“There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
When I was a child, the southern fence-line of our property was a wall of wild-growing rambling roses. How I loved their pinkish-white flowers. And their scent! In the evenings with the breeze, a gentle rose scent would drift across the yard and into the house. It was a gentle perfume to go to sleep by. I also loved that the rose created an impenetrable wall separating our property from our neighbor’s. While our neighbor was a good person, I liked the sense of protection the roses provided. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was going to get through those roses! I loved those roses, and I still admire the plant, particularly the wild ones. Their tenacity paired with their light scent seems the perfect example of the yin and yang of the natural world.
When I was a child, the southern fence row on our property was a solid wall of these delightful flowers–a wall that stood taller than I.
From Roses to Herbalism
It was through rose–specifically rosehips–that I had my introduction to herbal tea in the early 2000’s. I lived in Lake Charles, Louisiana at the time, and there was a tea house that offered high tea. My mom and I made a reservation, and the tea served was rosehip-hibiscus tea. I’d never had anything like it. It was rich and tangy with a hint of mellow sweetness. And it was deep red! Until then, my experience with tea had been limited Lipton iced tea (not a fan), green tea (okay), and various Celestial Seasonings tea (also okay). But this beautiful, rich red tea spoke to my soul. Our waitress explained that rosehips had lots of vitamin C—much more than orange juice. That was it. I needed this beautiful tea in my life!
After some trial and error, I put together a blend that mimicked the tea I’d enjoyed at the tea house. I didn’t drink the tea every day, but it was a go to when I was feeling run down or when a cold was settling in. It seemed to help, and it was yummy. Such was my introduction to herbalism: a lovely red tea that I drank when I didn’t feel well. It was at least a decade, maybe a bit longer, before I learned there is so much more to rosehips than their being loaded with vitamin C. In fact, nearly the entire rose plant has properties to support our health: flowers, flower buds, rosehips, and leaves may all contribute to our well-being.
Rose in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), rose is a cooling and tightening (astringent) herb. Cooling herbs are helpful for easing inflamed tissue (such as irritated sinus, swollen tissue such as the bursa around our joints, and irritated digestive tissue). Herbs with astringent properties may draw water from tissues so the skin tightens and feels firmer. This can be a useful part of a skin care routine, including reducing acne. But just as rose is so much more than a source of vitamin C, its cooling and tightening properties are not limited to skin care and sinus support. Rose can support our health in a variety of ways.
Rosehips
Rosehips are the fruits of the rose and are the part that herbalists most often use—at least in teas. If cracked open, the rosehip will spill out tiny seeds and dreadful little hairy structures that cause extreme itching. In fact, the tiny hairs are often used in the itching powder sold in novelty shops. When making tea and other herbal products, it’s best to use seedless rosehips to avoid irritation to the mouth and throat. The shell of the rosehip is awash with herbal goodness, so you lose nothing by skipping the seeds—except a lot of itching.
Dried, whole rosehips. These are the parts of the flower left behind when the petals drop and contain the seeds of the plant. Rosehips begin to form when the flower is pollinated in early summer and ripen by autumn. While the entirety of the rose plant is useful in supporting our health and well-being, the rosehip is especially useful.
So, what benefits do we derive from rosehip tea besides vitamin C? In The Modern Herbal Dispensatory, Thomas Easley and Steven Horne suggest that rosehips may strengthen capillaries, which in turn reduces the likelihood of frequent bruising. Rosehips are also thought to be anti-inflammatory. Research has shown that rosehips contain large amounts of galactolipids which inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators. These mediators are chemicals that promote the inflammatory response. While rosehip powder in standardized capsule form may be the most effective way to combat serious inflammation from arthritis, regular cups of rosehip tea can be a lovely way to provide our bodies additional support when dealing with an inflammatory response.* I drink a cup of rosehip-hibiscus tea each morning and can tell a difference on the days I skip it.
Rose Petals and Rose Buds
I’ve also learned about the nervine properties of rose petals and rosebuds. Juliet Blankespoor calls them “an ally for heavy hearts—for those suffering from grief, despair, and loss” (361). The scent of rose that lingers in petals prepared for herbal use is calming, while also a bit uplifting. It soothes and encourages. When mixed in teas, rose petals add a light floral taste. More importantly, the rose scent can reduce anxiety and ease a troubled mind and heart.* Likewise, when used in bath salts (such as Wise Cat Relax Bath Salts), rose petals can promote relaxation throughout the body.
Besides their calming qualities, rose petals are also supportive of the skin. As an astringent, rose petals can tighten skin, reducing the size of pores. Combining rose petals with calendula and elderflower in jojoba or other light oil results in a face serum that can firm skin and support its health.* Furthermore, rose petals may be used as a poultice or a wash to ease burns, sunburns, insect bites, and bruises.
Additional Health Benefits of Rose
I love that rose, both the rosehips and the petals, has antimicrobial properties. Because of those antimicrobial properties, I use rose water in the lotions I make. (I use an additional natural preservative, as well). There is always the possibility of introducing microbes into products when water is used. Rose water reduces that likelihood to some degree, plus it smells heavenly! I like to think the slight scent of rose is part of the “ahh” experience that many say they enjoy with the lotions I make.
There is so much more to rose than I have utilized so far. In addition to providing anti-inflammatory support, rose may also be a cardiotonic and a diuretic. Furthermore, the leaves of the plant are also antimicrobial. I have read that rose leaves can be combined with the flowers to create a drying antiseptic that would be gently healing on scrapes and weeping wounds. I’ve also learned more about the richness of rosehips: not only do they contain loads of vitamin C, they also contain bioflavonoids and antioxidants. They are good blood builders, as well.
The Support of Rose
It seems fitting that a plant I was so drawn to as a child should provide so much support to our health and well-being. Maybe the nascent herbalist in me had some sense of just how important rose would be in maintaining my own health as well as in helping support the health of others. I love that rose, in its wild, original, pre-cultivated state is a tenacious plant that protects itself even as it soothes with its gentle scent. That protection goes far beyond its thorns. All parts of the rose work with our bodies to protect our health in so many ways. That wall of wild roses from my childhood has evolved into a wall of herbal properties that support my health and well-being: tenacious and gentle–just as a rose should be.
Citations
Blankespoor, Juliet. The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies. Mariner Books, 2022.
Easley, Thomas, and Steven Horne. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine Making Guide. North Atlantic Books, 2016.
FDA Statement
*Wise Cat Apothecary, LLC.’s products are not reviewed by the FDA. Our products are not intended to prevent, cure, or treat any illness or diseases. All statements are based on personal experience, research into herbal traditions and practices, and customer anecdotes. Our products are intended to support overall health, and the information we provide is educational only. Always check with your health care provider before using herbs or herbal products if you have a known medical condition or if you are pregnant or nursing. Wise Cat Apothecary is not responsible for accidents, misuse, or adverse reactions.
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