Article authored by: Yvette Selinder

Rosemary for hair

The herbal spice from the Mediterranean

For many years Rosemary was just a fragrant and slightly exclusive herb for me – I used it for two things, lamb roast and Focaccia, super delicious!
When I started working in the health food industry in 1998, I discovered that a producer of fish oil had rosemary extract in their product to prevent it from going rancid. Rosemary contains powerful antioxidants and is antibacterial and antiviral – I had no idea until then when I was enjoying the spice in the kitchen!

(But even earlier, when I was moonlighting in a health food store in Kungsholmen in the late 70s, we sold lots of a supplement called Longovital – a mixture of vitamins and herbs – for mouth blisters, aphthae, Rosemary was one of the herbs included in Longovital and surely it was the virus and bacteria inhibiting effect of it that made the tablets work so well. Longovital is still sold in health food stores, almost 50 years later!)

Rosemary as a natural medicine

Rosemary contains antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols and terpenes such as carnesol and carnosic acid that help neutralize harmful free radicals that can cause oxidative damage to our cells – one of the root causes of illness and premature ageing. There has also been a lot of research into the beneficial effects of the herb on the entire circulatory system – all the beneficial substances in rosemary work together to increase blood circulation and protect against cellular damage, including to arteries and veins.
They can also prevent clotting and increase blood flow without the signs of prolonged bleeding time that always accompany the use of blood thinners (that’s why they are so dangerous for the patient, I’ve seen the effect up close of a simple cut in a person on blood thinners, not fun…)!

Rosemary even seems to be able to dissolve old plaque and obstructions on the vascular walls – something that can otherwise only be achieved with the help of various enzymes or drugs/surgery. Taking capsules, tablets or elixirs of rosemary and using it in food can be a truly beneficial, harmless medicine for cardiovascular health!
As I write this, I have rubbed a small sprig of rosemary between my fingers and breathed in the scent with deep breaths – this way, my (rather tired) brain got a really nice shower of these beneficial essential oils and antioxidants.
What happens when you breathe in the fumes of rosemary is that a substance in the herb, eucalyptol, (1,8-cineole) both opens up the respiratory tract and increases acetylcholine in the brain – a neurotransmitter that helps us with memory and learning, and is good for your mood too!

Common asthma medications often contain a substance called anticholinergics, which conversely inhibit the uptake of acetylcholine in the brain and can cause side effects such as problems with urination, elevated body temperature (dangerous for young children and the elderly), memory problems, dementia, confusion and hallucinations. On top of that, giving cortisone can increase the number of colds (which in turn increases the risk of asthma attacks) and risk more complicated conditions like pneumonia and TB. So much better to try harmless, non-toxic substances and supplements for your lungs first – and breathing exercises in the fresh air that strengthen your lungs’ capacity to detoxify! Youtube is full of clips with good training for the lungs.
Try yourself to make it a habit to breathe in the vapors of rosemary and also eucalyptus, for example in the sauna – it feels really good, like the brain clears up immediately!

Rosemary has long been used for hair and skin

So rosemary is antioxidant, can protect our cells and stimulate memory and well-being, but it is also anti-inflammatory and increases blood circulation – by ensuring that hair follicles are more nourished, they can function better. These are certainly the main reasons why Rosemary has been used since ancient times to stimulate hair growth and give both men and women shiny, healthy hair!

It has been used traditionally for a long time to increase hair growth and prevent hair loss by making rosemary oils and elixirs to rub into the scalp. If you can also get rosemary daily in a well-adapted dietary supplement like Hairforce with several other nutrients for hair, skin and nails, it supports hair growth and blood circulation even more.

Rosemary is a great herb for stimulating hair growth and improving blood flow to the scalp. If you want to read more about hair loss and supplements. or discover how to grow thicker hair as a woman to strengthen your hair in depth.

Hairforce – pioneers of Rosemary for hair and skin

Our Hairforce supplement contains 250 mg of dried (organic) Rosemary extract per daily dose. We pioneered the use of Rosemary for hair. Rosemary water and Rosemary oil for the scalp have since become very popular. But another very effective way to benefit from the positive properties of Rosemary for hair and hair growth is to use Hairforce.

Today, as far as we know, no one else uses Rosemary in a formula with vitamins for hair, skin and nails. We love Rosemary, we know its amazing effects and we are pioneers in using it.

You can buy Hairforce from your hairdresser or directly from our webshop.