The pepper rosemary ( Lippia sidoides) is a plant with medicinal properties that is mainly used for several treatments. Versatile, its flowers and leaves can be made into teas, essential oils, and other products with medicinal action.

Benefits of Rosemary Pepper

Medicinal plants are widely used to treat wounds, skin infections, and inflammations, in the belief of their anti-inflammatory potential.

In folk medicine, this plant was once widely used to treat:

• Athlete's foot, scabies, white cloth, and wounds in general. In these cases, it was applied as an ointment made with other components.
• Bad smell in the feet and armpits, used as components in deodorants, soaps, talc and other products.
• Scalp imbalances, such as dandruff and flaking.

But, when evaluating the scientific literature, most of the scientific studies involving rosemary pepper (Lippia sidoides), used its essential oil, and antifungal, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties were shown, probably by the action of 2 main actives (thymol and carvacrol). Besides, some studies evaluated positively its action in inflammations in thethroat and in the mouth, such as thrush, gingivitis, and tooth decay.

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How to use rosemary pepper

There are many ways to use peppermint for health. But the most traditional way is in the form of essential oil. Essential oils are mixtures of volatile substances, with characteristic odor, obtained from various parts of plants. The chemical composition of these oils can be quite complex. But knowing this, it is important to note that the oils can never be ingested,and its use is only external, i.e., it can be added to several types of body creams.

Contraindications

Although there are no specific contraindications, you have to be careful about irritations. Precisely because the essential oil contains several chemical substances, there is always the risk of allergies. Therefore, if you have any skin problems, allergies, or irritations, consult a dermatologist for the correct diagnosis and whether you are cleared to consume the plant and the best way to use it.Also, in tea form, it is intended to treat canker sores, lesions, and throat irritations. For tea, an infusion of the flowers or leaves of the pepper rosemary is made, and can be consumed up to three times a day.

With its pleasant aroma, pepper rosemary can also be used in room diffusers as an essential oil, and its action can benefit breathing and lung health due to its antibacterial and astringent properties.

Another way to include peppermint in your routine is to instill a few drops of the plant's essential oil in a liquid hand soap. Its action helps protect your hands from contact with harmful microorganisms and bacteria.

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Source: Rafaella Caruso, dermatologist at the Hospital Santa Catarina/Paulista in São Paulo/SP.