Contents
Traditionally, the term “rose” denotes “cultivated” forms of wild rose, also known as park roses. The name “wild rose” is used for wild-growing or non-selected types of roses. On the territory of Russia today there are up to 100 types of wild rose, and not all of them are equally useful, so some of them are used for decorative purposes. Under natural conditions, a wild rose grows on the slopes of mountains, in river valleys, in the fields there are several dozen varieties of the plant. Unpretentious and cold-resistant decorative types of wild rose can often be seen as a hedge in summer cottages. Some types of wild roses are used to make jam, jam and candied fruit.
The medicinal properties of wild rose have been known since ancient times. Almost all parts of the rosehip are used for medicinal and prophylactic purposes, but the fruits are considered the most useful. This is due to the high content of vitamin C in them, its concentration is higher here than in blackcurrant and lemon. Wild rose fruits also boast a variety of biologically active substances.
The most popular among the medicinal types of wild rose is traditionally considered the wild rose of May. For medicinal purposes, the fruits of the needle, Dahurian, Kokand, small-flowered wild rose and some other plant species are also used.
What is the wild rose
In botany, rose hips are classified as shrubs of the Rosaceae family with five-petaled bright pink and less often white flowers and with thorns on shoots and stems. Rose hips are dark red or yellow oval berries up to 3 cm in length with a constriction at the top and with a sweet and sour taste, due to the content of galactose and fructose.
By the way, they are not actually berries. This fruit is called a polynutlet, because under the common juicy shell, what looks like seeds inside them, in fact, are rose hips. They are collected during their ripening period from August to October, sometimes earlier than their full ripening, but strictly before the onset of cold weather, so when frozen they lose their useful properties and easily crumble. The fruits are not consumed raw.
Since not all types of plants are vitamin, it is important to be able to distinguish between them. For example, dog rose hips contain little vitamin C, but have a choleretic effect and are suitable for treating the liver. It is from the fruits of dog rose hips that Holosas syrup is made. This type of plant is also popular with gardeners, as it is suitable for grafting cuttings and buds of garden roses.
Dried berries can be bought at a pharmacy. Syrup is usually made from the juice of fresh fruits, and rosehip extract is made from the fruits themselves. The fruits of wild roses are also part of many medicinal and vitamin collections.
The following forms of rose hips are presented in the pharmacy network:
- rosehip syrup;
- rosehip oil;
- rosehip extract;
- rose hips in packs;
- rose hips in filter bags;
- rose hips are low-vitamin in packs.
Medicinal properties of rose hips
Rose hips are rich in vitamins and especially vitamin C, so they are useful for strengthening blood vessels and are considered natural antioxidants. Modern medicine recognizes their medicinal properties. There is a lot of vitamin P in wild rose berries and vitamins K, E, A and B2, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, tannins and pectins are present in sufficient quantities.
The flavonoid rutin or vitamin P in combination with ascorbic acid reduces the permeability and fragility of capillary vessels. Along with this, ascorbic acid improves tissue regeneration, normalizes blood clotting processes and increases the body’s defenses against infections, stimulates hematopoiesis, enhances the body’s protective functions, increases mental and physical abilities and improves metabolism.
Vitamin A (retinol) maintains a healthy state of the skin and epithelium of the mucous membranes, it is also responsible for mineral metabolism and the formation of cholesterol. The most powerful antioxidant – vitamin E slows down the aging process of cells and reduces the risk of developing cancer. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is necessary for the formation of red blood cells, antibodies, for the regulation of growth and reproductive functions in the body. The health of the skin, nails, hair and thyroid gland depends on riboflavin. A characteristic sign of its deficiency are seborrheic-dermatitis rashes above the lip, on the wings of the nose, ears and eyelids.
The medicinal properties of rosehip seed oil are being actively studied today, it has been proven that they normalize the acidity of gastric juice. Thus, rose hips are the most powerful phytoncidal, immunostimulating, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory and choleretic agent, they contribute to tissue repair, normalize carbohydrate and mineral metabolism. On their basis, the drug Karatolin is produced for the external treatment of poorly healing wounds and Bronchovit dietary supplement syrup. The therapeutic effect of wild rose is enhanced by combining it with the fruits of blackcurrant, mountain ash and lingonberry containing the P-vitamin complex.
