botanical name(s): Rosmarinus officinalis
synonyms: rosemary, rosmarin, incensier, romero, rosmarino, ramerino
part(s) used: herb, oil
qualities:
affinities:
actions:
dosage:
» tincture: 2 - 4 ml.
therapy:
AHPA Botanical Safety Rating: 2b
toxicity: 1; essential oil is toxic
» caution is advised during pregnancy; toxic amounts of components of the essential oil may act as emmenagogue (Brinker, p. 122, Wichtl, De Smet, Lust)
» essential oil: acts as a rubefacient, causing contact dermatitis to hypersensitive individuals, and/or oropharyngeal irritation following ingestion; may also cause a loss of consciousness, tachycardia, decreased cardiac contractility, and sluggish pupillary reactions with depression then accentuation of reflexes; tonic-clonic convulsions, vomiting and pulmonary edema may occur, leading to death (Duke, p. 413; von Oettingen, p. 522)
» laboratory test results: albuminuria and leukocytosis (von Oettingen, p. 522)
constituents: essential oil, flavonoids, phenolic acids, diterpenes, triterpenes
footnotes
Brinker F. 1996. The Toxicology of Botanical Medicines, rev. 2nd ed., Sandy, Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
De Smet PAGM et al. (eds.). 1993. Adverse Effects of Herbal Drugs 2, Berlin: Springer-Verlag
Duke, J.A. 1985. C.R.C. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: The C.R.C. Press.
Lust, J. 1983. The Herb Book. New York: Bantam Books.
von Oettingen, W.F. 1958. Poisoning: A Guide to Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders and Company.
Wichtl M (ed.). 1994. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.