This time of year when most of the plants have gone dormant for the winter and the snow begins to fly I start looking to plants like roses which provide their bright red rose hips as winter survival food.
Wild Rose (Rosa Woodsii)
Not only the rose hips are used but also the flowers, thorns,stems, galls and roots.
Not only can the rose-hips can be eaten straight of the bush but the rose petals (avoid the bitter white portion)are a great to snack on. Another tasty treat is to wrap some butter in the petals or simmer them lightly in some honey.
Both the rose hips and petals make great herbal tea and the rose hip is very high in vitamin C and are great in jams and jellies.
Let's look closer at some of the medicinal qualities and uses of the rose and it's many parts.
First off the rose is very cooling, astringent and decongesting which makes it suitable for inflamed conditions where some toning and draining would give some relief.
Petals
Put some dried rose petals in a pillow to help relieve a headache. Infusions of the dried petals is used to relieve headaches and dizziness and is an excellent nervine when your stressed out.
Decoctions made of petals is used for sore throats by gargling with it.
Wine decoctions restores the body and is used to ease uterine cramps.
the petals can also be used as a butterfly bandage if it is moistened. Put the moistened petal on the affected area and they will tighten and hold the skin tissue together.
Rose Hips
Way back in Hippocrates time it was mentioned that rose hips will influence pituitary hormone regulation. The rose contains a compound, Farnesol, which is responsible for producing hormones for immune system protection.
Rose hip tea will aid all menstrual difficulties.
Rose-hips have properties which are anti-bacterial and very useful for kidney, bladder and vaginal infections.
They can be pounded into a poultice and used to bring boils to a head.
Rose-hips are a vasodilator, making it a good heart tonic, reliving high blood pressure and headaches.
An important derivative made from the seeds in the rose-hips is a cold-pressed oil. they contain fatty acids, linoleic and alpha-linolenic, which can't be produced by the human body but yet are very important for optimal health. It is has remarkable regenerative qualities for the skin. Reducing wrinkles and dissolving recent scar tissue.
Leaves
The rose leaves, flowers and hips are all mildly astringent and diuretic and are used for liver and gallbladder health as well as to cleanse the bloodstream.
The leaves contain malic and tartaric acid which helps get rid of urinary gravel and helps dissolve gallstones.
Stem and Bark
The inner bark is used like a tobacco and is part of the smoking mixture used by some native tribes called Kinnickkinnick.
Decoctions of branches were used for rheumatism.
Roots
Root decoctions helped relieve kidney stones or gallstones and was also used for mild cases of constipation.
Decoctions, which had been boiled for hours, was also used for bad coughs.
Thorns
Thorns had been burnt and boiled in water and used for delayed menstruation and anemia.
They were also used like a type of moxibustion and they would stick the thorn into the skin then burn it down until a blister was left. This was a counter-irritant used for curing pain.
Galls
Galls, created by the cynipid wasp, were burned and crushed into powder and dusted on burns.
Do Not Forget to Stop and Smell the Oh! So Sweet Roses!
Recipes
Infusions
1 tsp dried de-seeded and de-haired rose-hips or 1 handful fresh or dried rose petals put into a pint of boiling water. Steep 10 - 20 minutes
**Note: Fresh petals are more laxative where dried petals are more astringent.
No Cook Jam
1 cup fresh petals
3/4 cups liquid pectin
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp honey
Blend and store in fridge.
Rosehip Jelly
Simmer for one hour - 2 pounds de-seeded hips.
Put into jelly bag and let drip overnight.
For every 3 cups of juice you get and 2 cups of honey.
Heat slowly until the honey is dissolved into 5 cups of water.
Boil until setting point.
Skim the scum, add a little lemon juice if desired.
Pour into jars. Seal when cool.
Images were taken with my Canon PowerShot A495
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