Spring is coming and it's time to start thinking about what will be in our garden. Herb gardens are a great way to incorporate fresh herbs into your diet.
Over the next couple weeks we are going to be discussing herbs and how incorporating them into your whole foods diet can be beneficial in creating overall health. Herbs can boost your mood, aid in digestion and provide flavor to make tasty healthy dishes, and that's just the beginning.
The first herb we are taking a closer look at is rosemary:
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis: means “dew of the sea” it's often referred to as the herb of remembrance.
Growing Rosemary:
Rosemary can be planted directly outside in warmer areas but should be planted in a pot and brought inside during colder months in areas with a hard freeze to overwinter.
Harvesting Rosemary:
Snip off branches as needed and remove the needles to chop and add to your favorite dish. For stew, soups and meals that will be simmering you can toss in the whole stem and remove before serving. Herb bundles with rosemary can also be used to stuff inside whole roasting chickens.
To dry tie branches in a bundle and hang them upside down until completely dry. Remove the needles from the stems and store in a spice jar for use all winter long.
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Uses:
Rosemary is calming to the digestive system making it a useful aid in digestion when added to culinary preparations.
"Priest and Priest" on rosemary:
“ diffuse a stimulant and relaxing tonic with special influence upon the stomach and cerebrum. It soothes the nervous system and is a tonic to the vasco-motor function and peripheral circulation. It is a suitable tonic for the elderly”
Another common use is for it ability to increase hair growth. It is thought to stimulate the hair follicle and help prevent hair thinning and increase the growth. This can be achieved through a rosemary tea hair rinse or shampoo containing rosemary essential oil.
To make a hair rinse:
Brew a strong batch of tea by placing a few sprigs in a quart of boiling water and allow to steep 30 mins. This can be placed in a squirt or spray bottle and applied to the scalp and hair after shampooing.
What are some of your favorite ways to use rosemary?
Need some ideas, click here to watch Stephanie's (My fellow Well:Body Tribe co-founder) video for watermelon and rosemary infused water.
Head over to the Well:Body Living facebook group and show us what you've been making with rosemary!