Wild Rose Medicine
NOTE: Post updated 6/10/24
It's that special time of year again when the Valley is awash with the scent of Wild Rose (Rosa Multiflora). Have you been lucky enough to catch it wafting on the wind like thick perfume?
Anyone who knows me well knows I'm basically obsessed with this plant and with good reason- it's amazing! I first started thinking about working with it after reading folk herbalist Kiva Rose's work with the native roses of her New Mexico home. I've found our resident Rose to make good and powerful medicine, and have come to rely on it often both in my practice and personally. It's truly a treasure and such abundant bioregional medicine.
Wild Rose (Rosa multiflora) Materia Medica
Family Rosaceae
Other names: Multiflora Rose, Baby Rose, Seven Sisters Rose, Japanese Rose, Ye Qiang Wei (China/Pin Yin), No-Ibara (Japan), Jjillenamu (Korea)
Part Used: Flowers + Leaves (collected together), Hips, Roots
Habitat: Woodland and field edges, farms, disturbed soil
Description: Medium-sized, climbing, thorned shrub that can form a thicket. Compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets and feathered stipules. Multiple white (most common in our area) to pinkish flowers arise on corymbs in early to mid-June, are 2-4 cm in diameter, and have an incredible fragrance. They have the classic Rose Family 5 petals and numerous yellow stamens.
Herbal Ecology: Rose multiflora was introduced to the Northeast in the 1930’s originally to provide wildlife forage in the winter (rose hips), habitat, for soils stabilization, and living fences, and it still provides these ecological benefits to this day. It is now throughout all of the northeast, most of the central states, and the west coast states. In most states where it’s present it’s listed as a “noxious weed,” “exotic,” and/or “invasive,” terms I don’t agree with. It’s not present in the inter-mountain west and Rockies. Originally native to eastern Asia- China, Japan, and Korea. The rose hips do in fact provide excellent winter forage for birds, deer and other wildlife. They also provide excellent shelter and many birds nest in them. It is a plant of edges and seems to protect exhausted agricultural land. It is affected by the Rose Rosette Virus (Emaravirus spp), also called “Witches Broom.” This novel virus has unknown origins but was first identified on roses in the mountains of Wyoming and California in 1930. By the early 2000’s it has spread throughout the entire lower 48, impacting most rose species (wild and cultivars), however R. multiflora seems to be especially susceptible. The virus is fatal and there are no known controls once the plant is fully infected, however early detection and pruning of impacted branches may serve as a control. Removing the plant from the landscape and bagging the infected branches up (not composting) is the best way to control the spread of the disease to other plants. It seems that plants closer that 20 meters of each other are the most likely to be infected (in terms of spreading from plant to plant) and plants that are 150-200 meters apart are at low risk of spreading the virus to each other. The virus is spread by an eriophyid mite (Phyllocoptes fructiphilis) that can be spread through the wind and also on human’s hands, tools, etc. The mites are invisible to the naked eye and commercial miticides do not seem to affect them. I personally have started seeing this virus show-up here in western Mass only in the last few years and have been taking an observation approach to see how much this will impact Wild Rose in terms of ecology and sustainable harvest. My current feeling is that this is an example of a natural check and balance in nature and that we will certainly not see all of our Wild Rose disappear, but we will have to see! At this point I still feel ok about harvesting it because of its abundance, even with the virus effecting some plants, but this will be an ecological situation we will have to keep assessing from year to year.
Collection: Flowers bloom in early-mid June and its season is only about 2 weeks so be sure to harvest before the season passes. The flowers mature at varying rates on the corymb, meaning you will find flowers that just opened (they will have bright yellow stamens), some flowers that are starting to go by (they will have brown stamens), and some flowers still in the budding stage all at the same time. I prefer to harvest the entire corymb, along with one leaflet, and look for corymbs that have plenty of new flowers with yellow stamens but it’s ok if some of the flowers have brown stamens or are in bud- it will be impossible to find a corymb full of just new flowers. Harvesting in the morning will yield the most essential oil-rich harvest. Collect leaves any time before frost.
It’s generally considered best to collect hips anytime after the first hard frost of the season. They will be the sweetest after a frost, however in some regions, such as the southeast, they begin rotting by the fall and are best harvested when they are freshly ripe in the summer. Some research indicates that the nutritional content starts to decline after the frost so I try to get them before soon after the frost while they’re still bright red but not wrinkled. Here in the northeast we can wait for a frost, as they don’t tend to rot before that. Baseline is to be sure they are nice and colorful before harvesting. I harvest the Hips of R. multiflora in whole clusters and dry on the stem and tend to leave them on the stems (called a corymb) and throw the whole thing into broths, syrups, and decoctions.
