Aphrodisiac properties
"There’s rosemary: that’s for remembrance, pray you love, remember."
Hamlet, IV.II.CLXX
If you are looking to trap a lover, it is perhaps an idea to start conditioning them to associate rosemary with sex, love and eroticism. Then, invite them for a rosemary themed meal as this herb plays on scent memories like no other!
As evidenced by Ophelia’s gift to Laertes, this link between rosemary and memory has been documented in culture through literature and art. And, in 2015 a group of researchers at Northumbria University, UK, conducted an experiment to test this hypothesis. Participants were asked to complete a memory game, some of them were in a room infused with the smell of rosemary, others were in a room that smelled like lavender and the third group in a room with no smell.
The researchers found that participants in the room that smelled of rosemary performed much better in the memory game than both other groups. (bbc.com) In Cynthia Mervis Watsons, ‘Love Potions: A Guide to Aphrodisiacs and Sexual Pleasures’, she notes that memory is our strongest tie to emotional experience and that once the herb is associated with arousal, its mere smell will act as a “call to love”. (books.google)
In many depictions of Aphrodite, she is wearing a sprig of the herb in her hair or clutching it in her hands. And, in Ancient Rome, the scent of rosemary was associated with the feeling of empowerment. Arousal, scent memories and empowerment sound like a great cocktail for an amorous evening. (futurescopes.com)
It is also suggested to use rosemary oil in the bath, as its cooling effect stimulates circulation in the body, said to bring about more intense orgasms for all. And… placed under your pillow, rosemary is said to increase the wildness of your dreams! Is there any end to the herb’s qualities? (florimarsrl.it, eatsomethingsexy.com)
If, after reading this, you’re not on your way to stock up your cupboards full of rosemary then you should probably re-read, with some keywords in mind: empowerment, scent memories, intense orgasms, arousal! Then get cooking!
Description
Rosemary is commonly grown in the herb garden as a domestic remedy, used especially as a tonic and pick-me-up when feeling depressed, mentally tired, nervous etc. Research has shown that the plant is rich in volatile oils, flavanoids and phenolic acids, which are strongly antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Rosmarinic acid has potential in the treatment of toxic shock syndrome, whilst the flavonoid diosmin is reputedly more effective than rutin in reducing capillary fragility. Rosmarol, an extract from the leaves, has shown remarkably high antioxidant activity. The whole plant is antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, cardiac, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, nervine, stimulant, stomachic and tonic. An infusion of the flowering stems made in a closed container to prevent the steam from escaping is effective in treating headaches, colic, colds and nervous diseases. A distilled water from the flowers is used as an eyewash. The leaves can be harvested in the spring or summer and used fresh, they can also be dried for later use. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women since in excess it can cause an abortion. An essential oil distilled from the stems and leaves is often used medicinally, that distilled from the flowering tops is superior but not often available[4]. The oil is applied externally as a rubefacient, added to liniments, rubbed into the temples to treat headaches and used internally as a stomachic and nervine. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Stimulant'. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary for rheumatism, dyspeptic complaints, loss of appetite, blood pressure problems. Source: https://pfaf.org/
Find more about this plant on Wikipedia.