The rose hip is the fruit of the rose plant, in the genus Rosaceae.

It is considered to be one of the oldest herbs used for healing and nutrition.

Rose hips, rose leaves and rose petals have been used for medicinal purposes since Neolithic times.

The ancient Romans believed that it was even effective against rabies and they used Rosa canina (from the Latin word canis, meaning 'dog')  for the bites of rabid dogs. Hence came the term Dog Rose.

Other folk names for rose hips include more than a dozen various terms, such as wild rose, wild brier, brier rose, dog berry, hep tree, hip fruit, hop fruit, hogseed, sweet brier, witche’s brier.

Back in the good old days, our grandmothers would skillfully use this valuable herb to prepare delicious and healthy foods.

Grandma's pantry shelves used to squeal under the weight of her homemade marmelades, jellies, jams, liquers, syrups and wine.

Apart from being healthy, these products were also part of the folk tradition, which is, unfortunately, gradually dying out nowadays.

When you once unravel the hidden benefits of a common rose hip, you might be tempted to resort to this nutritional powerhouse over and over again.

Rose hip – a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals

Rose hips are rich sources of valuable nutrients. They are rich in vitamin D, vitamin P, vitamin K, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3 and provitamin A.

Rose hips are particularly high in vitamin C content, one of the the richest plant sources available. This makes rose hip one of the healthiest fruits.

Researchers have confirmed that rose hips contain 50% more vitamin C than oranges.

Some highly influential scientists have conducted research to confirm that rose hips retain their vitamin C value when cooked.

Moreover, studies have shown that there is a further increase in the concentration of vitamin C after the rose hips have been boiled for about 10 minutes.

Succulent rose hips also contain rich amounts of important minerals such as sodium, iron, selenium and manganese as well as moderate amounts of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sulphur and silicon.

It is also an excellent source of flavonoids, malic and citric acid, ascorbic acid, tannin, carotenoids (lycopene and xanthophyll).

Rose hips improve digestion and stimulate kidney function

The fruit acids present in rose hip play a major role in the treatment of bowel, bladder and kidney disorders.

Rose hip may help prevent kidney and gall stones.

It supports the digestive system naturally by improving and regulating digestion, without causing unpleasant side effects.

It helps with various stomach disorders, prevents diarrhea, stomach irritation and vomiting and promotes stomach mucosa regeneration.

Rose hips are a natural diuretic which helps the body to flush out toxins and regenerate itself.

Rose hips protect against bacteria and viruses

Rose hips contain many flavonoids that have potent antioxidant action, protecting the body against external pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses.

Vitamin C is probably the most powerful anti-inflammatory agent, especially effective against colds and flu.

Rose hip is therefore an excellent immune system booster and a natural remedy for a variety of health problems, aiding the steady recovery from illness.

Rose hips help with arthritis and painful muscles

Rose hips are also a good source of astringent tannins, which make them beneficial as a tonic and astringent.

It is capable of tightening tissues, soothing aching muscles and damaged mucus, relieving bone pain, protecting against infectious agents and aiding in the treatment of various bone and muscle disorders.

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, rose hip is considered a valuable natural remedy for treating arthritis, gout and rheuma.

A 2007 study examined the effect of rosehip intake in patients with sore joints and confirmed its potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Those patients who took a rose hip capsule every day experienced a 40 per cent drop in pain levels and a 25 per cent improvement in mobility.

Rose hip protects against stress and hormonal imbalance

This plant is especially effective in dealing with disorders closely related to stress.

It relieves digestive disorders, reduces high blood pressure, improves blood circulation and treats other stress-related circulatory complications.

It may also help promote hormone regulation.

Rose hip is an effective natural remedy that treats menstrual cramps and other uterine related disorders. It is also effective against headache, migraine and vertigo.

Rose hip provides perfect skin care benefits

The abundance of fruit acids makes rose hip an ideal remedy to maintain your skin healthy, both externally and internally.

Its natural ingredients will aid skin regeneration, promote the removal of dead skin cells, shrink pores and remove dirt and fatty impurities accumulated on the skin.

