I have quite an extensive herb garden in the back yard and herbs are the one thing I can actually grow pretty well. Not because I am a good gardener but because they are incredibly ‘idiot tolerant’ when it comes to my gardening abilities! I have yet to find a bug that actually attacks most herbs. They are very drought tolerant, meaning that when I forget to water them they don’t care in the least. And they also have very few nutritional needs beyond plain old dirt with a little bit of manure mixed in. I have been growing rosemary for quite a while and here in Georgia the bush will come back several years in a row before it needs to be replaced. Yesterday I went out to the garden to give the rosemary a trim (again!) and realized that I needed to find uses for rosemary besides cooking or I will never use it all up!
The Many Uses for Rosemary Besides Cooking
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So, while I love the taste of rosemary on my food, what else can be done with it around the house? Here are a few uses for rosemary that I have found so far. (these are not for rosemary essential oil…you will need actual rosemary for these)!
1. Repelling Mosquito’s from the yard: Mosquitoes hate the smell of rosemary so have it growing in your yard is a good thing. Snip some rosemary and put it in a glass of water on your picnic table to help keep mosquitoes away from you while you eat.
2. Hair Rinse: Rosemary is great to help clean your hair. Boil half a cup of rosemary in 2 1/2 cups of water. Let cool and use it as a final rinse in the shower. It will help moisturize hair and eliminate dandruff.
3. Cat Repellent: Cats do not like the smell of rosemary. If you want them to stop digging in your garden bed, sprinkle freshly snipped needles around the garden.
4. Gift Accent: Need to give mom a gift? Tie a few sprigs of fresh rosemary on the package with pretty ribbon for a decorative and beautiful smelling present!
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5. Aromatherapy: A few sprigs of rosemary simmered in a pot of water on the stove will give your kitchen a wonderful smell. Rosemary is helpful to alleviate headaches, improve mood, support memory function, and improve respiratory health.
6. Fire-starters: Tie several sprigs of rosemary together and hang them up to dry for a few days. Toss this dried bundle into the fireplace before you light your fire. It will help your far burn easier and give off a lovely smell.
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7. Steam Treatment: One of my favorite uses for rosemary is to use it in a steam facial. This helps open your pores and refresh your skin, leaving you will clearer skin and smaller pores. Check out how to make a steam facial on Pinterest for directions.
8. Homemade Skewers: Okay, technically this one is cooking related but use the leftover rosemary ‘sticks’ as skewers the next time you grill kabobs!
9. Make Rosemary Tea: Rosemary has shown many therapeutic benefits and one of those is memory support. For people who are struggling with their memory, this idea may be helpful.
10. Sore Throat Aid: Rosemary is helpful in treating sore throats. Steep rosemary in hot water and let cool. Use this as a gargle with or without a bit of salt to help sooth a sore throat.
Do you have any uses for rosemary that you would like to share?
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