Rosemary is best known as a fragrant kitchen herb, but for centuries it has also appeared in traditional remedies for sore muscles and aching joints. The plant contains compounds such as rosmarinic acid and several diterpenes that have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory research. That background has led to dramatic online nicknames such as “natural morphine.” However, rosemary does not contain morphine and should not be considered a natural substitute for opioid pain medication. Human evidence for significant pain relief remains limited.

Some small studies and complementary-medicine research suggest rosemary may have a role in relaxation or temporary symptom relief, particularly when its aroma or diluted essential oil is used alongside other approaches. The Arthritis Foundation notes research in which an aromatherapy blend containing rosemary was associated with reduced pain among people with arthritis. Still, because rosemary was only one ingredient, researchers cannot say that rosemary alone produced the effect.