Rose hips' claim to fame is their extremely high vitamin C content. That's why you'll find many vitamin C supplements that contain them, and you'll see them in natural cold and flu remedies and immune-boosting teas. Some of the uses for rose hips are a bit more esoteric, or unusual, however.
Body Infusion
Drink rose hip tea after performing breathing exercises to re-oxygenate your body, recommends Zsuzsanna Emese Budapest, author of "Summoning the Fates." Use a special cup that has a texture and shape that you enjoy. Rose hip tea is esoteric as well as nutritious because you are drinking the heart of the rose, which stands as a symbol of wisdom, beauty and life. Drinking the tea over a 10-minute time frame will infuse your body with its special "magic" -- along with a healthy dose of vitamin C, Budapest notes.
Backpacking
Pick rose hips and consume them when you are living off the land while backpacking. Put raw bits in your salads or use them to make tea. Just remember a few rules that will help preserve the plants. First, harvest no more than 10 percent of what's available if rose hips are native to the area. If they are naturalized, meaning they've been introduced to the area, you can harvest 30 percent. Also, don't take the best-looking plant because it is the one that is genetically seeding the rest, according to the "Backpacker" magazine article "Pick N Eat" by R.W. Trommer. Also, check on local rules. For example, some places prohibit picking plants less than 200 feet from trails or in or near picnic or campground areas.
Medicinal
Rose hips often are recommended as a mild laxative, according to "New Healing Herbs" by Michael Castleman. You also may use them to treat mouth sores, such as canker sores. In fact, rose hips are approved by Germany's Commission E, the regulatory body for herbs in that country, for the latter use. Rose hips also are being studied for potential anti-diabetic effects, according to U. Andersson, lead author for a 2011 study published in the "American Journal of Physiology."
Preparation
Make rose hip tea by steeping them in hot water for five to 10 minutes, after slowly bringing the water to a boil with the rose hips in it. Strain the liquid and also mash the rose hips to extract their juice. If you are drying the rose hips outdoors, spread them in a thin layer and dry them in a shady area for two to three days until they get hard and crisp. Bring them inside at night. In an oven, spread them in a thin layer on a baking sheet and dry them at 110 degrees F until they get crisp. This usually takes 18 to 24 hours, notes Phyllis Hobson, author of "Making and Using Dried Foods."
References
- "Summoning the Fates"; Zsuzsanna Emese Budapest; 2007
- "New Healing Herbs"; Michael Castleman; 2001
- "Backpacker" Magazine; Pick N Eat; R.W. Trommer; October 2000
- "Making and Using Dried Foods"; Phyllis Hobson; 1983
- "American Journal of Physiology": Rose Hip Exerts Anti-Diabetic Effects via a Mechanism Involving Down-Regulation of the Hepatic Lipogenic Program; U. Andersson et al.; 2011
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