Rosehip Properties, Medicine & Foraging
Rosehips have a very gentle, nurturing and feminine energy. Taken daily they are restoring for the body, mind, and energy.
Their bright red hue is a cheerful burst colour at this time of year as they grow in abandon, and their taste is somewhere between a tomato and a fruit. Packed with essential nutrients and enriched with a myriad of medicinal properties, rosehips are an essential part of any herbalists collection.
Rosehips are the fruit of the wild rose plant, and have been used for centuries due to their remarkable health benefits. Wild hips grow from late August and all the way through the Winter months. You can find the wild, or Dog Rose, growing in abundance along most footpaths, hedgerows, field edges, in woods, corpses, and scrublands throughout the UK (in altitudes under 550m). For such a beautiful plant they are pretty hardy and tenacious.
They have a long history of medicinal use. Ancient civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans, used rosehips to treat various ailments, such as digestive issues and respiratory problems. During World War II, rosehips gained significant popularity in Britain when vitamin C-rich fruits became scarce. The British government encouraged people to collect and consume rosehips as a source of this essential nutrient.
Spiritual Energy of Rosehip
The rose is associated with the planet Venus and the element of water so it makes sense that they are connected with love, friendship, and peace.
The rosehip is essentially the fruit of the rose, which means that it goes through a process of growth and maturity to reach the point where it can be harvested. The rosehip, therefore, represents the journey of life, the process of growth, and the fruits of one’s labor. It is a symbol of transformation, resilience, and strength, highlighting the fact that even the most challenging experiences can yield sweet rewards.
It is also associated with healing and restoration, emphasising the importance of taking care of oneself and nurturing body and soul. Use to protect your heart, particularly during times of stress, trauma, broken-heartedness or hypersensitivity, and heal your soul.
Associated with the Root chakra rosehips have a grounding influence on the body , internal systems, energetics, and our emotions.
Rosehips have a dark side as well, the Water element having it’s connection to the underworld and darker realms, and rosehip’s fruits becoming ripe within the dark season, and during Autumn when we celebrate the Autumn equinox and the balance between darkness and light. As well as the Pagan celebration of Samhain (or Halloween as we know it), a time when the veil between worlds is thinnest and the Spirit world close.
Folklore of Rosehips
Rosehips have also found their way into folklore and mythology across different cultures. In Norse mythology, the wild rose was associated with Freya, the goddess of love and beauty. The thorny branches were thought to ward off evil spirits and protect against witches. Additionally, traditional British folklore suggests that rosehips placed beneath the pillow could bring prophetic dreams.
Traditionally, Rosehips were used as a medicinal herb and a nutritious food for a wide variety of conditions ranging from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis through to colds, flu, digestive disorders and menstrual cramps. These wide ranging medicinal uses are likely attributed to the high levels of phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties found in the seed and fruit.
For many moons the wise women of the times have made teas of rosehips, aiding women’s monthly moon cycles for both the body and the mind. Necklaces or bracelets where made of strung rosehips to bring love and harmony to it’s wearer.
Picking Rosehips
Harvesting rosehips requires some caution and patience due to the spikey thorns of the rose branches, but the rewards are well worth the effort.
The best time to pick rosehips is in late summer or early autumn when they have ripened to a bright red. Although it is said that they taste sweeter if picked after the first frost.
Wearing gloves and long sleeves is recommended to protect yourself from the plant's thorny branches. You can easily pick the ripe berries from the the stem with a pinch of your fingers, but if you prefer you can also use pruning sheers or scissors..
Once harvested, wash the rosehips thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris before using.
If you are using Rosehips in a recipe to eat then you will also need to cut in half, and remove the seeds from the hips as these contain hairs that are irritating for our throat and skin.
Healing Rosehip Benefits
The contents of rosehips mean they have a lot of healing properties for you any your body, especially during the autumn and winters seasons.
For more on Autumn health + wellbeing read my last blog post.
As with everything in nature Mother Nature is very clever, and everything has its season for a reason. The things that grow naturally in each season of the year contain all of the vitamins and essential nutrients your body needs at that time to be health and strong! Including rosehips.
