Medicinal plant

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

A warming, circulatory culinary herb.

A carminative with traditional digestive support, and a traditional circulatory stimulant used for warming and circulation. Also a versatile aromatic used in food and externally in hair, scalp, and body preparations.

Properties

Aromatic — Rich in aromatic oils that often support digestion or breathing

Carminative — Helps relieve gas, bloating, and digestive discomfort

Circulatory stimulant — Encourages blood flow and warmth

Energetics
Warming Drying Stimulating
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus), historical botanical illustration

Growing and using it

Life cycle

Woody perennial in warm climates; usually grown as a container plant and overwintered indoors in Vermont.

What to buy

A potted common rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) plant rather than an ornamental topiary or unidentified cultivar.

Best way to start

Potted nursery plant or rooted cutting.

Seed starting

Possible but slow and erratic; a nursery plant is much more practical.