Folklore

Where rosemary flourishes, the woman rules, was a saying in Medieval England. Consequently, it was sometime savaged in kitchen gardens, the main suspects being the men of the house.

Sir Thomas More wasn’t victim to such insecurities, writing: ‘As for Rosemarine, I lett it runne all over the garden walls, not onlie because my bees love it, but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance, and, therefore, to friendship; whence a sprig of it hath a dumb language that maketh it the chosen emblem of our funeral wakes and in our burial grounds.’

Folklore says that rosemary, like Christ, grows to 5ft and lives for 33 years. Legend claims the flower took colour from the Virgin Mary’s cloak that she threw over a rosemary bush while fleeing to Egypt.

Habitat

Rosemary – Rosemary officinalis – or ‘dew of the sea’ us a member of the Labiatae fmily. Though native to the shores of the Mediterranean, it flourishes in England. This evergreen shrub, with blue-grey pine needle-like leaves and trusses of dusty blue (occasionally pink) flowers through spring and summer, thrives on neglect. Very rich soil or over-watering is likely to kill it.

Rosemary’s pungent aroma wards off insects. This deterrent effect may partly explain some traditional uses. It’s been placed under pillows to ward off evil spirits and promote good dreams, hung over doors to protect households from thieves and illness, carried by wedding couples as a symbol of love and fidelity, and thrown into graves to seal in good memories of the departed. Medieval hospitals used rosemary and juniper for their natural antiseptic properties and to scent the wards.

Key Properties

‘There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance,’ says Shakespeare’s Hamlet to Ophelia. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have confirmed that rosemary’s scent is indeed an effective memory stimulant – something ancient Greeks and Romans knew.

It’s said that rosemary leaf tea can aid mental agility (one teaspoon of crushed leaves in a cup of boiling water, steep for 10 minutes). It has been used in traditional herbal medicine for a variety of complaints from easing flatulence and indigestion , acting as a heart stimulant and diuretic, to combating common colds, lifting depression, and easing rheumatic aches and pains via vapour baths.

Active constituents include borneal, camphene, camphor, cineole, limonene, linalool, isobutyl acetate, flavonoids, phenolic acids and terpenoids. Externally, rosemary’s use in hair care can prevent dandruff and renew hair follicle activity, so may help prevent thinning hair. It’s also widely used in perfumes, as far back as 1235, in a formula for Hungary Water used by the Queen of Hungary. Its fresh smell is energising, making it an ideal 21st century component in shampoos and bath preparations.

back to top

Botanists Delight

Fans of ethno-botanist James Wong will have spotted the return of his BBC2 series ‘Grow Your Own Drugs’. With his Jamie-Oliver-style enthusiasm, Wong cooks up fragrant concoctions in his bachelor pad to solve common complaints, using natural herbal ingredients. He has a book available to support the programme – click here to find out more >

Money saving they may be, but time saving they definitely are not. So for those of us who have neither the time to whizz up our own lotions and potions, nor a flourishing herb garden at our disposal, Weleda provide many ready-made alternatives.

Wong is an admirer of green beauty pioneer Weleda: “I knew the company from my student days reading Ethical Consumer magazine, where Weleda came top for a whole bunch of things. It’s good to see a company focused on herbal ingredients making stuff for people who don’t have time for DIY remedies”.

It’s no surprise that the key ingredient in his home-made hair oil is rosemary, just like Weleda’s Rosemary Hair Lotion. This vintage find was first formulated in 1921 and is one of Weleda’s earliest health products. The fact that it is still going strong today speaks volumes, as does its popularity with professionals - for hair and scalp massage and specialist treatment for damaged hair or problem dry scalp.

Wong makes his “fantastically conditioning hair oil” with rosemary - chosen for its “incredible scent and natural anti-fungal properties” - as a natural remedy for dandruff. As he explains: “hair oils really can work; they’re fantastically moisturising and take some of that itching away”.

Likewise Weleda's therapeutic Rosemary Hair Lotion (100ml) is made from Rosmarinus officinalis, a herb used for centuries for its restorative and tonic properties, and particularly known as a circulatory stimulant. In years gone by it was used as a hair rinse for dandruff, and it’s an ideal ingredient for dry hair and scalp. The stimulating, revitalising and strengthening properties of rosemary help condition both hair and scalp, to leave hair shiny and manageable.

Like all Weleda products, this certified-natural hair lotion is free from artificial preservatives, colourants and fragrances. As well as organically-grown rosemary, it contains extracts of the horseradish plant (Cochleria armoracia) which is naturally high in silica and sulphur – both essential for the healthy growth of hair and scalp – and stonecrop (Sedum acre) for its anti-inflammatory properties and sulphur content. Together these herbal ingredients enliven the scalp, assist hair growth and strengthen the shaft of each hair.

After washing, simply splash a little lotion on the palms of your hands and sweep through your hair whilst it is still damp, massaging into the scalp with your fingertips. Allow hair to dry naturally or blow dry on the lowest heat. Regular use helps the condition of permed, bleached or damaged hair. After a couple of weeks of summer sunshine, sand, saltwater, sea breezes and swimming pool chemicals, you may need to give your hair a bit of attention after your holiday. This fabulously fragrant lotion stands head and shoulders above the rest.

back to top

Other Weleda products which contain Rosemary:

•	Aknedoron Cleansing Lotion	A daily cleanser for troubled skin
•	Birch Cellulite Oil	Visible improvements in just 28 days
•	Birch Body Scrub	Gently exfoliates and smoothes the skin
•	Massage Balm with Arnica	For the symptomatic relief of muscular pain, stiffness and backache
•	Rosemary Invigorating Bath Milk	Stimulating and enlivening
•	Rosemary Soap	Stimulating and refreshing
•	Rosemary & Ginger Shampoo	For normal to dry hair
•	Rosemary & Ginger Conditioner	For normal to dry hair
•	Skin Food	Intensive care where its needed most
•	Rheumadoron Ointment (P)	Symptomatic relief of muscular rheumatic pain

(P) Please note: that medicines with this symbol are only available via a Pharmacy so not available on the Weleda website. You can call Weleda on 0115 944 8222 for further information, including stockists information and how to buy.

No part of the Weleda UK website may be reproduced without the express permission in writing from Weleda UK.

© Weleda 2010