10 Benefits of rosemary tea, what it's good for and how to prepare it

Rosemary tea is characterized by its flavor, aroma and health benefits that include: improving digestion, relieving headaches, promoting hair growth and combating frequent fatigue.

This plant, whose scientific name is Rosmarinus officinalis, is rich in flavonoid compounds, terpenes and phenolic acids that give it its antioxidant properties. In addition to this, rosemary is antiseptic, carminative, depurative, antispasmodic, antibiotic and diuretic. 

Our nutritionist explains a little more about the different benefits of rosemary tea and how to prepare it correctly:

1. It could improve digestion

Rosemary tea can be taken after lunch or dinner, being useful to improve the digestive process, helping to combat heartburn and excess gas. In this way it decreases abdominal distension, the feeling of fullness and lack of appetite.

2. Excellent natural antibiotic

Due to its medicinal properties, rosemary has antibiotic action, being more effective against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, S. enteritidis and Shigella sonei, which cause urinary tract infection, vomiting and diarrhea.

Despite this, the intake of medications indicated by the doctor should not be excluded, but it is an excellent way to recover faster. 

3. Excellent diuretic

Rosemary tea is an excellent natural diuretic and can be used in diets to lose weight and combat fluid retention in the body. This tea increases urine production, stimulating the body to eliminate accumulated fluids and toxins, improving health. 

4. Combat mental fatigue

Several studies proved the benefits of rosemary for brain function, being an excellent aid for periods of stress such as before and during exams, or before and after very important work meetings. 

In addition to this, rosemary’s properties seem to fight Alzheimer’s, preventing memory loss, but more studies must be done so that it can be used in the production of anti-Alzheimer’s drugs. 

5. Purify the liver

Rosemary could improve the functioning of the liver and reduce the headache that arises after overeating, mainly meals with high fat content or alcoholic beverages.

However, it should not be used in case you have liver disease without medical guidance, as it is known to exert hepatoprotective effect but has not yet been proven effective in this type of disease. 

6. Help control diabetes

Rosemary tea also helps keep diabetes under control, because it lowers glucose and increases insulin. The intake of this tea does not exclude the use of medications recommended by the doctor and the realization of a proper diet, and should be ingested as a complement to medical and nutritional treatment. 

7. Fight inflammation

The consumption of rosemary tea is also excellent for fighting inflammation, relieving pain, swelling and discomfort. So it helps fight inflammation in the knees, tendonitis, and even, gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach. 

8. It could improve circulation

Rosemary has antiplatelet effect, so it is very useful for those who suffer from circulatory problems or who need to rest for a few days, in these cases, it improves blood circulation and prevents the formation of thrombi, which could obstruct circulation. So an excellent recommendation is to ingest this tea after surgery, for example.

9. Help fight cancer

Animal studies suggest that rosemary is able to decrease tumor action due to its antioxidant action, however, further studies are still needed to identify exactly how this plant can be used in the production of anticancer drugs. 

10. It could favor hair growth

In addition to all this, rosemary tea without sugar can be used to wash your hair, because it strengthens the strands, helping to combat excessive oiliness and dandruff. It also promotes hair growth because it improves scalp circulation.

How to prepare rosemary tea

Ingredients

  • 5 g of fresh rosemary leaves;
  • 250 ml of boiling water.

How to prepare

Add the rosemary to the boiling water, let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes, properly covered. CDrink warm and unsweetened. This tea can be ingested 3 to 4 times a day. This tea can also be used to wash your hair.

In addition to being used as a tea, rosemary is also an aromatic herb used to season food, and its leaves can be used fresh or dried. Likewise, the essential oil can also be purchased, being used to add it to bath water or to massage sore areas of the body. 

How long to take this tea?

There is no defined time for the intake of this tea, however, phytotherapists usually recommend it for 3 months and rest it for 1 month. 

Is it better to use the dried or fresh leaves?

It is preferable to use the fresh leaves, due to the fact that the therapeutic potential is mainly found in the rosemary essential oil, which is found in higher concentration in the fresh leaves than in the dried ones. 

Is it possible to prepare rosemary tea with cinnamon?

Yes, there is no contraindication to use cinnamon in conjunction with rosemary to prepare the tea. To make it, 1 cinnamon stick should be added to the original tea recipe. 

Possible side effects

Rosemary tea is considered quite safe, however, when consumed in excess it can cause nausea and vomiting. 

In the case of essential oil, it should not be applied directly to the skin, as it can cause irritation. It should also not be used on open wounds and should not be used on people with epilepsy as it may cause seizures.

For people with high blood pressure and taking medication it may cause hypotension; for those taking lithium, cause intoxication; and for those taking diuretics, electrolyte imbalance. 

Contraindications and care

This tea should not be ingested during pregnancy, lactation or by children under 5 years old. 

People with liver or gallbladder disease should also not use this tea, as it exerts a cholagogue effect, that is, it facilitates the outflow of bile, which can worsen the symptoms and even the disease. It should also not be ingested by epileptic persons. 

In addition to this, it could interact with some medications such as anticoagulants, diuretics, lithium and medications to regulate blood pressure (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors), so if you take any of these medications you should consult your doctor before taking rosemary tea. 

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