Smelling rosemary can improve memory

Rosemary has been long been linked to memory. The most famous literary reference found in Hamlet when Ophelia declares:  ‘There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance: pray, love, remember.’

Smelling rosemary has also been linked in modern times to potential improvements in memory and cognitive function. Some studies have shown that rosemary can enhance memory speed in the elderly population and improve verbal episodic memory in healthy individuals[1]. In one study, rosemary was found to significantly enhance the quality of memory and increase mental alertness[2]. Another study suggested that the aroma of rosemary helps prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical attributed to improving cognitive function, boosting alertness, and concentration[4].

However, the claim that smelling rosemary increases memory by 75% is not supported by research[5]. The origin of this claim is a 2013 article that distorts the results of an academic experiment, which found a modest correlation between smelling rosemary and remembering, but not a 75% increase[5].

In summary, while smelling rosemary may have some positive effects on memory and cognitive function, the extent of these improvements is not as significant as some claims suggest.

You may have rosemary growing wild somewhere nearby. Avoid it if there is something you don’t want to remember.

Citations:

^{[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8851910/
[2] https://www.intrepidmentalhealth.com/blog/8-ways-that-rosemary-can-improve-your-mental-emotional-and-physical-well-being
[3] https://ufhealth.org/stories/2016/rosemary-boosts-brain-power
[4] https://www.purpleurchinsoap.com/blogs/blog-1/the-benefits-of-rosemary
[5] https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/07/22/fact-check-rosemary-does-not-increase-memory-75/7984280002/
[6] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2306078/Why-whiff-rosemary-does-help-remember.html#ixzz2Q7Qv96Nl}