Taste: Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Astringent, slightly Pungent
Energetics: Cool, Dry/Contracting. Considered “tridoshic” in Ayurveda, meaning it’s balancing for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (however may increase Kapha and Ama in excess)
Herbal Actions:
FLOWERS & LEAVES (NOTE: the medicine is mostly in the flowers but I like to include a few leaflets in my medicine too)- Anti-inflammatory, Anti-spasmodic, Astringent, Anti-septic, Aphrodisiac, Blood-Mover, Cardiovascular Tonic, Hemostatic/Styptic, Liver Relaxant, Nervine Relaxant, Vulnerary
HIPS- Antioxidant, Anticancer, Astringent, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-builder, Immune tonic, Nutritive
ROOTS- Astringent
Constituents:
FLOWERS- B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Carotene, Calcium, Potassium, Anti-Oxidants, Bioflavinoids, Polyphenols, Essential Oils
HIPS- Bioflavinoids (including carotenoids, which give them their red color), Vit C (generally about 50% more than oranges), Vit A, Vit B1, Vit B2, Vit B3, Niacin, Vit K, Vit E, Polyphenols (including quercetin and ellagic acid), Pectin, Calcium, Phosphorous, Iron, Copper, Magnesium. Nutritional content varies by region and species! Research shows vitamin C is more concentrated in fresh than dried fruits
ROSE HIP SEEDS- Contain many unsaturated lipids; generally between 40-56% lineolic acid, α-linoleic and its derivatives between 20–30%, and oleic acid 14–20%. Also varies based on species and region
Uses:
FLOWERS & LEAVES- Powerful vulnerary that reduces pain, heat and inflammation in wounds and helps heal skin abrasions, rashes, bites and stings. Rose is specific for excess heat and is a supremely cooling remedy. Try rose water topically on heat rash, hives, or any other hot skin conditions. A vulnerary that helps heal inflamed and irritated tissue both internally and topically I find Rose to be helpful for recovering from gut inflammation from food intolerance- wonderful in a Gut Heal Tea. Rose is a well-known dermatological aid and is excellent in any and all skin care preparations. I always add Rose petals to my sitz bath formulas for it’s vulnerary and anti-septic properties. Rose works wonders on sunburns and mild burns (especially the diluted vinegar). As an anti-septic and mild antibacterial, Rose makes a great first aid medicine for skin infections. Some of my favorite ways to work with Rose topically for this are the tea, diluted tincture, and rose water. Heart Tonic for the physiological heart and spiritual-emotional heart. Useful for trauma, grief, depression, anxiety (especially heart-based), heartbreak. Moves stuck grief so it can be processed. Heart-opening, and well-known flower of love and devotion that balances heart-opening with protection (thorns). Excellent for boundary work. Cardiovascular tonic, promoting proper vascular functioning, treating high blood pressure and poor circulation, especially when signs of heat are present or symptoms are exacerbated by stress. Antispasmodic helpful for osteoarthritis ("wear and tear arthritis"), sore muscles, chronic musculoskeletal pain, especially topically but helps when taken internally too. Helps promote beneficial bacterial in our guts. Aphrodisiac, helpful for low libido, erectile dysfunction, frigidity, bringing blood flow and promoting circulation to the pelvic region. Relieves menstrual cramps, mood swings and scanty menses resulting from pelvic congestion. Combines well with safflower or hibiscus for this. Helps with an overworked and congested Liver and excess heat in the digestive system. Signs include anger and frustration, diarrhea, constipation, headaches, IBS, gastric inflammation, food allergies and intolerance and sluggish digestion that stems from stuck Liver Qi, especially feelings of quick-t0-rise anger and frustration. As a mild antibacterial, astringent, and vulnerary can be helpful for UTIs, yeast and vaginal infections. Major medicine in Ayurveda and Unani-tibb. Also used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Tibetan Medicine. From an Ayurveda perspective great for all classic Pitta (excess heat) imbalances, yet is balancing to all the doshas and is considered tridoshic. Ayurveda often combines rose with shatavari as a tonic. . Traditional flower of love and devotion. Used traditionally to make rosary beads, which comes from the latin word rosarium, “rose garden.” Food as medicine- the flowers are edible and are traditionally made into jam in many parts of the world and they can be put into salads, drinks, fruit salads, made into wild soda, icing, and so on. The leaves are edible and can but into salad, added to pesto, etc. Use the honey for sore throats, to stop bleeding and help minor wounds heal or to simply sweeten your tea. Rose is recognized the world over in every major system of herbal medicinal and folk herbal practices everywhere it grows. A panacea and my desert island herb- if I had only one herb to work with in my apothecary it would be rose. Although this post specifically features Rosa multiflora, Rose species all around the world are used medicinally in a similar way. My litmus test- if it smells aromatic then it’s medicinal!
