Rose Blog Post | Rooted Being

Rose

BY THEASHEN MOODLEY

Key Definitions

Constituent - a component part of something.

Contraindications – a condition or circumstance that suggests or indicates that a particular technique or drug should not be used in the case in question.

Indications – A symptom that suggests certain medical treatment is necessary.

Introduction

Most people know Roses as having several petals, coming in many colours, having mild scents and being sold at their local florist. Wild Roses are the original Rose and consist of five petals, a starburst of stamen in their centres, come in pure white to a deep pink and are strongly aromatic. Furthermore, wild Roses hold all the medicinal benefits cultivated Roses have lost. Wild Roses can be used to improve blood pressure and cholesterol, support people going through grief, sadness and depression, heal wounds, modulate inflammation and decrease pain (De La Foret, 2017).

Depending on the species of Rose, they are either climbing perennials (e.g., Rosa canina) or deciduous shrubs (e.g., Rosa gallica). In both cases, the Rose plants have curved thorns, toothed leaflets, white to pink flowers and scarlet fruits (called hips). All species of Rose belong to the Rosaceae family of plants and can grow between 1.5 m (for shrubs) and 3 m (for perennials) in height (Chevallier, 2016).

Constituents, Actions & Indications

Constituents

Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, K and C); flavonoids; tannins; invert sugar; pectin; plant acids; polyphenols; carotenoids; volatile oil (geraniol, nerol, citronellol, geranic acid, terpenes); vanillin (Chevallier, 2016) (Brinker, 1998).

Actions

Anti-inflammatory; antibacterial; antidepressant; astringent; analgesic; nervine; aphrodisiac; and antioxidant (Easley & Horne, 2016) (De La Foret, 2017).

Indications

Bladder infections; pain; colds; flu; grief; depression; inflammation; wounds; osteoarthritis; and rheumatoid arthritis (De La Foret, 2017) (Chevallier, 2016).

Scientific Research

Journal articles by Ayati, et al., 2018 and Mármol, et al., 2017 presented the findings of studies that were completed on humans and animals, that used different species of Roses. These findings are summarised below:

Clinical trials have shown that Rosehip powder can reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
The high antioxidant content of Dog Rose (Rosa canina) means that it may have potential in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Animal models showed that Dog Rose's hips may reduce blood glucose levels.
Trials done on mice showed that Dog Rose may be able to regulate cholesterol levels.
Trials done on rats indicated that Dog Rose may be able to reduce the likelihood of kidney stone formation.
Recent studies have shown promise that Damask Rose (Rosa damascena) may improve spatial and long-term memory in Alzheimer’s patients.
The topical application of Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora) improved atopic dermatitis in mice studies.
Studies done on Dog Rose have indicated that it may be able to reduce the depth of crow’s feet wrinkles, increase the moisture content of the forehead and improve skin elasticity.
Further studies into Dog Rose suggest that it may offer anti-ageing properties and may have application as a skin-lightening agent in cosmetics.
A human study showed that Dog Rose powder reduced markers of cardiovascular risk in obese and non-diabetic individuals.
Preclinical and clinical studies have supported that Rose hips exhibit anti-arthritis and analgesic activities.

Preparations & Dosage

Weak infusion – drink up to 3 cups daily or as needed (Easley & Horne, 2016).

Tincture – take 5 drops to 2 mL 3 times a day of a 1:5 ratio tincture (containing dried Rose petals and 40% alcohol).

Capsule – take 1 000-2 000 mg 3 times a day.

Fresh Rose Hips – consume between 5-45 g of fresh Rose hips straight off the bush. Avoid consuming Rose parts that have been sprayed with pesticides (De La Foret, 2017).

Shop our Rose Hip-infused Rawbiotics Daily; Rawbiotics Gut; Back 2 Nature Body Oil; Hey Gorgeous Anti-ageing Serum and Skin Evening & Brightening Moisturiser.

Elderflower Tea Recipe

The petals, inner bark, leaves and fruit (hips) of Roses can be used in preparation, however, petals and Rose hips are the most used as they are rich in bioflavonoids and vitamin C respectively. The following recipe was taken from Alchemy of Herbs and is perfect for those suffering from cold and flu symptoms(Gladstar, 2014).

Ingredients

20 g dried Elderflowers
9 g dried Yarrow leaves and flowers
15 g dried Rose hips
4 g dried Peppermint
Honey (optional)
3 ½ cups of water

Instructions

Bring the water to a boil.
Place the herbs in a 1 L jar and cover the herbs with the boiled water.
Stir the mixture and let steep for 30 mins.
Strain the mixture and add honey if desired.

Safety Considerations

Roses are generally considered as being safe, however caution is advised if consuming cultivated Roses as they may have been sprayed with pesticides (Easley & Horne, 2016) (De La Foret, 2017).

Contraindications

None known (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).

Drug Interactions

None known (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).

Adverse Events

Based on the previously conducted clinical trials, it was found that Rose hip products are well tolerated with no significant adverse events (Gardner & McGuffin, 2013).

Disclaimer

The information presented in this post is intended as an informational guide. The remedies, approaches and techniques described herein are meant to supplement, and not to substitute for, professional medical care or treatment. They should not be used to treat a serious ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health care professional.

References

Ayati, Z. et al., 2018. Phytochemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological profile of rose hip: A review.. Current pharmaceutical design, 24(35), pp. 4101-4124.
Brinker, F., 1998. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications.
Chevallier, A., 2016. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. 3rd ed. New York: DK Publishing.
De La Foret, R., 2017. Alchemy of Herbs. 1st ed. California: Hay House Inc.
Easley, T. & Horne, S., 2016. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide. California: North Atlantic Books.
Gardner, Z. & McGuffin, M., 2013. Botanical Safety Handbook. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Gladstar, R., 2014. Herbs for Stress & Anxiety. 1 ed. North Adams: Storey Publishing.
Mármol, I. et al., 2017. Therapeutic applications of rose hips from different Rosa species. International journal of molecular sciences, 18(6), p. 1137.

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