Scientists Find Sniffing Rosemary Can Increase Memory By 75%
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean. It is used as a culinary condiment, to make bodily perfumes, and for its potential health benefits. It is used in modern-day herbal medicine as a milk painkiller and for migraines and digestive problems. The herb not only tastes good in culinary dishes such as rosemary chicken and lamb, but it is also a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6. It is typically prepared as a dried whole herb or a dried powdered extract, while teas and liquid extracts are made from fresh or dried leaves. Rosemary is also known for improving memory. You’ve maybe heard the reference to rosemary in Hamlet when Ophelia says that rosemary is for remembrance.
Recent studies have discovered that rosemary contains carnosic acid, which can help you fight off the radical damage in your brain. It also has other natural acids that can help you protect your body cells and DNA from free radical damage. The rosemary main ingredients are preventing the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a chemical that moves the brain cells that are responsible for memory and communication. Researchers performed a series of tests and they found out that this herb increases the chances of remembering to do things in the future. People who were exposed to rosemary oil had 60-75% more chances to remember, compared to people who were not exposed to the oil.
Researchers from another study, which was published in the Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, claim that the chemical compound 1,8-cineole is the main cause for improved memory function. The participants in this study inhaled rosemary extract before performing specific assignment. They got their stress levels, mood, speed and accuracy tested before the assignment. The researchers have found out that the more 1,8-cineole absorbed into the organism of the participant, the more positive results.
