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Based on a conversation with RavenCroft Garden's Director, Sally King, CCH.

When you've been cocooning yourself from the cold for far too long, a familiar kitchen friend can entice your energy to rise again. Rummage through your spice rack and pull the rosemary forward. An evergreen herb, rosemary begins to bloom in late January. Its glorious, edible flowers are a visual reminder of the rejuvenation you'll experience by using this plant from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.

Rosmarinus officinalis, dew of the sea, is a native of the Mediterranean and loves rocky, sandy soil in hot, dry places. In wetter climates, find a sheltered spot with good drainage that catches the afternoon sun and it will thrive all the same. Herbalist Juliette de Bairacli Levy describes rosemary as "another of the few cure-all herbs of the herbalist." She says, "I use it more than any plant and I love it most of all. As Johnny Appleseed planted apples, so I plant rosemary wherever I travel." I'm beginning to look at my spice shelf with new eyes...

The herb of remembrance, rosemary's reputation for aiding alertness and memory stems from its warming and circulating qualities, which increase blood flow to the brain. Place a sprig of rosemary on your desk or on the dashboard of your car. The aroma alone is worth it; increased clarity is pure bonus. After reading that it is great for easing nightmares, my girls were eager to try, and now sleep with a bit under their pillows. Time will tell; meanwhile, they love the way their beds smell.

Jump start your heart: Rosemary lowers blood pressure, energizes the circulatory system and is an outstanding heart tonic. It is an ally for nervous conditions, depression, overall stress and exhaustion as well as an effective headache remedy. Add a pinch to your tea or drink it on its own as a standard brew (see sidebar). Eat it raw and chopped fine on salad or soup. Rosemary aids digestion, a bonus in seasons where we tend to eat more and move less.

Head full of health: Rosemary's shiny, dark leaves look like pine needles and when picked fresh, make rich, green infused oil. Topically, rosemary stimulates the scalp, heals dandruff and prevents premature hair loss. It also repairs heat and chemical damage from blow dryers, hair dyes and perms. Sally keeps rosemary essential oil in the bathroom and adds a few drops to her hairbrush daily for a healthy scalp and shiny hair. (Applying rosemary oil directly to the scalp is also effective for preventing head lice if you can catch your kids before the school outbreak does.)

Treat your feet: Are they ready to spring into action again? I'm getting a less-than-enthusiastic response from mine. Rosemary makes a lovely foot soak (see sidebar). It is also an excellent addition to massage oil, and Sally says that a wintertime mix with St. John's wort is fantastic (see "Sunny St. John's Wort," December 2004). Rosemary's analgesic action increases blood flow, helps to release tense muscles and ease arthritic joints.

Simmering on the stove, rosemary's aroma welcomes friends and family while its antiseptic qualities send germs packing — helpful when someone is sick or to promote good health. Use the herb or essential oil to make a wash for your counters. Plant it near your door as a natural insect repellant. Rosemary makes an excellent wound cure, as a soak or applied directly: In Arabia it was sprinkled on as a powder, in Spain it was pounded into salt.

I'm so busy taking notes that it is a surprise to have Sally ask me, "How does that rosemary tea feel in your body? We're so up in our heads that we get disconnected from how things feel for us," she says. I sip again and this time I pay attention.

Reach for rosemary; she's ready for just about everything...

Located near Monroe, WA, RavenCroft Garden is an educational center connecting people, plants and the earth. It is home to founder EagleSong, Community Centered Herbalist (CCH) and Director Sally King, CCH, who work with herbalism as a foundation for creating health. Contact EagleSong and Sally at (360) 794-2938 or at www.ravencroftgarden.com.