Purpose of Rose Hips

Most people don't think of the rose hips that appear after a rose has faded, or about the fact that the rose hip is an edible fruit. This fruit has high vitamin C content. According to a study published in "Molecular Aspects of Medicine," rose hips also contain a "remarkable" amount of lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes. The hip of a rose is not only edible, but also can provide many nutrients.

Uses

Rose hips are used in soups, teas, purees, marmalades and extracts. The Omaha Indians used rose hip tea as an eyewash to reduce inflammations, according to Anthony Cichoke, author of "Secrets of Native American Herbal Remedies." In folk medicine, rose hips have also been used for stomach problems, influenza, fevers, colds and diarrhea. Rose hips are most commonly used from the Rosa canina, or dog rose, according to Steven Foster and Varro Tyler, authors of "Tyler's Honest Herbal."

History

During the bubonic plague in France, Nostradamus administered a remedy that was made from rose hips. Many of these towns were able to recover from the plague with his help, according to the Encyclopedia of World Biography. Citrus was also rare in Great Britain after World War II, and many people depended on the rose hip syrups that were distributed by the Ministry of Health to get their source of Vitamin C, according to the University of Vermont.

Precautions

Rose hips are relatively safe, with few side effects. It is possible to have an allergic reaction, especially in those who have respiratory allergies and breathe in the dust from the hips. Many roses are sprayed with pesticides that can be hazardous to health, according to the University of Vermont. It's important to only harvest or consume rose hips from bushes that are safe. Aluminum utensils should be avoided in the preparation of rose hips because the aluminum can destroy the vitamin C content.

Description

The rose hip appears once the flower disappears, and they typically stay on the bush until the first frost. Sometimes the rose hips will still be on the bush the following spring. Their skins turn softer and brighter once they are exposed to the frost. Their taste is both sweet and tangy. They can be eaten dried, fresh or in preserves. Other than a high amount of vitamin C, rose hips also contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 and K. Rose hips also contain carotenoids, flavonoids, tannins and pectin.

Arthritis

Rose hips have been shown to reduce pain in osteoarthritis patients after three weeks of treatment, according to a study published in the "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology." They also reduced the need for rescue medication in these patients. Another study published in "Inflammopharmacology" showed that rose hips were anti-inflammatory and had the potential to replace or supplement current osteoarthritis therapies.