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