Rosemary

Profile

TCM Categories

• Release the Exterior & Warming
• Regulate Qi
• Warm the Interior to Expel Cold
• (Tonify Qi, especially HT)

Functions

• Promotes wei defensive qi and yang movement to the surface to induce sweat, urination, enhanced circulation, and concentration
• Opens the diaphragm and invigorates the Heart, increases arterial flow Improve memory and prevent dizziness by drying dampness
• Stimulates the Liver and Gall Bladder activity, bile secretion and production, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and high cholesterol

Indications

• Deficient Heart Qi (HT-5, PC-7, PC-6, BL-14, BL-15)
• Acute Liver Qi Stagnation (LR-14, LR-3, GB-34)
• Cold in the Liver Channel (LR-5, LR-1, CV-2)

Topical Applications

• Apply as penetrating liniment for pre-workout massage or for damp-cold bi-obstruction, especially gout (with Celery), paralysis
• Apply 2 drops of Rosemary verbenone to shampoo to promote hair growth.
• Apply to massage blends to warm-up an area to break-up cellulite.

Specific Protocols

• Apply 4% dilution of Rosemary (40%), Lavender (30%), and Sweet Basil (30%) to Liver/Gall Bladder Divergent Channels.
• Apply 4% dilution of Rosemary to points along Dai-Belt Vessel to resolve Damp-Cold in the Lower Heater.
• Apply direct to SI-3 and Du-Governor points to open up Du Mai (Du Mai can also be open with Cedarwood); apply to TH-5 to open Yang Wei Mai.
• Apply 4% dilution of Rosemary (40%), Roman Chamomile (30%), and Ginger (30%) for Shao Yang Syndrome of the SHL tradition.
• Apply 4% dilution with Rose (30%) to CV-17 to tonify Heart Qi.

Actions

• Stimulant (though small amounts can act as a nervine),
• Analgesic
• Cardiac tonic
• Hypertensive
• Hepatobiliary stimulant
• Antiviral
• Mucolytic
• Expectorant

Contraindications & Cautions

Notes

• Great on the GB channel; helpful for wind invasion with a Shao Yang syndrome, and good around the ear
• Good for treating children if you use the correct species, Rosemary cineole, which is also OK in pregnancy
• R. cineole – fine for everybody
• For the Du Mai, Yang Wei Mai, and Dai Mai
• Helps consolidate the Dai Mai, especially post-partum
• Helpful to consolidate the Dai Mai channel, strongly ascends and lifts
• For LR/GB divergent channels as Rosemary, Lavender, and Sweet Basil blend
• Can help someone become more enthusiastic about life and want to participate; good for that type of depression
• It stimulates Du Mai individualization
• Arouses love and fidelity in a relationship (use on the pillow)
• Use on the spine to move energy up it; one of the most ascending essential oils
• Used on pillows for nightmares
• Opens the diaphragm and opens the HT
• Promotes memory and concentration
• The most ascending essential oil in this materia medica

Additional Comments

• Rosemary consists of several chemotypes, including Verbenone (a ketone (contraindicated for children and during pregnancy) which eliminates phlegm and balance LU-KI relationship) - usually from Corsica, France, Italy, Yugoslavia; Cineol (with no contraindications that tonifies Lung qi and expel phlegm)-usually from Spain and North Africa; Borneo (Tonify Heart qi); Camphor (also contraindicated during pregnancy and for children -- tonify Heart qi (especially venous congestion) and promote bile flow and diuresis) - usually from Spain & Croatia; Phenol-Cineol (tonify Lung/Spleen qi, expel phlegm) - usually from North Africa.
• Rosemary is often diluted and adulterated.
• Rosemary promotes sugar assimilation (useful for diabetes) and metabolizes cholesterol (just be careful if the individual also has hypertension).
• Rosemary is high in antioxidants and was once used to preserve meat