Rose hips, derived from the fruit of the rose bush, have long been used as a complementary medicine by Native Americans. The blossom of the rose plant, which has a sweet, tangy flavor, is used for medicinal purposes. Rose hips, which range from red to nearly black, are usually not allowed to bloom on modern roses but grow freely on wild bush roses, the University of Vermont Extension reports.
Consumption
Rose hips are often drunk in a tea, but can also be made into a syrup, jam or sauce. Remove the blossom after the first frost, cut them in half to remove the seeds and tiny hairs inside the blossom and rinse them. Rose hips can be used fresh or dried for later use. Rose hip supplements also are available.
Ingredients
Rose hips are very high in vitamin C, supplying more vitamin C than orange juice or many other citrus fruits. In World War II, rose hips were used as a vitamin C source when importation of citrus fruits became difficult. Rose seeds also contain a number of unsaturated oils, which can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Benefits
Studies of rose hips have shown benefit for use in treating osteoarthritis, a painful condition that affects nearly all Americans over age 70 to some degree, according to MedlinePlus. A study by the Copenhagen County Hospital Gentofte and reported in the July 2005 issue of the "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology" assessed the use of rose hip to treat 90 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. A placebo group and an active herb treatment group were treated for three months; at that time, the two groups switched treatments. The study found that pain, stiffness and medication use decreased significantly after three months of treatment. Because of their high vitamin C content, rose hips also have anti-oxidant properties. Anti-oxidants reduce the effect of free radicals, substances that damage cells.
Caveats
Do not consume rose hips that have been treated with pesticides that are not labeled as safe for use on food products. When drying rose hips, do not use aluminum pans or utensils, since they can destroy the vitamin C, the University of Vermont reports. Rose hips can also be a significant source of occupational allergies, an article in the April 1990 issue of the "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" reported.
References
- University of Vermont Extension: Rose Hips
- "Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology: A powder made from seeds and shells of a rose-hip subspecies (Rosa canina) reduces symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Clinical Trial; K. Winther; July-August 2005
- MedlinePlus: Osteoarthritis
- "Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology:" Rose Hips: A New Occupational Allergen; A Kawselow; April 1990
- University of Missouri Extension: Rose Hips
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