The Romans recognized the benefits of roses, recording over 30 disorders treatable to some degree with roses. The hips of a rose are tiny berries that form in late spring and continue to develop until fall. Dried, they are used in teas, pills, creams, jams and other culinary dishes. those with seasonal allergies or allergies to roses should not use rose hips. Speak to a licensed medical practitioner before using rose hips.
Nutritional Supplement
Rose hips contain vitamin C; dried rose hips contain anywhere from 1,700 to over 2,000 mg per 100 g of dried fruit. Rose hips also contain a nominal amount of vitamins A and B, with Healthnews.com reporting that rose hips contain up to 25 times the vitamin A content of oranges, a fruit they are often compared to. Rose hips also contain vitamins B1, B2, B3 and K, though the content of these vitamins varies by the type of rose used and the preparation method of the rose hips themselves. In addition to their high vitamin content, rose hips contain pectin, tannins and flavonoids. Native Americans routinely used rose hips as a beverage, vegetable and snack food.
Laxative
Rose hips are claimed to be useful in creating bowel movements, according to "Medicinal Herbs: A Compendium." This claim is largely based upon studies done on vitamin C for this purpose, as well as anecdotal evidence provided by those who have used rose hips for other reasons. Diarrhea is listed as a side effect if too many rose hips are ingested, lending credence to the idea that rose hips are a viable remedy for constipation.
Arthritis
A 2007 European study found that those who took rose hips had a decrease in joint pain and arthritis symptoms by as much as 40 percent when compared to a group given a placebo. No individuals in the placebo group indicated any change in pain or symptoms. Evidence of the anti-inflammatory properties of rose hips is slim, but anecdotal and traditional evidence states that this study is not news: rose hips have been used for centuries to help with arthritis and joint pain.
References
- "Medicinal Herbs: A Compendium"; Beatrice Gehrmann, Wolf-Gerald Koch, Claus O. Tschirch, Helmut Brinkmann; 2005
- BBC News: Rose-Hip "Remedy" for Arthritis
- "The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide: The Safe Way to Use Medications and Supplements Together"; George T. Grossberg M.D., Barry Fox; 2007
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