Rosemary Supplements: Health Benefits, Side Effects, and Where to Buy

You’ve heard of rosemary as a cooking ingredient. Maybe you’ve even grown some in your garden. But did you know: this aromatic herb is also full of potent antioxidants that may benefit cognition, memory, and even wound care. As a growing body of evidence supports the use of rosemary supplements, more and more people are curious to discover the health benefits of this delicious herb.  

Rosemary Supplements Benefits 

If you’ve eaten your fair share of Mediterranean food, you’ve probably encountered rosemary: a delicious, woody herb native to the Mediterranean region, including Spain and Portugal. With its distinctive aroma and hardy growth, rosemary is a favorite in the kitchen and in the garden. 

However, rosemary is also becoming increasingly popular as a supplement. But why? 

The secret is in rosemary’s unique combination of diterpene polyphenols–a class of powerful antioxidants common in the Lamiaceae plant family. Many members of Lamiaceae are familiar dining table staples like sage, oregano, thyme, peppermint, lemon balm, and, of course, rosemary.   

The first important phenolic diterpene in rosemary is rosmarinic acid. Named for the rosemary plant, rosmarinic acid was first isolated in 1958 by Scarpati and Oriente, two Italian chemists.

The other important antioxidants are carnosic acid and carnosol. It’s suggested that over 90% of rosemary’s antioxidant properties stem from carnosic acid and carnosol. Yet, all three compounds are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. 

Memory & Cognition

One of the major benefits of supplementing rosemary is its protective effect on the brain. Due to its high concentration of carnosic acid, rosemary has a protective effect on brain cells. Rosemary consumption helps reduce inflammation and free radical damage in the brain. The results  of some studies collected in a 2020 literature review even indicate that rosemary may positively impact Alzheimer’s. 

Anti-Inflammatory

Rosemary has been shown to possess powerful anti-inflammatory compounds which can help soothe and support a number of issues. Not only can rosemary help soothe chronic inflammation due to chronic stress, illness, and lifestyle factors, the potent carnosol and carnosic acid it contains may help prevent cancer, as they inhibit a number of  carcinogenic compounds. 

Pain Relief

For centuries, rosemary has been used to relieve pain both topically and internally. It has been used to help slow healing wounds, alleviate headaches, and even treat everyday muscle aches. In one study, rosemary capsules were found to be as effective as mefenamic acid (an over-the-counter NSAID painkiller) at treating menstrual cramps.

Side effects of Rosemary Supplements 

Rosemary supplements are generally recognized as safe by the FDA. Low doses are advisable with the safe dose set at 400 milligrams per kilogram. 

However, in high doses, ingestion of rosemary and rosemary oil may be toxic. Side effects include:

• Stomach upset
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Kidney damage
• Seizures

Rosemary is NOT safe for pregnant mothers and may induce miscarriage. Always check with your doctor before taking a new medication or supplement. 

Where to Buy Rosemary Supplements

Our favorite rosemary supplement is Standard Process Vitanox®. Standard Process Vitanox® combines the potent antioxidant profile of organic, responsibly-sourced rosemary with green tea, turmeric, and grape seed. Expertly formulated to support healthy cognition, inflammation relief, and circulation support, Vitanox® packs the power of four herbal supplements into one. Buy it here in our shop.