
Improve Your Memory and Prevent Cancer With This Holiday Plant
- The holidays don’t have to die with your tree. This plant can last for years!
- Before science, Shakespeare told of this amazing memory enhancer
- Fill your oven and house with cancer-fighting and memory-boosting joy
“How about one of those little tree top ones?”
“No thanks. I have what I came for.”
“Ma’am, are you sure?”
“Yes, this is perfect.”
“OK, if you say so — but you know it’s not a tree, right?”
“I do. It’s a wonderful shrub, and I will get a lot of healthy use out of it, thanks.”
This is the conversation I have every year at the holiday tree lot.
I buy a fragrant holiday potted plant in lieu of a cut tree every year, and sometimes to the tree lot attendant’s dismay.
I do this mostly because of the plant’s many health benefits. Some of these include brain function support and cancer-fighting agents — I will share more in a bit.
Plus, it is easy to transplant, provides a cheery fragrance to your home, and is a tasty addition to holiday meals.
First, I will share how it became a part of my holiday traditions.
I’ve only bought one cut holiday tree. It was beautiful and fragrant, but it made me a little sad when I had to drag its lifeless branches to the side of the road on New Year’s Day.
After that, I bought a potted tree and tried to help it survive in my yard.
I soon found out helping a blue spruce thrive in the hot climate and sandy soil of Florida (where I was living at the time) is not really an achievable goal for an amateur gardener like myself.
The following year, I bought my grandmother a potted rosemary plant.
She replanted it in her yard, where it grew to be enormous. In fact, it thrived in her yard for five years before it was removed for construction purposes.
I realized it was more fragrant than a cut tree and much easier to transplant than a potted pine tree.
Suddenly, the string of holiday lights clicked on in my head — I can buy a rosemary bush instead of a tree every holiday season.
And so I have for the past 10 years.
I decorate my little rosemary bush with a string of lights and place it on my dining room table or in a window every year. When the holiday is over, I either repot in a larger pot (as I no longer have a yard) or gift it to a friend.
What I didn’t realize until a few years into my rosemary tradition was its health benefits.
“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance” – Ophelia in Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5
As William Shakespeare points out in Hamlet, rosemary has a long association with memory.
These days, science helps validate rosemary extract as a cognitive enhancer.
In fact, a study done by researchers at Northumbria University found that 1.8-cineole, a chemical in rosemary oil can help promote brain performance.
In this study, one group of participants were in a rosemary scented-room and then asked to preform memory tasks. Another group were in an unscented room and asked to perform the same tasks.
Jemma McCready, a researcher involved in the study, reported:
“The difference between the two groups was 60-75 percent. For example, one group would remember to do seven things compared with four tasks completed by those who did not smell the oil, and they were quicker… These findings may have implications for treating individuals with memory impairments.”1
1.8-cineole may work in the same way as some prescription drugs do to treat dementia, by causing an increase in acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter.
Inhalation may be the best way to get therapeutics into the brain. By entering the blood-stream through the nose, the chemicals can go directly to the brain and bypass any degradation caused by the stomach or liver.2
You shouldn’t spend your days with your face buried in a rosemary plant or a bottle of essential oil, so I will share how to infuse your home with its memory-boosting benefits in a moment.
Rosemary has also shown to prevent the growth of cancer cells via in vivo and in vitro studies.
One study done at the University of British Columbia revealed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of rosemary extract to hinder human breast cancer and leukemia cell growth.3
In addition, another study found rosemary may have the ability to suppress tumor development in human organs. These include colon, liver, breast, stomach, as well as leukemia and melanoma cells.4
But rosemary’s benefits don’t end there.
Healthy Holidays
Rosemary adds an aromatic element to your environment and it makes a delicious addition to many recipes.
And the best news is rosemary plants are readily available at tree lots, nurseries, and big-box hardware stores. Choose organic if available.
Depending on the plant’s size, the price can range from $10-40.
Once you get a plant, there are many ways to enhance your holidays with rosemary.
You can add rosemary to any savory dish. I like to add the leaves of a few sprigs to my roasted sweet potatoes or sauteed vegetables.
Rubbing meats with rosemary can provide a robust flavor. I will usually add a handful of sprigs into a beef tenderloin marinade or to the roasting pan of a whole chicken. This practice also results in your kitchen smelling wonderful.
But my favorite thing is to infuse my whole apartment with the smell of fresh rosemary.
Here’s how to get started:
Rosemary humidifier
- Cut 5-7 sprigs of rosemary from your plant and rinse them thoroughly.
