Rose (Rosa sp.) - Plato's Garden

Overview of Rose

There are thousands of species of Rose, most of which possess similar medicinal qualities. If you find a rose, or its hip, you can for the most part assume that the rosehips will be rich in vitamin C and other nutrients, and that the petals will serve as a confection (enhance taste) to an herbal blend, act as a mild nervine, and energetically assist in grief. Both are a great remedy for general health as they positively benefit the kidneys, lymphatic system, and bowels. Rosehips are further valued medicinally for their astringent action. You can add rose petals to an herbal blend for taste, general health, mild nervine effects, hormonal balancing, circulation, and particularly in cases of energetic depression or grief. Use Rosehips as an addition to a cold/flu blend for the ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) content, and in cases where an astringent is needed (e.g. diarrhea, detox). Rose can be transformed into rose water or essential oil, both of which are coveted as cosmetics and perfumes.

Family: Rosaceae
Parts used: Rosehips, buds/petals, leaves

Phytochemistry

Volatile oils
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Galactolipids (GOPO)

Phenolics

Carotenoids (lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin)

Amino acids
Bioflavonoids

Pectins
Tannins

Vitamins A, B3 (niacin), D, E, Folate
Magnesium, Copper

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Description

More than 10,000 roses are known in cultivation. Common medicinal varieties include Rosa canina, arvensis, rubiginosa, cenitfolia, gallica, and others; but any scented roses of a deep red colour are used in commerce.
The wild varieties can typically be described as: Thorny to prickly, deciduous shrubs with leaves pinnately divided into around 5-7 toothed, oblong leaflets. Flowers are light pink to deep rose, 5-petaled, fragrant, forming branched clusters, in June to August. Fruit of Rose are scarlet-purplish, round to pear-shaped, berry-like hips, 5/8 – 1 1/4″ (1.5-3 cm) long, wit a fleshy outer layer enclosing many stiff-hairy achenes.

Actions

Astringent, diuretic, laxative, anti-rheumatic, anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, decongestant, tonic, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-obesogenic (weight loss), nervine

Historical

In shows of extravagant wealth and opulence, certain emperors (e.g. Djihanguyr), during their weddings or their daughter’s weddings would fill a canal around the ceremony with rose water (distilled rose). It is said that during the ceremony of the aforementioned emperor, the bridal pair observed the sun separating the essential oil of the rose water, creating an exquisite perfume on the surface of the water. By the accounts of some scholars this was the discovery of “Attar of Roses”, or, “Otto of Roses”, or, essential oil of Rose. For more information on the production of rose water, Attar of Roses, and the myriad uses for Rose besides medicinal, Mrs. Grieve in her A Modern Herbal gives a detailed report.

During World War 2, when oranges could not be imported, British and Scandinavian people collected hundreds of tons of rose hips to make syrup.

Pliny the Elder claimed that the root of Dog Rose (Rosa canina) could be used to treat rabies.

Sappho, the Greek poetess, named Rose the Queen of Flowers.

It was once a custom to hang a Rose over a dinner table as a sign that all confidences spoken at the table were to be held sacred.

“If a person is to be healed of any infirmity, they should use rose before all else,” – Hildegard of Bingen

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” -William Shakespeare. A line by Juliet, meaning that despite the barrier of their family names, the love between her and Romeo is still true.

Rose has been used in cosmetics for ages, and it would be a worthy task to bring it back into fashion in its holistic, natural forms.

Medicinal Actions

Diarrhea, cold, diabetes, edema, fever, gastritis, rheumatism, sciatica, polydipsia (abnormal thirst), kidney / lower urinary tract conditions.

It has been studied extensively for countering pain in osteoarthrtis. If you are a follower of Plato’s Garden, you may have learned of the connection between OA (osteoarthritis) and kidney functioning and lymphatic movement. In the case of Rose, the likely cause of remedy for OA is kidney-related, as it has diuretic actions and is utilised for kidney/lower urinary tract conditions traditionally. This suggests that perhaps Rose is a more proficient renal (kidney) herb than is commonly believed, making it an excellent general health herb which can be added as an aesthetic, pleasant-tasting, nutritive addition to herbal blends.

According to the Natural Food Hub website: “The stability and bioavailability of vitamin C in rose hips is
enhanced by the presence of flavonoids and organic acids that inhibit oxidation.” I add this statement to highlight the importance of utilising herbs in their natural form. It is better to take a tea or tincture of rosehips, or consume a vitamin C rich food, than to ingest Vitamin C supplements. The same is true of all other phytochemicals (e.g. it is better to consume tumeric than a curcumin supplement). Trust in Nature.

Cautions & Contraindications

None known when used in reasonable quantities, except allergy to roseacea family.

Cultivation/Harvesting

For the purposes of commerce, many varieties of Rose are cultivated to produce rosehips, generally requiring a minimum content of 0.3% ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Some studies suggest that higher elevation regions produces a higher content of ascorbic acid.
Wild Rose is abundant and there’s not much concern about over-harvesting. When harvesting the hips, ensure to leave at least 20% per plant to facilitate regeneration.
Collect petals only from flower-buds just about to open, not fully expanded flowers. They must be gathered in dry weather.
Collect rosehips after the first frost in the Fall. One frost will convert starches into sugars within the hips, and preserve vital phytochemicals.

This Post was all about Rosa sp. (Rose)..

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Justin McArthur

Herbalist