Rosa Multiflora Rose Hips
HIPS- Nutritive, rich in numerous vitamins and minerals, helpful for weakness and fatigue. Rose Hip's primary claim to fame is their high Vitamin C content, and I use them all winter long in winter immunity teas when my immune system is feeling a little low and are excellent for colds, flus and low immunity. It's true that Vitamin C is degraded somewhat by heat, but they're so rich in it that there will still be plenty available in a tea. Vitamin C is also fantastic for tissue health and integrity- specifically skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Adequate levels of Vitamin C also ensure proper wound healing and scar tissue repair, and helps the body maintain healthy teeth, cartilage, and bones too! Rich in bioflavonoids (antioxidants), which are support cardiovascular health. Strongly antioxidant, helping fight free-radicals (also known as Reactive Oxygen Species/ROS), which are very pro-inflammatory. Their antioxidant activity is attributed primarily to their polyphenols, vitamins C, E, B and carotenoids and these compounds may have synergistic effects! Many of the antioxidants found in Rose Hips are anticancer and have been shown to initiate apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. These same antioxidants are anti-inflammatory and research has shown potential for reducing the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes used in menopause to allay symptoms of dropping estrogen, such as hot flashes, as vitamin C increases bioavailability of estrogen in the body. Traditional uses around the world abound, including treating colds, flu, coughs, mucous congestion, fevers, arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and both bacterial and viral infections. Excellent food as medicine.
SEEDS- Rose Hip Seed Oil is widely used in the cosmetics industry for skin health and is strongly antioxidant
ROOTS- Powerful astringent for acute diarrhea and first aid
FLOWER ESSENCE- Protection; those seeking balancing an open heart with having boundaries; Assists one in finding a healthy balance between activity and relaxation. For those who try to over-form their lives; adds a sense of relaxing into the essence of the moment! Wonderful folks who are constantly busy and can’t slow down as a part of a trauma response.
Preparations:
FLOWERS: Bath Salts; Cream; Elixir/Cordial; Compress; Flower Essence; Glycerite; Honey, Infused Oil; Infusion; In Food; Liniment; Lotion; Oxymel; Poultice; Salve; Salt or Sugar Scrub; Rose Water/Hydrosol; Ritual Baths; Sitz Bath; Tincture; Vinegar, Wild Soda;
Liniment-25% Tincture/75% Oil; Tincture (fresh)-75% alcohol/25% water; Tincture (dried)- 50% alcohol/50% water; Glycerite- 80% Pure Vegetable Glycerin/20% Water; Elixir-25% Raw Honey/75% Brandy; Vinegar- 100% raw apple cider vinegar; Oxymel- 75% raw apple cider vinegar/25% raw honey
HIPS: Decoction (simmer for 20-30 min to optimally extract)- 1 heaping tsp dried or 1 heaping tbsp fresh: cup H20; Nourishing Infusion- 1 tbsp dried Rose Hips: 1 cup just-boiled H20. Steep at least 4 hrs up to overnight. Strain. Drink 2-4 cups/day
Also wonderful in an Oxymel, Vinegar, Elixir/Cordials, Electuary or Powder (make sure they’re hulled!) or Syrup
NOTE: When working with Rose Hips it’s important to know that the seeds are encased in hairs that are irritating to the gut so you don’t want to ingest them! Most Rose Hips sold commercially are hulled, meaning they have the seeds and hairs removed. Hulled Rose Hips can be used the same way you would any dried fruit in foods and beyond. If you are harvesting your own Rose Hips whole there are a few ways to contend with the hairs. One way is to cut them in half and remove the seeds and hairs individually, which is very time-consuming. Another way to use them whole is in recipes that are strained so you don’t ingest the hairs- examples include broths, teas, syrup, mead, wild soda, vinegars, oxymels, cordials/elixirs, kombucha, and more!
Dosage: Apply oil, salve, cream, liniment, rose water, compress and poultice liberally as needed. Honey- Eat liberally and as needed. Tincture, Glycerite, Elixir- Take ½-1 tsp 3x/day or by the drop as needed. Dilute a few tsp of vinegar in water for burns or use freely on food. Eat freely as food. Rose is a very safe herb!
Contraindications: Contraindicated in early pregnancy because of blood-moving effects.
References & Resources:
Wild Rose at home
Rose Recipes on this blog:
Wild Rose Elixir
Wild Rose Honey
Beach Rose-Seaweed Mermaid Bath Salts
Rose Oxymel
Honeyed Rose, Lemon Balm & Strawberry Jam
Herbs for the Spiritual Heart
By Paul Bergner
The Yoga of Herbs
By David Frawley and Vasant Lad
Wild Rose Elixir: A Favorite First Aid Remedy By Kiva Rose
Rose Vinegar: My Favorite Sunburn Soother By Kiva Rose
Rose Monograph By Kiva Rose
World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference, 2nd Edition
By John H. Wiersema, Blanca León
Rosa canina Extracts Have Antiproliferative and Antioxidant Effects on Caco-2 Human Colon Cancer
Plos One Journal
By Sandra Jiménez, Sonia Gascón, Asunción Luquin, Mariano Laguna, Carmen Ancin-Azpilicueta, and María Jesús Rodríguez-Yoldi
Rose Hips, a Valuable Source of Antioxidants to Improve Gingerbread Characteristics
Molecules Journal
By Aliona Ghendov-Mosanu, Elena Cristea, Antoanela Patras, Rodica Sturza, and Marius Niculaua
Therapeutic Applications of Rose Hips from Different Rosa Species
International Journal of Molecular Science
By Inés Mármol, Cristina Sánchez-de-Diego, Nerea Jiménez-Moreno, Carmen Ancín-Azpilicueta, and María Jesús Rodríguez-Yoldi
