Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis)): Uses, Evidence and Safety
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, also Rosmarinus officinalis): the EU leaf monograph and its cautions, two small oral trials on memory, and what is not known about supplement amounts.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
What is Rosemary good for?
What the body uses it for, and how strong the evidence is. A normal job in the body is not proof that extra supplements add benefit; each card says which.
Memory (small oral trials)
Preliminary or mixedTwo small human trials of oral rosemary reported better scores on memory or thinking tests, one in 68 students over a month and one in 77 people with COPD over two months.
Supplements: Promising but limited; larger, longer independent trials were not found. The COPD trial did not improve one of its daily-living scales.
Traditional use for digestive complaints
Not enough evidenceThe EU herbal committee accepts rosemary leaf tea as a traditional herbal medicine for dyspepsia and mild gut spasms, based only on long-standing use.
Supplements: Traditional use is not proof of benefit; no trial for this use was read.
Traditional bath use for minor muscle, joint and circulation problems
Not enough evidenceAs a bath additive, rosemary leaf is a traditional herbal medicine for minor muscle and joint pain and minor circulation problems, based only on long-standing use.
Supplements: No trial for this use was read.
Memory-related effects in animals
Lab or animal research onlyA review of animal studies found better memory results in normal and memory-impaired animals, but with large unexplained differences between studies.
Supplements: Animal findings cannot be assumed to apply to people.
Aroma of rosemary oil and memory scores
Preliminary or mixedIn 144 healthy volunteers, the smell of rosemary oil improved some memory scores and slowed another (speed of memory).
Supplements: One older trial; results were mixed and do not transfer to oral rosemary. Essential oil should not be swallowed.
Anxiety, mood and sleep (one student trial)
Preliminary or mixedIn one trial in university students, anxiety, depression and sleep-quality scores were lower with rosemary than placebo, except sleep latency and duration which did not differ.
Supplements: Promising but limited; one trial is not enough to recommend it for these uses.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Health goals (2)
- Memory SupportPreliminary or mixed
Two small trials of oral rosemary (68 students, 77 people with COPD) reported better memory or thinking scores; they were small and short, so the evidence is limited.
- Brain HealthPreliminary or mixed
Small trials point to better thinking scores, but there is no evidence on long-term brain health or dementia.
Body systems (6)
- Brain & FocusPreliminary or mixed
Two small trials of oral rosemary (68 students, 77 people with COPD) reported better memory or thinking scores; they were small and short, so the evidence is limited.
- Hepatic / Liver SystemDocumented risk
The EU monograph says liver disease and bile duct disorders need medical supervision before oral use.
- Liver & DetoxDocumented risk
The EU monograph says liver disease and bile duct disorders need medical supervision before oral use.
- Reproductive HealthDocumented risk
Rosemary leaf medicines are not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established.
- Reproductive SystemDocumented risk
Rosemary leaf medicines are not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established.
- Integumentary SystemDocumented risk
Contact dermatitis is listed as a possible reaction (frequency unknown); do not apply to broken or irritated skin.
Body parts (4)
- GallbladderDocumented risk
Gallstones, bile duct obstruction and other biliary disorders need medical supervision before oral use, per the EU monograph.
- LiverDocumented risk
Liver disease needs medical supervision before using rosemary leaf by mouth, per the EU monograph.
- BrainPreliminary or mixed
Memory and thinking scores improved in two small trials; animal work suggests possible mechanisms but this is not proven in people.
- SkinDocumented risk
Contact dermatitis is listed as a possible reaction (frequency unknown); do not apply to broken or irritated skin.
Functional actions (2)
- Cognitive EnhancementPreliminary or mixed
Two small trials of oral rosemary (68 students, 77 people with COPD) reported better memory or thinking scores; they were small and short, so the evidence is limited.
- NeuroprotectiveLab or animal research only
Laboratory and animal studies suggest neuroprotective effects; human evidence is limited to a few small trials.
Conditions & symptoms (3)
- CholangitisDocumented risk
Cholangitis needs medical supervision before oral use of rosemary leaf.
- Cholesterol GallstonesDocumented risk
Gallstones and other biliary disorders need medical supervision before oral use of rosemary leaf.
- Contact DermatitisDocumented risk
Contact dermatitis is listed as a possible reaction to rosemary leaf, frequency unknown.
Documented risks and interactions (4)
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding caution. The EU herbal committee does not recommend rosemary leaf medicines in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established.
- Liver and bile duct conditions need supervision. Bile duct obstruction, cholangitis, liver disease, gallstones and other biliary disorders need medical supervision before oral use of rosemary leaf.
- Skin reactions and broken skin. Contact dermatitis (an allergic skin reaction) is listed as a side effect of unknown frequency, and rosemary should not be put on broken or irritated skin.
- Children under 12 and hot baths with high blood pressure. Oral and bath use is not recommended under 12 because of lack of data, and people with high blood pressure should be careful with a full hot bath.
Safety first: food is not the same as medicinal use. The EU herbal committee does not recommend rosemary leaf medicines in pregnancy or breastfeeding because safety has not been established, and lists biliary (bile duct) and liver conditions among those needing medical supervision for oral use. [1] Rosemary used as a kitchen herb is a different matter, but the sources we read did not set a line between cooking amounts and supplement amounts, so we do not draw one. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using rosemary as a remedy, and see How Interactions Work.
