Rosemary boosts memory

Posted on Sun, 8 Jan 12

Rosemary has traditionally been associated with remembrance, both in ceremony and as a medicinal herb. A clinical study has found that small amounts of the herb increase memory within just a few hours.

To see if rosemary has potential for the treatment of age related memory decline a group of older age adults (mean age 75 years) took varying doses of rosemary and were tested for cognitive function over the following 6 hours (1).

“The lowest dose (750 mg) of rosemary had a statistically significant beneficial effect compared with placebo” wrote the study investigators. The highest dose (6,000 mg) however seemed to impair memory. “The positive effect of the dose nearest normal culinary consumption points to the value of further work on effects of low doses over the longer term” concluded the study investigators.

Rosemary essential oil (inhaled, not ingested) has previously been shown to boost mood, concentration and memory (2). While more research is needed, regularly using rosemary in cooking is a great idea, not only may it boost your memory, like many herbs and spices, it is also packed full of disease preventing phytonutrients.  

References:

1. Pengelly A, Snow J, Mills SY, Scholey A, Wesnes K, Butler LR  Short-term study on the effects of rosemary on cognitive function in an elderly population. J Med Food 2012 Jan; 15(1):10-7.

2. Braun, Lesley. Herbs and Natural Supplements: An Evidence-Based Guide, 3rd Edition. Churchill Livingstone Australia, 032010. p. 802