To maintain health, nature has given man many medicinal plants. Among them, we all know rosehip. On the territory of Russia, from the southern steppes to the northern forest-tundra, you can find a tall (up to 3 m) bush. Its leaves are located on short petioles of 5-7 pieces. The thin brown branches of the bush have thorns. The plant begins to bloom in May.
The fruits, appearing in late August or September, are complex berries of oval or round shape. Harvesting occurs before the first frost.
Application area
We managed to find out a lot about rose hips (folk healers have taken into account the beneficial properties and contraindications of the plant since time immemorial). The ancient Greek “father of botany,” the naturalist Theophrastus, was the first to describe the healing qualities of the shrub. His manuscripts date back to the fourth century BC. Since then, the beneficial properties of rose hips have been used to strengthen the immune system, as well as to increase physical and mental endurance. The plant helps get rid of many ailments. Among them:
- cold;
- sinusitis;
- diseases of the oral cavity;
- nervous disorders;
- diseases of the digestive system.
Healing fruits can normalize blood pressure and improve the health of the heart and blood vessels.
Botanical information about rose hips
In botanical reference books, rose hips have a familiar name, rose. About 400 species are known, and among them there are many varieties of wild and cultivated roses.
Rosehip is a multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub, up to 3 m tall. The stems of the shrub can be climbing, erect or creeping. A wild rose lives from 30 to 50 years in wild conditions, some species are able to grow into trees, and then their life expectancy increases by hundreds of years.
Rose hips grow, very quickly, thanks to the appearance of adventitious shoots from the root system of one bush, entire rose hip plantations appear. The branches of a plant can be of different colors and even textures, the thorns of one type are not similar to the thorns of other types, but the drooping rose does not have them at all.
Flowering occurs in the spring, and by autumn there is a cessation of a bush strewn with fruits in red shades.
Ripe rosehip
Vitamin composition of rose hips
The pulp of the plant's fruit contains up to fourteen percent ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Moreover, there is much more of this valuable component in rose hips than in currants. Vitamin C was also found in the leaves of the plant.
Rose hips, which grow in the northern territories and central Russia, can boast the highest content of this healthy component.
The fruits of the medicinal plant contain vitamins belonging to group B. Among them are:
- Thiamine (B1). This vitamin is important for growth and development processes. It supports the functioning of the nervous system, as well as the heart, blood vessels and digestive tract at an optimal level.
- Riboflavin (B2). This component is needed for growth antibodies, red blood cell synthesis, thyroid function, skin health, hair, nails and oral cavity.
- Folic acid (B9). It is necessary to produce a sufficient number of sperm. Folic acid deficiency is a dangerous cause of anemia.
How is rosehip useful for the vascular system? Flavonoids (group of vitamins P) contained in it. When combined with ascorbic acid, they significantly reduce the fragility and permeability of capillaries. These valuable components are necessary for the normal course of redox reactions in the body and are of great benefit in the treatment of kidney and liver pathologies.
The seeds of the medicinal fruit contain valuable vitamin E. How is rosehip beneficial due to this component? It is especially important for reproductive function and strengthening the immune system. This antioxidant is found not only in rosehip seeds, but also in the oil obtained from them.
Eating the fruits of a medicinal plant helps improve blood clotting. Rosehip normalizes metabolic processes in connective and bone tissues. All this work is done by vitamin K, which is found in the plant.
What are the benefits of rose hips for the body? Presence of beta-carotene. From this valuable component, the body produces vitamin A. Due to this, how is rosehip useful for the eyes? The use of infusions of a medicinal plant is an excellent prevention of twilight vision disorders.
When to collect rose hips and how to preserve them
To prepare medicinal potions, not only berries are used, but also branches, petals, and roots. Useful raw materials are collected in the fall (usually in September), before the first frost occurs.
You should know that even mild frost has a detrimental effect on the healing qualities of rose hips!
The fruits are dried simply - laid out in a thin layer on a clean surface, in a shaded, well-ventilated room or in the fresh air. Unlike, for example, pears or apples, these berries cannot be dried in direct sunlight - exposure to ultraviolet radiation “kills” their beneficial components. Ideally, the drying time should take 8-9 hours, since with a longer process the medicinal properties of rose hips are lost.
For these purposes, you can also use the oven; at a temperature of 45-50 degrees and the door ajar, the fruits are dried for about 6-7 hours. Properly dried berries should retain their dark red (or orange) color, wrinkle and shrink slightly in size.
It is recommended to store medicinal raw materials in fabric bags or glass containers; shelf life is a maximum of 2 years. As for the roots and branches, before drying they should be thoroughly washed with cold water and cut (for example, with pruning shears) into small fragments. The petals are dried in the shade, on a clean cloth, laid out in a thin layer and covered with gauze to prevent blowing by the wind and uninvited visits from insects.
