brain activity causes seizures or unusual behavior and loss of awareness. . Therefore, make sure to check with your doctor before adding rosemary tea to your routine, especially if you are on medication or have existing health issues. So, What’s The Verdict? What is the best time to drink rosemary tea? Rosemary tea is best enjoyed in the morning to boost focus and energy or in the evening to help digestion. Can I use fresh rosemary instead of dried? Yes, you can use fresh rosemary for tea. Just use more of it since dried rosemary has a more concentrated flavor. Are there any long-term effects of rosemary tea? Rosemary tea is generally safe for most people when consumed in moderation. However, long-term excessive use may lead to side effects like digestive issues or interactions with certain medications. How much rosemary tea is good for health? It is safe to have one to three cups a day. Consult your doctor if you want to consume more than the recommended dosage as it might have serious side effects. Can I make rosemary tea with milk? Yes, you can make rosemary tea with milk. You may boil a cup of milk with the herb and add a teaspoon of honey to enhance the flavor. Is rosemary good for kidneys? Yes, rosemary can help improve kidney health and reduce the severity of complications associated with kidney failure (9). Does rosemary raise blood pressure? Yes. The abundance of oxides and monoterpenes in rosemary can stimulate the nervous system and raise blood pressure (10). Can I freeze fresh rosemary leaves? Yes, you can freeze fresh rosemary leaves in ice cube trays suspended in either olive oil or filtered water. Is rosemary good for blood clots? Rosemary has antithrombotic effects, meaning it may help reduce the formation of blood clots (11). It may have a direct inhibitory effect on platelets. Does rosemary help improve respiratory health? Yes, one of the lesser-known rosemary essential oil benefits is its ability to promote respiratory health. It may help improve respiratory function, as it exhibits anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties that may help reduce lung infection and respiratory problems (12).
Illustration: Benefits Of Rosemary Tea - How To Make Rosemary Tea?
Discover the surprising health benefits of rosemary tea. Click on this video to learn how this herbal tea can help improve your overall health and well-being. i. Rosemary, Ginger and Lemon Tea https://alchemyofherbs.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/rosemary-ginger-and-lemon-tea/
