Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a medicinal plant often used as a herb in cooking. Rosemary belongs to the mint or Lamiaceae family of plants. Evidence suggests that extracts of rosemary may have particular effects on the central nervous system, and this may make them useful in the treatment of mood disorders such as anxiety. In one study, researchers investigated the effects of rosemary extracts on the anxious behaviour exhibited by rats. The rats received intraperitoneal injections of various doses of rosemary extracts, and were then exposed to experimental stress in the form of manipulation intended to make them anxious. The results of the study showed that the rosemary extract caused a significant reduction in the anxious behaviour in the rats compared to the control rats who received no rosemary. This effect was observed to be in a dose dependent manner. The effects of the rosemary extract was similar to the effects seen for the anti-anxiety drug diazepam.
The volatile oil in rosemary may contain phytochemicals that are able to alter brain chemistry, and this may be how it reduces anxiety in humans and animals.
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