Today, rose hips are included in many medicines. Rosehip oil, syrup and juice can be purchased not only in pharmacies, but also in most supermarkets. You can stock up on useful raw materials yourself or purchase ready-made, collected and properly dried fruits or bark.
I will mention another uncommon, but excellent way to store fruits - pureeing. To prepare berry puree, you need to rinse them well, remove the stems and seeds from the inside, then puree them with a blender or grind them in a meat grinder. This product can be stored in the freezer for about a year without losing its qualities.
What else does rose hips contain?
The healing plant is rich in various microelements. Their list includes magnesium and calcium, potassium and phosphorus, manganese and iron, copper and zinc.
Rose hips contain water-soluble fiber. It promotes faster removal of harmful substances from the intestines. This valuable component has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the entire digestive system.
Rose hips contain organic acids - citric and malic.
The beneficial properties of rose hips also lie in the tannins and tannins it contains. These components have the remarkable property of inducing the process of protein coagulation. As a result, a protective film is formed on the skin and mucous membranes. That is why rosehip potions are used to treat burns, oral pathologies and skin diseases. There are many tannins and tannins in the roots of the plant, as well as in its flowers and fruits.
Unique properties of rosehip essential oil
No less magical properties were attributed to rosehip essential oils. And today such products are widely used to cleanse and soften the skin. You just need to take into account the high degree of concentration of oils and their very high cost.
Note! To use pure essential oil, you should first check your individual tolerance. This is done by applying it to the inside of the wrist. The use of rosehip oil for the face against wrinkles is very popular.
If the delicate skin of this area does not show irritation, then the product is completely safe and can be used.
However, as a rule, unlike most essential oils, rosehip oil can be applied to the skin undiluted. Moreover, it goes well with other oils and serves as the basic basis for compositional groups of them. Rose oil perfectly saves and heals skin from sunburn.
These properties are due to the concentration of various GLAs, for example fatty acids similar to those found in fish. It is known that acids of this group significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and help the body restore or recycle worn-out cells.
Therefore, thanks to this composition, rosehip oil is excellent for most skin types, promotes its regeneration, softens, smoothes wrinkles, accelerates wound healing, prevents the formation of scars, promotes the resorption of scars, stretch marks, and burns.
Interesting! Do you want to learn more about the benefits and harms of rosehip oil? Then read our article.
Rose oil is considered an excellent moisturizer for skin care and areas with transplanted fragments. Its properties best promote the natural formation of a bond between the grafted tissue and the natural epidermis thanks to:
- a composition that provides extraordinary healing abilities, making the oil a miraculous asset against the risk of scar tissue formation;
- ease of combination with other oils or lotions for the treatment of postoperative wounds and scars;
- ease of collagen formation, which prevents wrinkles and premature skin aging;
For massage, treatment and cleansing of the skin, a few drops of rosehip oil to 10% of the total required volume, added to neutral vegetable or jojoba oil, will be enough.
Note! In addition to being a healing and massage product, clear wild rose essential oil is an unsurpassed aromatherapy product.
The soft, slightly earthy smell of a heated aroma lamp easily relieves panicky feelings of anxiety, stress, and any anxiety. This is the effect of real magic. Anger, stress, depression, sadness of loneliness go somewhere. A feeling of happiness and peace settles in the soul. It is important not to forget that such amazing drugs should be stored away from sources of heat and light, in places inaccessible to children and pets. In this case, care must be taken to prevent the possibility of rapid rancidity of the oil.
For what pathologies is rosehip recommended?
Syrups, tinctures, powders and extracts are prepared from the medicinal plant. The beneficial properties of rose hips, as well as its flowers, roots and leaves are used:
- with atherosclerosis;
- with decreased gastric secretion;
- with uterine bleeding;
- with anemia;
- in cases of slow wound healing;
- with ulcerative processes in the duodenum;
- for pathologies of the female reproductive system;
- to eliminate colitis, gastritis, stomach ulcers and digestive problems;
- with anemia and general exhaustion;
- for malaria;
- in case of slow bone healing;
- for pathologies of the liver, intestines, etc.
Rose hip tea
For medicinal purposes, you can consume fresh fruits of the medicinal plant. However, inside they have unpleasant, thorny bones. That is why many people prefer rosehip medicine in the form of tea. In addition, it is more than useful to drink rose hips in the form of extracts and syrups. Tinctures of a medicinal plant can be prepared at home.
Tea with rose hips exhibits beneficial properties in case of failures in the diet. It perfectly stimulates appetite and improves digestion. This drug is recommended for pathologies of the gallbladder and liver.
For arthritis and joint diseases, they also drink tea with rose hips. The beneficial properties of this drug will have an anti-inflammatory effect. This drink is recommended for various forms of colds, flu, and also for high body temperature.
How is rosehip (tea) useful for those who have suffered a serious illness or surgery? This drink will help restore the body.
Liver cleansing with rose hips - how to take?
