A rose is a rose is a rose, noted poet Gertrude Stein. As herbal medicine, a hybrid tea rose is just as useful as the rose cultivars used by ancient herbalists. Always use pesticide-free petals, hips or leaves when making medicinal or food products from your hybrid teas. Herbal remedies may not be as effective as other medication, so check with your doctor before attempting any self-treatment.
Immunity Booster
Rose hips, the fruits that emerge on some rose varieties in the autumn, are rich in vitamin C---100 g of rose hips contain about 25 times the amount of vitamin C as the same amount of citrus fruits. Rugosa rose shrubs boast a greater reputation for prolific hip production, but some of the hybrid teas also produce the nutritious fruits. Choose the hybrid tea cultivars Slava, Georgie Lad or Meg for medium to large hips, or ask your local nursery for recommendations. Harvest and dry them for rose hip tea, or use them in place of berries to make nutritious jellies, jams or syrups. Drugs.com recommends storing dried rose hips in large pieces, or halves, rather than in processed, ground form. Pieces cut in half and dried retain 50 percent of their vitamin C content after 18 months, while ground pieces lose all of their vitamin C content after only six months.
Laxative
Use rose hip tea as a mild laxative, advises herbalist Lesley Bremness. Make teas from one or two dried or fresh hips. After infusing the hips in hot water for several minutes, strain the liquid through coffee filters to remove any small hairs which the hips might retain, Bremness advises. If your doctor approves, drink 1 or 2 cups of this tea each day during times of irregularity.
Diuretic
If you have mild swelling or bloating caused by water retention, rose hip tea may help. Drugs.com notes that rose hip tea is a traditional diuretic as well as laxative. Diuretic herbal teas help to flush the extra water from your system. Ask your practitioner if the tea might be appropriate for your water retention problems.
Tonic
The notion of spring tonics---foods and beverages that jump-start the digestive system after a sluggish winter of heavy, starchy foods---is somewhat overlooked today. Yet you may find the notion of using herbs which have an astringent effect on you digestive system appealing. Teas made by infusing the leaves of rose bushes are a traditional tonic drink, notes Bremness. Use fresh or dried leaves for the tea, adjusting the amount used to taste. Check with your doctor to determine if she approves of this natural internal astringent.
Skincare
Rose petals are both astringent and hydrating, providing skin-toning and moisturizing properties, notes herbalist Jeanne Rose in "The Herbal Body Book." Infuse the petals of your hybrid tea rose shrubs in olive oil or vinegar to create nourishing moisturizers, massage oils or toners. Rosehip seed oil is said to be useful for treating conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Infused rosehip seed oils you make at home won't be as powerful as commercial rosehip seed oils, which extract the oil through intense pressure. But you may find the homemade treatments therapeutic enough to treat mild skin conditions.
References
- Drugs.com: Complete Rose Hips Information
- University of Vermont Extension: Rose Hips
- The Complete Book of Herbs"; Lesley Bremness; 1994
- "The Herbal Body Book"; Jeanne Rose; 2000
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