Day 20: Rosemary tea
- Sarah-Jane Cobley
- Apr 20
- 3 min read
Rosmarinus officinalis
I’m embracing the urban foraging as part of my quest now. I used to have a little Collins Gem pocketbook called “Food for Free”. It reminds me that nature is all around us, and even in our urban areas we can find Medicine for Free if we need to.
I’m surprised how relaxed I felt having a cuppa with a rosemary and a red telephone box on the main road through my little village. It is Sunday morning though, and Easter, so I suspect most are still in bed.
I like that while the world is waking, I’m having my morning cuppa out with the birds and bees!
And rosemary certainly is abundantly flowering right now which attracted a bee or two even at this early hour.
ID features
An aromatic evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and purple flowers. The flowers are typical mint-family shaped and to me looked like Georgian women in pretty frocks.
When the flowers drop out it leaves a calyx that looks like a baby bird with its beak open waiting for food from its mama. A cluster of them is like a little nest full.
Medicinal uses
Rosemary is combined with meat dishes because it helps us to digest heavy meals. The bitterness stimulates the liver and digestive organs to release their juices in readiness to receive the food.
The essential oils ease out any abdominal cramps or spasms, which also works to release trapped wind. They oils and resins give it an antiseptic quality which prevents and treats infections.
For the respiratory system it works like thyme for thinning mucous and aiding expulsion in congestive coughs.
Many people have heard the saying, “Rosemary for Remembrance” and this relates to it improving the blood circulation to the brain. This means that it will improve mood, memory and learning.
It is also helpful in reducing anxiety, pain and inflammation, and can be used for headaches and migraines. For myalgia and neuralgia, (muscle and nerve pain), it works well as a topical application.
Rosemary covers so many bases that it was my one herb I packed when I went travelling.
How to make a cuppa
I cut off about a 5cm tip including leaves and flowers for my cup. I didn’t need to cut them up. In fact, it’s best to leave them whole if you are not straining because the leaves can get stuck in your throat.
I plucked off lots of extra flowers because I love flowers in my tea. Some went brown, but some went a pale blue.
Sometimes my rosemary tea turns the water red. I haven’t worked out why yet.
Taste
Rosemary, including the flowers, tastes very bitter, resinous and aromatic.
Cautions
Do not take rosemary medicinally if you are pregnant.
For those Local to me:
My next herb walk is at 6.30pm on Ashton Court on Tuesday 22nd April. Meet at the entrance to the rose garden with a flask of hot water for a foraged tea. We must be mindful that the gates to the grounds are shut at sunset, (8pm), and so we will finish promptly at 7.40pm.
£10 cash on arrival, or pre-pay option via: https://www.healthneedsthyme.co.uk/services
Herbal Medicine Consultations
I am a qualified medical herbalist, trained in much the same way as a GP. However, my medicines are from nature's medicine chest. They nourish and strengthen so that your body can heal itself. I offer consultations via video call and send tonics out in the post. Email me to book an appointment: sarah-janecobley@healthneedsthyme.co.uk
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