So what are Rosehip benefits? What can you use Rosehips for?
Cold & flu
Rose hips are rich in both bioflavonoids and vitamin C. Your body needs bioflavonoids to absorb and use vitamin C effectively, and vitamin C itself is key in helping your immune system fight off germs and toxins.
To help treat a cold start taking about 2 g of rosehip syrup as soon as the first signs/symptoms appear. Keep taking the same dosage daily until a few days after your cold clears.
Or, you can start using rosehip syrup, taking a teaspoon daily, from September onwards.
Debility & Exhaustion
A traditional remedy often used as a spring tonic. You can use a Rosehip tonic or tea etc. to aid in general debility and exhaustion -- which can often come after the dark and cold winter months. Make a tincture of cleavers, rosehips and nettle to give you a fresh start in the spring.
Or just use Rosehips on their own as a natural energy boost for your body, and a little boost to your immune system.
Vitamin C has also been shown to to help with boosting your mood and lower anxiety.
Digestive health & Constipation
Rosehips are rich in pectin's. These act as a prebiotic and an indigestible fibre that your gut uses to to increase healthy bacteria, and subsequently your gut health. As well as aid digestion and enhance the absorption of valuable vitamins.
Pectins are also a mild laxative. If you suffer with any blockages when it comes to your digestion drinking a Rosehip tea or drizzling a few teaspoons of Rosehip syrup on your breakfast is a wonderfully delicious and simple way to free up your bowel movements within a few hours.
Oxidative damage & inflammation
Oxidative damage is caused by free radicals, pollution, and all the toxins in our environments. This happens both internally and externally and can cause inflammation throughout your body.Increasing your intake of vitamin C has been shown to reduce inflammation in athletes. This means you can improve your performance during exercise, as well as speed up your post exercise recovery.
The repair of oxidative damage also effects your skin. Air pollution and UV rays damage your skin, as well as your cells & organs. Oxidative damage within your body affects cells and tissues, and can lead to serious health conditions and chronic diseases such as arthritis, cancer, and diabetes.
Absorption
The vitamin C you find in Rosehips has been shown to help your body to absorb other key vitamins, minerals and nutrients. This is why it is always better to get everything your body needs from your food rather than taking isolated vitamin supplements.
Increasing your vitamin C intake will help your body to increase your absorption of vitamin E which you needed to fight oxidative damage, free radicals and the stress these cause- increase calcium absorption through your digestive system to improve bone health and bone mass density- enhance your absorption of non-heme iron. This is particularly important if you are vegetarian or vegan. Non-heme iron is the iron that comes from plant-based sources, not meat.
Helping your body to absorb more Iron reduces your risk of anaemia, exhaustion, and mental fatigue. As well as the many symptoms that come with anaemia.
Tissue repair & growth
One of the most significant benefits of Rosehips and their high vitamin C content is an ability to aid with wound healing, tissue repair, and the growth of tissue.
Vitamin C is used by your body in the creation of proteins which help to make new skin and blood vessels, as well as absorbic acid - the first thing your body needs to produce when you get a wound, cut or damage your skin.
Your body also needs vitamin C to create new skin and scar tissue to heal wounds. Both internally and externally.
Healthy Skin
Vitamin C is good for your skin. It has become a common ingredient in many skincare products nowadays and while using Vitamin C on your skin externally will help improve your skin tone, firmness, brighten your skin, and help reduce signs of wrinkles. You can also use Vitamin C to help with keeping your skin healthy from the inside too. A double-whammy you may say!
Your body uses Vitamin C to produce collagen. Which is how your skin stays plump and firm. Collagen naturally decreases as you age, so upping your Vitamin C intake can help increase collagen. For bright glowing skin you can drink Rosehip tea or take a spoonful of Rosehip syrup 2-3 times a day.
Rosehip seed oil is also known for its ability to heal skin cells and increase cell turnover with its high concentration of vitamins E, C, D, and B-carotene. This oil is hailed for its anti-aging properties, which is why it’s found in many of the world’s most expensive anti-aging creams and lotions. Rosehip seed oil is also a rich source of Vitamin A, making it powerful in fighting acne.
xo Emily
