Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, belongs to the Labiatae or Lamiaceae family of plants, which also includes mint, lemon balm, salvia, marjoram, and oregano.
Rosemary is a potent source of plant compounds that offer a variety of health benefits. Fresh and dried rosemary is commonly used in the culinary world, but the plant, including its extracts and oils, have therapeutic uses, too.
Here’s everything you need to know about rosemary oil, including its potential health benefits, risks, and safety.
Rosemary Oil
Benefits of Rosemary Oil
Rosemary contains a number of powerful substances, including carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid, which offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects.1
Rosemary oil differs from rosemary extract, as they contain different compounds in varying concentrations. Rosemary extract supplements can be taken orally, while rosemary oil is applied topically or inhaled as aromatherapy.
May Improve Hair Growth
Rosemary oil has been shown to stimulate hair growth in certain populations, including in people with androgenic alopecia, a type of hair loss also known as male pattern baldness in men and female pattern baldness in women.
Research suggests that rosemary oil may promote hair growth by enhancing blood flow to small blood vessels in the scalp, increasing the production of hormone-like lipids involved in hair follicle growth, and inhibiting inflammatory pathways involved in the progression of alopecia.2
A 2015 study that included 100 people with androgenic alopecia found that when rosemary oil was applied to the scalp for six months, it was as effective as the hair loss treatment minoxidil (Rogaine) 2% ointment at increasing hair count over the treatment period compared with baseline hair counts.
Additionally, the group that used rosemary oil reported better treatment adherence as compared with the minoxidil group.3
When mixed with other oils, such as thyme and lavender oil, rosemary oil may also help improve hair loss in those with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss.2
What’s more, rosemary oil is being studied for its potential anti-dandruff effects. Researchers think that the terpenes and phenolic components found in rosemary oil may offer antimicrobial properties that help reduce the growth of certain yeasts involved in dandruff.4
While these results are promising, research in this area is limited, and more high-quality studies are needed to investigate rosemary oil’s impact on hair growth and scalp health.
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