Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Scientific name: Rosmarinus officinalis

Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Other names: rosemary, incense bush, diometrin, lasmari, arismari, dusmarin, lesmari, libanotis.

USED PARTS: In herbal medicine, the leaves and flowering parts are used, which are mainly collected during the summer months.

INGREDIENTS: Volatile oil, flavonoids, tannins, rosmarinic acid, rosmaricine, diterpenes.

HISTORY & TRADITION: According to folklore, it got its name from the Virgin Mary, who left her cloak on the bush. By the next morning, the flowers of the bush had turned blue and since then it has been called the rose of Mary. The ancient Greeks considered it a gift from Venus. Students wore crowns of rosemary during exams because it helped with concentration and memory. Rosemary was also historically used as incense, which is why it was called the incense bush.