Feeling groggy? Try this fennel & rosemary boost tea to stimulate the mind and help boost energy.
Fennel & Rosemary Boost Tea Ingredients
1 tsp of fennel seeds, crushed
1 tsp of rosemary, minced
Squeeze of lemon
Pinch of cayenne
2 cups of hot water
Fennel & Rosemary Boost Tea Instructions
Bring water and fennel seeds to an almost boil. Remove from heat, add rosemary, cover with a lid, and steep 5 minutes. Strain. Add lemon and cayenne to taste.
Avoid ingesting rosemary and fennel beyond normal food quantity spice amounts during pregnancy, with young children, and with certain medical conditions. Avoid with hormone related conditions, severe asthma, and bleeding disorders. Healthy adults can drink up to 3 cups a day of this tea.
Rosemary inhalation had a stimulatory effect via brain wave activity, autonomic nervous system activity, and mood. From: Sayorwan, W., Ruangrungsi, N., Piriyapunyporn, T., Hongratanaworakit, T., Kotchabhakdi, N., & Siripornpanich, V. (2013). Effects of inhaled rosemary oil on subjective feelings and activities of the nervous system. Scientia pharmaceutica, 81(2), 531.
The study showed a stimulating effect of a rosemary oil massage. From: Hongratanaworakit, T. (2009). Simultaneous aromatherapy massage with rosemary oil on humans. Scientia Pharmaceutica, 77(2), 375.
Lavender relaxed test takers, reduced test anxiety, and improved testing ability. Rosemary stimulated test takers, reduced test anxiety, and made them faster but not more accurate when taking the test. From: Diego, M. A., Jones, N. A., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Schanberg, S., Kuhn, C., … & Galamaga, R. (1998). Aromatherapy positively affects mood, EEG patterns of alertness and math computations. International Journal of Neuroscience, 96(3-4), 217-224.
Inhalation of rosemary had a stimulant effect, improved mood, and brain clarity in participants. From: Sayorwan, W., Ruangrungsi, N., Piriyapunyporn, T., Hongratanaworakit, T., Kotchabhakdi, N., & Siripornpanich, V. (2012). Effects of inhaled rosemary oil on subjective feelings and activities of the nervous system. Scientia pharmaceutica, 81(2), 531-542.
Both adults and infants showed a reduced depressed affect in their EEG with inhalation of rosemary and lavender. From: Sanders, C., Diego, M., Fernandez, M., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., & Roca, A. (2002). EEG asymmetry responses to lavender and rosemary aromas in adults and infants. International Journal of Neuroscience, 112(11), 1305-1320.
In studying improvement of memory and cognition, three Corydalis species were tested for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and Corydalis cava, Corydalis intermedia, Corydalis solida ssp. laxa and Corydalis solida exhibited significant inhibitory activity. Extracts of Ruta graveolens (rue), Lavandula angustifolia (lavender), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Petroselinum crispum (parsley) and Mentha spicata (spearmint) exhibited moderate inhibitory activity. From: Adsersen, A., Gauguin, B., Gudiksen, L., & Jäger, A. K. (2006). Screening of plants used in Danish folk medicine to treat memory dysfunction for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 104(3), 418-422.
Aromatherapy of rosemary and lemon essential oils in the morning, and lavender and orange in the evening improved cognition of Alzheimer’s patients. From: Jimbo, D., Kimura, Y., Taniguchi, M., Inoue, M., & Urakami, K. (2009). Effect of aromatherapy on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Psychogeriatrics, 9(4), 173-179.
The potent aroma of rosemary strongly improved environmental context dependent memory in humans. From: Ball, L. J., Shoker, J., & Miles, J. N. (2010). Odour‐based context reinstatement effects with indirect measures of memory: The curious case of rosemary. British Journal of Psychology, 101(4), 655-678.
Rosemary and lavender scents lowered fatigue while lavender also lowered tension (anxiety / confusion) in human participants. From: Burnett, K. M., Solterbeck, L. A., & Strapp, C. M. (2004). Scent and mood state following an anxiety-provoking task. Psychological reports, 95(2), 707-722.
Rosemary inhalation improved cognitive assessment in healthy adults. From: Moss, M., Cook, J., Wesnes, K., & Duckett, P. (2003). Aromas of rosemary and lavender essential oils differentially affect cognition and mood in healthy adults. International Journal of Neuroscience, 113(1), 15-38.
Ingestion of dried rosemary improved cognitive function in the elderly. From: Pengelly, A., Snow, J., Mills, S. Y., Scholey, A., Wesnes, K., & Butler, L. R. (2012). Short-term study on the effects of rosemary on cognitive function in an elderly population. Journal of medicinal food, 15(1), 10-17.
Inhalation of rosemary had a stimulant effect, improved mood, and brain clarity in participants. From: Sayorwan, W., Ruangrungsi, N., Piriyapunyporn, T., Hongratanaworakit, T., Kotchabhakdi, N., & Siripornpanich, V. (2012). Effects of inhaled rosemary oil on subjective feelings and activities of the nervous system. Scientia pharmaceutica, 81(2), 531-542.
Lavender and rosemary essential oil sachets reduced test-taking stress in graduate nursing students. From: McCaffrey, R., Thomas, D. J., & Kinzelman, A. O. (2009). The Effects of Lavender and Rosemary Essential Oils on Test‐Taking Anxiety Among Graduate Nursing Students. Holistic nursing practice, 23(2), 88-93.
Aromatherapy massage using lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and lemon reduced anxiety and improved self esteem. From: Rho, K. H., Han, S. H., Kim, K. S., & Lee, M. S. (2006). Effects of aromatherapy massage on anxiety and self-esteem in korean elderly women: a pilot study. International Journal of Neuroscience, 116(12), 1447-1455.
Aromatherapy of lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and clary sage reduced stress in nursing students. From: Park, M. K., & Lee, E. S. (2004). [The effect of aroma inhalation method on stress responses of nursing students]. Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi, 34(2), 344-351.
By: Kathy Sadowski
4/11/18
This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.