Botanical and Common Names
- Family Rosaceae
- Rosa species
- R. canina (Wild Rose, Dog Rose, Rose Hip, Brier Hip, Hip, Brier Rose, Eglantine Gall, Hogseed, Dog-berry, Sweet Brier, Witches’ Brier, Hep Tree, Hip Fruit, Hop Fruit, Hipberries)
- R. arkansana (Prairie Wild Rose, Sunshine Rose, Arkansas Rose, Meadow Rose, Pasture Rose)
- R. laevigata (Cherokee Rose)
- R. gallica var. centifolia (Apothacary’s Rose, French Rose, Cabbage Rose, Hundred-leafed Rose)
- R. damascena (Damask Rose)
- R. rugosa (Rugosa Rose, Saltspray Rose, Beach Tornado)
- R. multiflora (Japanese Rose)
Cautions
Use only the rose species listed here for medicinal purposes and not garden hybrids.
Because of the high price of rose oil, adulteration is common. Therefore, for medicinal purposes, use only the best high quality, genuine rose oil.
Consumers should be aware of the fact that much of the natural vitamin C in some rosehip products is lost in the manufacturing process. To compensate, some fortify the products with artificial vitamin C.
Description
Rose species are native to various places, but most are from the Middle East. They have been cultivated for thousands of years, but some can still be found in the wild although most are cultivated for commercial or private use. Typically, roses are climbing or bushy perennials with thorny stems and varying shapes and colors of flowers. All have a unique rose scent. The wild roses typically grow everywhere on the prairies of North America in ravines and stream banks, bluffs, thickets, and along roadsides and railroads.
Key Actions
- antidepressant
- antispasmodic
- aphrodisiac
- astringent
- antibacterial
- antiviral
- antiseptic
- anti-inflammatory
- blood tonic
- cleansing
- digestive stimulant
- expectorant
- increases bile production
- kidney tonic
- menstrual regulator
Key Components
- volatile oil
- vitamins and minerals (especially A, B, E, and K, potassium and iron)
Medicinal Parts
Flowers, petals, rosehips, root, root bark, essential oil
There are some 300 chemical constituents of which only about 100 have been identified.
Depending on the source, some rose teas are able to supply as much as 1000 mg. per cup. Recent studies now indicate that taking more than 2000 mg. of vitamin C per day changes the vitamin into a pro-oxidant that actually increases cellular damage caused by unstable free radicals. Other experts seem to think that this action takes place with as little as 1000 mg. of vitamin C per day.
Remedies
The seeds of the Japanese rose are used in Oriental medicine as a diuretic and laxative.
Infusions of dried rose petals are used for headaches and taken after meals to aid digestion.
Steam inhalation of a decoction of rose petals, lavender, and hops help induce sleep.
Compresses soaked in infusions of the dried flowers make a good anti-inflammatory remedy for the eyes or any other inflamed area of the body and applied cool for headaches.
Rosehip tincture is an effective astringent for treating diarrhea or in relieving colic or as a component in cough remedies.
Rosehip syrup is used as a cough remedy or taken as a source of vitamin C.
Rosehip decoction is taken with other herbs to treat chronic diarrhea associated with stomach weaknesses.
Flower decoctions are taken with motherwort for heavy menstruation or combined with Chinese herbs for liver dysfunctions.
Tinctures from the petals are used for diarrhea or sluggish digestion. When combined with other herbs, they areused to treat irregular or heavy menstruation.
Gargles made from petal infusions, used alone or combined with sage, are used for sore throats.
Creams from the essential oil are used to treat dry or inflamed skin.
Lotions from the essential oil are combined with lady’s mantle tincture for vaginal itching.
Rosewater combined with equal amounts of witch hazel is used as a moisturizing lotion for skin prone to pimples or acne. (Rosewater is a by-product of the steam distillation of Bulgarian rose oil and is used as a skin remedy.)
A few drops of essential oil can be added to bathwater for depression, grief, or insomnia.
Massage oil is made by mixing a few drops of essential oil with a neutral oil and used to relieve stress and exhaustion or for sluggish digestion.
Traditional Uses
The dried hips of the wild rose are especially high in vitamin C, having three times that of citrus fruits, and have long been used to prevent scurvy.
The Chinese use the flowers as a qi or energy stimulant and blood tonic to relieve stagnant liver energies. They are also used for digestive irregularities or with motherwort for heavy menstruation.
The Damask rose blooms for only a couple of weeks, during which time the petals are collected and steam distilled to produce true Bulgarian rose oil used in about 96% of all women’s perfumes. Medicinally, it is an important nervine used for depression and anxiety.
The cabbage rose is used to produce French rose oil, which differs significantly in its chemical composition from Bulgarian rose oil and has a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
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