Rosehips, Mother Natures Gift

Sarah Dafoe
Nov 13, 2020
5 min read

Updated: Nov 19, 2020

Even though our opportunity to harvest summer fruit has long past, this winter season offers us a chance to harvest fruits which are unavailable to us during those warmer months. Rosehips are the fruit of the beloved rose bush and are available to harvest after frost has arrived, as it softens the flesh and brings out its sweetness. Red and ripe they are incredibly useful and are so loaded with nutrients they could be considered a super food, containing tremendous amounts of vitamin C, they have been used throughout history for colds and flu as well as to boost the immune system, Mother Nature’s perfect little vitamin, gifted to you in a cheerful red container:)

All parts of a Rose plant are medicinal, its petals, leaves, roots and fruit,

each having different effects on the body.

It has a wide range of benefits, too many for this article to contain,

so next summer, when the roses are in full bloom,

there will be another post on how to work with the petals.

Rosehips contain a high level of antioxidant and antimicrobial actions, containing Vitamins A, B complex, C, E, K, and minerals including calcium, silica, iron, and phosphorous. Rosehips are particularly high in bioflavenoid rich antioxidants which help strengthen the heart and blood vessels, and prevent degeneration of tissue. They contain carotenes that have been linked with cancer prevention and the natural pectin found in rosehips is beneficial for gut health. It is also being studied as a therapy for diabetes mellitus, as studies have shown that rosehip fruits can reduced blood glucose level significantly.

MEDICINAL ACTIONS OF ROSEHIPS

Adaptogen: The vitamin C and flavonoid content of rosehips also act as an adaptogen, which helps to modulate the body’s stress response and thereby supports the immune system.

Antioxidants: Rose hips have higher antioxidant properties than other well-known antioxidant fruits as rowanberry, hawthorn, chokeberry, blackcurrant, and blueberry. Due to its high content in antioxidants rosehips support the heart and cardiovascular system, enhancing the integrity of the vascular system, and can be used as a daily tonic to reduce capillary fragility and permeability and also plays a beneficial role in reducing bone loss. The antioxidant properties of flavonoids content in these rose hips are the most likely elements responsible for their neuroprotective effect, improving congnitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity or motivation. As an infused oil rosehips are useful in speeding the healing of bruises and wounds.

Antiviral: The antiviral effect of rose hip has been less investigated, but some interesting research has also been performed in this field. In 1995, the protective effect of ‘Rosa nutkana’ extracts against bovine coronavirus was reported. No further information about the anti-coronavirus effect of ‘Rosa nutkana’ has been added up to the present, although it directed other researchers to evaluate the antiviral potential of Rose gender members.

Astringent: While it is an astringent, it does not dry out the skin and instead helps to hydrate it, keeping the moisture in. Drinking rose hip tea daily will also benefit your skin. It helps to regenerate skin cells, healing wounds and scars. It also helps to keep the skin elastic and nourished.

Demulcent: Rose hip tea has mucilaginous properties that coat and soothe the mucous membranes. The tea is beneficial as a demulcent for treating a sore throat. The mucilage coats the digestive tract and is used in the prevention of ulcer formations. The tea soothes the digestive tissues after stomach flu or antibiotic use.

Diuretic and laxative: The fruit acids and pectin in rose hip tea is a mild diuretic and laxative. It is used to improve, and relieve the symptoms of kidney disorders, or to help in the case of mild constipation. To make the tea simply pour a cup boiling water over a tablespoon of crushed, dried hips and let steep. After straining out any pieces of the hips you can add honey and drink.

Hepatic: Encompasses many actions related to healthy liver function and promotes maintenance of liver health.

Immunomodulant: Tonifies and strengthens the immune system. Perhaps the most common use of rosehips throughout history has been for the prevention and treatment of colds and flu. Wild varieties have the highest concentration of Vitamin C, with some estimates reporting 30-50 times the Vitamin C of oranges. Rose hips are a winter food for birds, grouse, rabbits, deers, and skunks though so care should be taken to not over-harvest plants growing in the wild, general rule of thumb is to not take more than a third:) Because of the high vitamin C content they are an excellent immune system booster, and are often used as a supplement to prevent or treat a cold, a single tablespoon of the pulp gives an adult more than the recommended daily allowance of 60 mg from Vitamin C. Vitamin C might have a dual role in skin protection since as well as its antioxidant effect; it is directly involved in skin and collagen formation. Beware of store bought rosehips as the commercial drying processes can destroy the vitamin C content and are instead fortified with lab-made vitamin C.

Inflammation Moderator: Many complementary medicine physicians use rose hips to treat wounds and inflammations. Clinical trials have shown rosehip compounds to be beneficial in treating rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis due to its high content in anti-inflammatory molecules. Components of rose hips also relate to protection from UV-induced inflammation and damage, increasing red cell longevity.

Nervine: Rose hip tea can also soothe the nervous system and relieve exhaustion.

Vulnerary: The compound rugosin E, found in rose hips can cause blood clotting, helping to heal wounds.

If you decide to harvest your own rose hips there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure you do not use any herbicides or pesticides on the plant. Although you may be tempted to prune off old flowers, you have to let them die and the petals fall naturally to get the hips. This means you may not have the flowers around for as long as you could. At the time of harvest, hips should be firm with a little give in texture and bright red or orange in color. If any of the hips on the plant are shriveled or are not the right color, do not collect them; they will not go to waste, as they will provide a great treat for the birds, rabbits, squirrels, and deer in the area. The color of rose hips varies, but in general, orange hips are not quite ripe, and deep red hips are overripe. Overripe hips are sweet, but have lost much of their vitamin C. The inner hairs surrounding the seeds cause irritation if ingested so rosehip preparation must either be strained before use, or hulled rose hips must be used if you want to consume them.

You can store rose hips in the freezer, made into jelly, dried

or put into immune-boosting herbal bone broths or soup!

Rose hips have been used since the Stone Age and today we are finding out,

and proving, that the benefits of this flower fruit are indeed valid.

Don't only take the time to stop and smell the roses,

take a bit more time to eat the fruit too:)