It also effectively treats skin disorders, promotes skin cell regeneration, stimulates the production of collagen, which is responsible for skin elasticity, firmness, glow and smoothness.

Rose hips relieve the symptoms of skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis and burns, and reduce the appearance of hyper-pigmentation, age spots and sun spots.

They also help reduce wrinkles, scars, acne and stretch marks, moisturize your skin and restore vitality.

Other rose hip health benefits

• relieves mental and physical fatigue
• treats headache and vertigo
• promotes detoxification
• deals with diarrhea and nausea
• protects against cardiovascular diseases
• improves circulation
• prevents anemia
• cleans the respiratory tract
• heals the skin, muscles and bones
• treats skin conditions and allergies.

Harvesting and usage

Rose hip grows as a deciduous shrub, with spreading and prickly branches.

Its beautiful five-petal white or pink blossoms bloom in late spring to mid summer, exuding modest yet elegant beauty.

Its berries are 1-2 cm in length, round to oval shaped, with a bittersweet taste.

Apart from rose hip berries, you can also use rose buds, petals and leaves for various, usually culinary and medicinal, purposes.

Rose petals are picked in spring and used to make syrups and jams or to flavour foods such as salads, yoghurts or frappes.

Rose leaves are a good source of vitamin C as well. They are picked while still young and green and then dried to make herbal teas.

Rose buds are highly valued in aromatherapy, where they are used as extracts, boosting clarity, alertness and concentration.

Rose hips are usually ready to be picked in mid-September and October, in dry and sunny weather conditions.

At the time of harvest, rose hips should be firm and bright red or orange in colour.

Soft and deep red hips are overripe and not suitable for drying.

Since all the berries on the shrub do not ripen at the same time,the harvesting process should be repeated several times.

After they have been harvested, it is recommended to cut the rose hips across and dry them immediately at a temperature of 40 degrees.

Only freshly picked rose hip dried at this temperature will retain its natural colour.

After they have dried, rose hips may be ground or sliced and stored in paper or linen bags.

Apart from stewed fruits and teas, rose hip may also be used in salads and soups and as a filling for cakes.

Rose hip syrup is tasty served over pancakes or fruit salads.

Note:

It is not recommended to consume raw rose hips, since the seeds inside have an irritating, hairy covering which may cause irritation in the digestive tract.

Additionally, while cutting rose hip, use gloves to avoid skin irritation caused by its hairy covering.

 

Recipes

1) Tea for kidney stones prevention

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon rose hip
• 5 dcl boiling water
• 2 teaspoons honey
• ¼ lemon juice

Directions:

Pour 5 dcl of boiling water over a teaspoon of chopped rose hips, allow to stand for about 8 to 10 minutes. Strain the tea and sweeten with two teaspoons of honey. Add the lemon juice.

Drink the tea 3 times a day, before a meal.

2) Tea for chronic kidney disease

Ingredients:

Use the following plants in equal proportions.

• rose hip
• sage
• distaff
• blueberry
• plantain
• 3 dcl water

Directions:

Mix the above mentioned herbs together and pour a teaspoon of the herbal mixture into a teacup. Pour the boiling water over, allow to stand for about 10 to 15 minutes and then filter.

Drink the tea in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening before sleep.

3) Rose hip syrup

Ingredients:

• 280 g brown sugar (or 12 teaspoons honey)
• 100 g rose hip
• 1,5 l water
• vanilla sugar

Directions:

Combine the water, brown sugar and vanilla sugar together and cook until the water boils and the sugar dissolves. Add rose hip, stir and cook briefly.

Use a linen cloth to filter the liquid and remove rose hip's hairy covering.

Pour into sterilised bottles and store in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate after opening and use the syrup in ten days.

You may also use this syrup as a topping for cakes, ice cream, fruit salads, puddings, pancakes and other desserts.

Rose hip and pomegranate – two different plants

Rose hip, the fruit of the rose family (in the genus Rosaceae) is sometimes confused with the delicious fruits of the plant known as pomegranate (in the genus Punicae) or Latin Punica granatum.

Although both plants contain valuable nutrients, it is important to differentiate between the two since they belong to different species.

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