- Bring 2-3 cups of water to a low boil on your stove top. Add the rosemary sprigs and reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Let the pot remain at a simmer, uncovered, until your home fills with the fresh aroma of rosemary or as long you like. Be sure to add more water as the level evaporates.
If you prefer a stronger scent, you can add more sprigs of rosemary or other aromatics like cinnamon or ginger. The added humidity from the steam will help to reduce dry nasal passages and dry skin caused by artificial heat.
Rosemary essential oil is a fine substitute for fresh sprigs if you are unable to locate a plant. Add drops one by one to the water before it’s heated until you reach a desired level of scent. I would recommend 10-15.
Do you have a favorite holiday scent? Let me know! nmoore@lfb.org
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
P.S. If you are keeping your plant inside, be sure it gets lots of direct sunlight. Also, your plant needs to be in a container with good drainage and never let the soil completely dry out. I water mine every two days.
Sources
[1] What does rosemary do to your brain?
[2] Why a whiff of rosemary DOES help you remember: Sniffing the herb can increase memory by 75%
[3] Rosemary Extract: Cancer Fighter, Brain Protector, and More!
[4] Rosemary and cancer prevention: preclinical perspectives.

Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
The Surprising Link Between Jaw Tension and Anxiety
Ever catch yourself clenching your jaw when you’re stuck in traffic or waiting for an important phone call? Well, it might tell you something important about what’s happening “upstairs.” Turns out, that jaw tension isn’t just annoying—it’s a direct hotline to your anxiety levels. And most of us don’t even realize we’re doing it. I’ve...
Could Poor Sleep Be Hurting Your Brain?
If you’ve ever woken up groggy, unable to shake the brain fog, or struggling to focus, it might be more than just a bad night’s sleep. Sleep apnea—a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops during sleep—affects nearly 936 million people globally. But here’s the kicker: it doesn’t just leave you feeling tired. New research shows...
Mailbag: Inflammation-Fighting Protocol Clears Clogged Arteries
“I’m 70 years young and I would like to know if there is a natural treatment for clean arteries to prevent heart attack and cardiac problems. Thanks for your reply!” -Change of Heart Dear Change, I love how proactive you’re being about your heart health! Nature offers powerful solutions for keeping arteries clear and healthy....
Why Your Tech Troubles Might SAVE Your Brain
Ever feel like your smartphone is too smart for you? Or maybe you’ve struggled to figure out that new streaming device your kids gave you? Well, take heart. Those technology headaches are saving your brain cells. A groundbreaking new study suggests that spending hours figuring out your gadgets could be your best defense against cognitive...
Study Reveals the Dark Side of Sleep Meds
I’m sure you know by now that quality sleep is crucial for good health. Poor sleep, on the other hand, is linked to all kinds of health hazards, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, depression, and anxiety. It’s the primary reason people opt to take sleep medications. But what if the pills you’re taking to...
Ancient Food Eases Modern Digestive Woes
If you turn up your nose at the pungent aroma of sauerkraut, you might want to reconsider. Because that tangy, fermented cabbage could be exactly what your gut needs to fight off inflammation and heal digestive issues. Research reveals that this humble food, enjoyed for centuries across the world, contains potent compounds that could shield...
One-Third of Dementia Cases Linked to This Treatable Condition
Dementia is on the rise—and the number of cases is expected to double by 2060. Most people focus on common risk factors like diet, exercise, or genetics. But one of the biggest threats to your brain health is something most of us take for granted… Until it starts to fade away. Worse yet, research shows...
Medications That Don't Mix Well with Coffee
If you’re a regular Living Well Daily Reader (and I certainly hope you are), I probably don’t need to tell you I’m a coffee fan. I regularly share information on coffee’s many health benefits—from boosting metabolism to reducing disease risk. But many don’t realize that cup of Joe can interact with common medications, sometimes reducing...
Invisible Microplastics Trigger Serious Health Concerns
We often joke about living in a plastic-covered world these days. But the reality is far more concerning than most realize. Tiny plastic particles—or microplastics—have infiltrated nearly every corner of our environment, from the deepest ocean trenches to the air we breathe. And now, alarming research reveals these microscopic menaces aren’t just polluting our planet—they’re...
Mailbag: Discover What a Naturopathic Doctor Really Does
“What does the “ND” stand for? Is Dr. Olson a Medical Doctor?” —Inquiring Mind Hi Inquiring, Great question! “ND” stands for Naturopathic Doctor. While I’m not an MD or Medical Doctor, I am a licensed healthcare professional with extensive medical training. As an ND, I completed a four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school after earning my...