At home, the fruits are often used to cleanse the liver. On how to take rose hips correctly - first you need to prepare an infusion: pour three tablespoons of dried fruits into a thermos and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. It is better to do this in the evening, so that the infusion is ready in 8-10 hours. It is also recommended to reduce your food intake in the evening, limiting yourself to a light dinner.
In the morning, dissolve 2 tablespoons of sorbitol in a glass of the resulting infusion and drink this drink on an empty stomach. Then you should go to bed and apply a warm heating pad to the liver. After 20 minutes, you need to drink the remaining broth, without adding sorbitol, and lie down with a heating pad for another 25 minutes. After this, you can do a little exercise to activate the cleansing process and have breakfast. During the day, it is better to limit meals to fruits and light vegetable salads.
Such sessions are carried out every other day, in courses of six procedures. After this, they take a break for 1-2 months, and repeat the cleansing course again. When using this method of liver cleansing, the body not only gets rid of toxins, but also replenishes vitamin reserves from such a rich source as rosehip infusion. Before using this method, you should consult your doctor to rule out the possibility of contraindications.
Methods for brewing healing tea
In order for the medicinal drink to bring maximum benefit, it must be prepared correctly. There are two ways to brew medicinal fruits. According to the first of them, you should take a handful of rose hips and pour 1-1.5 liters of boiling water into it. After this, the fruits are boiled for another 10 to 15 minutes. This tea will have a rich taste and slight sourness.
According to the second method, any number of rose hips (it all depends on individual preferences) should be poured with boiling water. The drink is infused for 10 minutes. According to experts, this method allows you to preserve the greatest number of beneficial properties of the medicinal plant.
Nutritional properties of rose hips
Fruits and flower petals have also long been used as food additives if the housewife wants to enhance the magic of love. To obtain “vitamin” marmalade, rich in ascorbic acid, equal parts of sugar and rose hips are taken. The seeds are removed from them, the pulp is ground with sugar, and boiled with the addition of edible gelatin into marmalade.
The tasty product is extremely rich in vitamin C. Petals converted into candied fruits in a standard way can serve as a unique decoration for cakes and other confectionery products. If you mix them with honey or sugar, you get a great dessert in the form of jelly.
Even ordinary rosehip tea can give happiness to the entire life of a young girl who has brewed it correctly and read the necessary spell to Aphrodite, Hecate or Isis over it before meeting her chosen one. For example, it has been proven by centuries of practice: for the corresponding ritual in honor of Isis, on January 5 or March 5–6, you need to lower several garlands of wild roses into the sea, and with unshakable faith ask the goddess for help in matters of love. After this, the betrothed will soon appear on the doorstep and bravely offer his hand and heart.
Rose hip decoction
This drug remarkably improves immunity and allows you to get rid of many ailments. It is worth keeping in mind that before using it you need to consult a doctor. The specialist will select the required dosage.
What are the benefits of rosehip decoction? This drink helps alleviate the patient's condition with duodenal and gastric ulcers, atherosclerosis, colds, metabolic disorders and cholecystitis.
Another benefit of rosehip decoction? This drug is recommended for hepatitis and nephritis, hypovitaminosis and bronchial asthma, as well as for liver and intestinal diseases.
Preparing the decoction
To create a healing drink, you can use one of two recipes. For the first of them you will need two handfuls of whole fruits of the plant. The raw materials are placed in a thermos, filled with 500 ml of hot water and left for 7-8 hours. Next, the finished infusion is passed through cheesecloth or a strainer and one tsp is added. Sahara.
The second recipe is a little more complicated. It involves preliminary grinding of berries, cleared of hairs. To do this, you can use a meat grinder. The fruits prepared in this way need to be poured with 300 ml of water, boiled for 15 minutes, and then strained. How is rosehip useful in this case? This drink is much more effective in its effect on the body than the decoction prepared according to the first recipe. The fact is that when the fruit is crushed, seeds come out, which contain a large amount of vitamins.
Contraindications
It is important to use rose hips carefully. The beneficial properties and contraindications of a medicinal plant should be studied before taking it. Rose hips contain a lot of vitamin C. This component can have a negative effect on those patients who suffer from stomach ulcers or gastritis, as well as from high acidity.
The adverse effects of rosehip infusion on teeth have been proven. To prevent negative effects from occurring after consuming a medicinal drug, it is recommended to rinse your mouth with clean water.
It is prohibited to take medications containing rosehip for those patients who are predisposed to thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. It will be necessary to limit the use of the medicinal drug in case of heart disease, hypertension and hypotension. The use of rose hips is not advisable for patients who have problems with the circulatory system.
It is worth keeping in mind that long-term use of rose hips has a negative effect on the liver. This can lead to non-infectious jaundice. Those who suffer from dermatological pathologies should also obtain a preliminary consultation with a doctor.
You have learned how rose hips are beneficial for the body. Take the remedy wisely and be healthy!
