| Rudolf Weiss, the German herbalist, has some | | | | |
| interesting ideas on low blood pressure. He | | | | Externally, rosemary spirit is used for |
| describes it as being simply an aspect of a | | | | rheumatic problems (Weiss). It can also be |
| more deep seated problem. He also believes | | | | massaged into the heart area. |
| that when people have low blood pressure but | | | | |
| no symptoms, that it does not require | | | | Another active constituent of rosemary is |
| treatment. I do not suggest that this should | | | | rosemarinic acid, which is a phenolic acid. |
| replace your doctor's advice though! But I | | | | Rosemarinic acid has an anti-inflammatory |
| find it interesting, as a possible | | | | effect. A study found that a rosemarinic |
| complementary treatment option, to consider | | | | preparation was effective in treating |
| his view that low blood pressure is the | | | | allergic asthma. It has also been found to |
| product of a weak circulation. As such, | | | | suppress synovitis in mice. Synovitis is an |
| gentle herbs that support circulation may be | | | | inflammation of the lining of the joints, |
| a useful adjunct to whatever other therapy is | | | | with swelling, which is quite painful. It is |
| suggested. | | | | involved in rheumatoid arthritis. Rosemarinic |
| | | | acid can also prevent the activation of |
| He stresses the underlying factor of a | | | | prostacyclin and complement, which leads to |
| regulatory imbalance. And he suggests herbs | | | | hypotension (Fisher & Painter). |
| like rosemary, that have a tonic effect, | | | | |
| would be a useful support. Particularly in | | | | Overall, this suggests that scientific |
| times of mental or physical stress, or after | | | | research supports the herbalist's uses of |
| surgery, or some other illness that may have | | | | rosemary for hypotension, poor circulation, |
| weakened the body, like the flu. He does say | | | | and rheumatic problems such as rheumatoid |
| that treatment should only be for a limited | | | | arthritis. One problem has been that products |
| time. He makes the point that life insurance | | | | which contained rosemary had quite low |
| statistics indicate that people with | | | | concentrations, although some supplement |
| hypotension on average live longer than | | | | manufacturers have begun to make a very |
| people with blood pressure in the normal | | | | concentrated rosemary product. Concentrations |
| range. (Weiss, p185) | | | | of rosemarinic acid in these range from 5% to |
| | | | 70%. And given that rosemarinic acid is an |
| Rosemary is quite a diverse herb. It is used | | | | incredibly powerful antioxidant as well, this |
| effectively for headaches, particularly | | | | would make it a good choice for preventing |
| migraine. The herbalist Michael Tierra writes | | | | heart disease. |
| that many headaches are caused by stomach | | | | |
| problems, and that the volatile oils in | | | | References: 1. |
| rosemary have a very beneficial and calming | | | | |
| effect on the stomach. Rosemary also contains | | | | 2. C Fisher &G Painter, Materia Medica Of |
| salicylic acid, which is the precursor of | | | | Western Herbs For The Southern Hemisphere |
| aspirin. Though being in plant form it | | | | |
| doesn't have the long term side effects. | | | | 3. R Weiss, Herbal Medicine |
| | | | |
| Rosemary is excellent for the circulation, | | | | 4. M Tierra, Planetary Herbology |
| and is often prescribed by herbalists for | | | | |
| circulatory weakness (Fisher & Painter). The | | | | Ginkgo biloba is also great for improving |
| active constituents known as the flavanoids | | | | circulation. But if you have joint problems, |
| are heart and blood vessel tonics. So, as | | | | or just want to protect your joints from free |
| well as hypotension, rosemary is suggested | | | | radical damage, check out this glucosamine |
| for poor circulation, hypertensive headaches, | | | | supplement, that helps improve flexibility. |
| and arrhythmias. | | | | |