Rosehip contraindications
Despite a lot of useful properties, even rose hips have their own contraindications:
- due to the high concentration of ascorbic acid, preparations based on wild roses should not be taken by people with gastritis, ulcers and high acidity of the stomach;
- since the plant increases blood clotting, it is contraindicated in thrombophlebitis and heart failure;
- long-term treatment with rose hips can affect the functions of the pancreas;
- drinking rosehip syrup in its pure form can lead to bloating, so dill or parsley is added to it;
- alcohol infusion from rosehip berries increases pressure, and water – lowers;
- rosehip decoction reduces bile secretion, and tincture, on the contrary, increases;
- in high dosages, rosehip enhances the diuretic work of the kidneys;
- if the treatment with wild rose has exceeded a month, you need to take a 2-week break;
- it is necessary to use rosehip preparations during pregnancy under the supervision of a doctor, because of the danger of an overdose of vitamin C;
- it is possible to brew rosehip decoctions in a thermos at a temperature not exceeding 80 ° C;
- it is better to drink rosehip decoctions through a straw so as not to destroy tooth enamel;
- children under 2 years old are given an eighth of the adult daily dose, children under 4 years old – a quarter of the dose, children under 7 years old – a third of the dose, children under 14 years old – half the adult dose.
The use of rose hips
Rose hips have long been used to treat hypovitaminosis of vitamin C and beriberi.
For treatment, prevention and as an aid, wild rose berries are used for diseases of the cardiovascular system, including anemia, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, hypertension, coronary heart disease, disorders of the cerebral vessels, nasal, pulmonary and uterine bleeding, hemorrhagic diathesis. and hemophilia.
Indications for the use of rosehip preparations are also frequent colds, acute respiratory viral infections, long-term non-healing wounds, digestive problems, low stomach acidity, cystitis, cholecystitis, nephritis, pneumonia, hepatitis, salt metabolism disorders and diabetes mellitus, eye diseases with small hemorrhages, malignant oncological diseases. , intoxication with industrial poisons, radiation sickness and Addison’s disease.
It’s fun! Rosehip infusion can be added to bread, which not only fills it with useful substances, but also improves the taste, as well as the appearance and aroma of baking.
With atherosclerosis
A link between vitamin deficiency and atherosclerosis has been proven. It is believed that one of the factors in the development of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and hypertension is also a lack of ascorbic acid.
With diabetes mellitus
Rose hips do not cure diabetes mellitus, but in the absence of contraindications, they contribute to better absorption of insulin, thereby stabilizing blood glucose levels. This effect is enhanced by a decoction of wild rose with iodine additives. Therefore, rosehip preparations are included in the complex treatment of diabetics.
To increase hemoglobin
Taking rosehip infusions will raise the level of hemoglobin in the blood, naturally replenishing the lack of iron in the body. Rosehip infusions, syrups and decoctions have a general strengthening effect on the body as a whole, as well as on the circulatory and cardiovascular systems.
For liver diseases
The choleretic effect of wild rose allows you to remove inflammatory processes in the liver. Useful substances of wild rose have a beneficial effect on its cells, especially with neoplasms or ulcers. Rosehip decoctions are drunk for inflammation of the liver, cholecystitis, hepatitis, cirrhosis and even cancer, as well as as a preventive measure.
The active ingredients help the liver produce bile, cleanse it of toxins and toxins, strengthening the body and reducing excess weight.
Rosehip phytorecipes
Decoction of dried fruit
1 st. put a spoonful of crushed and dried berries in an enamel bowl, pour a glass of boiling water, close the lid and heat in a boiling water bath, stirring occasionally for about half an hour. Cool the broth, strain.
Take a quarter or half a mill a day.
Decoction of fresh fruit
Boil 1 kg of crushed fresh fruit for 10 minutes in 1 liter of water. Then add sugar and cook for another half an hour.
Take 3 tbsp. spoons 3 times a day.
Syrup
Rinse and grind 1 kg of fresh or dried rose hips with a blender or meat grinder. Boil the resulting mixture in 1,2 liters of water for 25 minutes. In parallel, syrup from 1 kg of sugar. Add sugar syrup to the rosehip broth and boil for another 30 minutes. Pour the prepared rosehip syrup into jars and store in a place protected from the sun.
Rosehip syrup contains a lot of magnesium, so it is recommended for thrombosis, hypertension and salt metabolism disorders.
Tea
Dried berries can be added to regular tea. At the same time, it is recommended to fill up more tea leaves and drink such tea longer and prepare the drink in advance so that it is infused.
Oil
With rhinitis and pharyngitis, rosehip oil lubricates the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. You can also replace it with a drug based on it – Karatolin. Both products can be used for inhalation or compresses for nipple cracks during breastfeeding, trophic ulcers and dermatitis. Enemas with rosehip oil give a positive effect on colitis.
Reviews of doctors about rose hips
Svetlana Barnaulova, candidate of medical sciences, cardiologist of the highest category, phytotherapist:
– With all the variety of types of wild rose, its different parts are used, however, its fruits are the most popular. They were always eaten, dried, cooked compotes, as well as from ordinary dried fruits. Rose hips in a decoction have many healing properties. This is a vitamin, vasoconstrictor, choleretic, hepatoprotective, that is, a remedy that protects the liver. Rose hips can be used to treat patients with ischemic disease, with hepatitis, as well as debilitated patients after serious illnesses. It is no coincidence that they are part of the Tibetan hepatoprotective collection Polyphytochol.