Overview
Rosemary is best known as a kitchen herb. This page covers the leaf. The essential oil, used for aroma or on skin, has its own page: Rosemary Oil. Do not swallow essential oil.Scientific name, plant part and the name change
GBIF lists Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. as the accepted name, in the family Lamiaceae. [2] The older name Rosmarinus officinalis L. is recorded there as a synonym. [3] Studies and labels still use the old name. The part studied is the leaf (the EU monograph is on "folium", leaf). [1] Rosemary belongs to the same genus as sage. See Sage.Traditional use (not proof)
A 2024 review says rosemary has traditional use in European folk medicine against memory deficits. [4] The EU herbal committee classes its leaf as a traditional herbal medicine for digestive complaints (dyspepsia and mild spasms of the gut) and, as a bath additive, for minor muscle and joint pain and minor circulation problems, "exclusively based upon long-standing use". [1] These are traditional uses, not proof.What research shows (research, not tradition)
| Use | What the source found | Evidence label | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory, anxiety and sleep in students | In a double-blind trial of 68 university students, rosemary 500 mg or placebo twice daily for a month, memory and anxiety scores differed from placebo. [5] | Promising but limited | Young adults; oral rosemary, one month |
| Thinking in COPD | In a triple-blind trial of 77 people with COPD, a rosemary extract at 500 mg twice daily for two months improved a cognitive score, but not one daily-living scale. [6] | Promising but limited | Adults 40 to 80 with COPD; hydroalcoholic extract capsules |
| Memory in animals | A systematic review of 23 animal studies (15 in the meta-analysis) found better cognitive results in normal and impaired animals, with large unexplained differences between studies. [7] | Preclinical (animals) | Animals; extracts |
| Smell of the oil | A trial of 144 healthy volunteers found the aroma of rosemary oil changed some memory scores, improving overall memory quality and impairing speed of memory. [8] | Mixed | Inhaled aroma, not an oral herb |
| Alzheimer disease, hair, blood sugar, cholesterol | Proper evidence not found in the sources we read. We searched PubMed for rosemary reviews and trials. | Not established | n/a |
A 2024 review says only a few clinical studies are available, that they supported neuroprotective effects, and that more clinical studies are needed. [4] Both oral trials above were small and short.
Forms and why the form matters
The student trial used rosemary, the COPD trial a hydroalcoholic extract, and the aroma trial an essential oil. [5][6][8] These are three different products, so one result does not transfer to another. The EU monograph describes herbal tea and a bath additive. [1] See Herb Forms and Preparations.Safety and who should ask first
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: not recommended for rosemary leaf medicines; safety has not been established. [1] See Pregnancy and Breastfeeding.
- Children: the monograph does not recommend oral or bath use under 12. [1]
- Liver and bile ducts: obstruction of the bile duct, cholangitis, liver disease, gallstones and other biliary disorders need medical supervision. [1]
- Skin: do not apply to broken or irritated skin; contact dermatitis is listed as an undesirable effect of unknown frequency. [1]
- High blood pressure: in cases of hypertension, a full hot bath should be used with caution. [1]
- Medicines: the monograph lists none reported. [1] That is not proof of none, so ask a pharmacist.
- Seizures: the sources we read for rosemary leaf did not describe a seizure caution. Essential oils are covered separately in Essential Oils and Seizure Disorders.
- Kidney, bleeding, surgery: not described in the sources we read. Tell the surgical team about every herb you use.
Frequently asked questions
Does rosemary improve memory?
Two small trials reported better scores, one in 68 students and one in 77 people with COPD. [5][6] Larger and longer studies were not found in the sources we read.
Is rosemary safe in pregnancy?
The EU herbal committee does not recommend rosemary leaf medicines in pregnancy or breastfeeding. [1]
Is rosemary the same as Rosmarinus officinalis?
Yes. The accepted name is now Salvia rosmarinus, and the old name is a synonym. [2][3]
Is rosemary tea or oil better for the brain?
Proper evidence not found for a comparison. We did not find a head-to-head study in PubMed.
Can rosemary cause skin reactions?
Contact dermatitis is listed in the EU monograph. [1]
Related: Herbs for Memory, Focus and Brain Health, Nootropics and Memory Supplements Compared.
References
- European Medicines Agency, HMPC. European Union herbal monograph on Rosmarinus officinalis L., folium, Revision 1 (EMA/HMPC/513940/2021, 29 May 2024). Available at www.ema.europa.eu. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy record for Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (species 10902460). Available at api.gbif.org. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy record for Rosmarinus officinalis L. (synonym, species 2926634). Available at api.gbif.org. Read 2026-10-23.
- Deciphering Neuroprotective Effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (syn. Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.) through Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Curr Drug Targets 2024. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. on memory performance, anxiety, depression, and sleep quality in university students: A randomized clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2018. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- The effect of rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on cognitive function and activities of daily living of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A clinical trial. Explore (NY) 2024. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Cognition enhancing effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) in lab animal studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Braz J Med Biol Res 2022. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults. Int J Neurosci 2003. Available at pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Read 2026-10-23.