Ah, roses; ah, love. Enter a beautiful medicinal with the most romantic history (and associations). No matter where you fall on the love it/hate it rose-love symbolism spectrum, you have to admit that there’s nothing like the jolt from the sight and smell of a rose (a species of the Rosa genus). Casting love and its myriad consequences aside, roses (as herbs) are soothing and therapeutic to the body, mind, and spirit.
Now, we’re not talking the seriously sexy, long-stemmed, perfectly velvet-red roses you find for a zillion dollars a dozen in any florist’s Valentine window display. We’re talking the untamed, undomesticated, uncultivated, wily, wanton, and wild rose (my favorite varietal is Rosa rugosa, or the rugosa rose). As you develop your relationship with these medicinal herbs, you’ll find that, just like people, you get better results when you just let them live the way they want to live.
You can grow wild roses in your herbal plot. You just want to stay away from the hybrids, which are cultivated for scent and/or beauty, because their medicinal value has been more or less sacrificed in favor of brighter colors and deeper scents. And although beauty is subjective (the one lesson we all come away with in regard to love . . .), I must say that I much prefer the rowdy charm of the wild roses. If you’re interested in sowing some wild roses, take some time to plot a medicinal rose garden. Choose the wild varietals such as Rosa rugosa (the rugosa, Japanese, or beach rose), Rosa rubiginosa (the eglantine or sweet briar rose), or Rosa canina (the dog rose).
If you have roses nearby, you can harvest the flower petals throughout the summer. You can also cut blossoms from the plant on a sunny day, after the dew has evaporated. Be sure to leave some flowers untouched, allowing them to ripen into rosehips. You can gather the fruit after the first frost in the fall; waiting this long allows the rosehip’s sweetness to develop. You can use the petals and hips fresh or dried; if dried, keep them in an airtight container for up to a year.
Parts used: Flower petals and rosehips
How to harvest: Cut flower heads on a sunny morning after the dew has dried; harvest rosehips after the first frost
Effects on body: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, tonic for the heart and circulatory system
Effects on mind and spirit: Uplifting, cheering, calming, heart-opening
Safety first: Avoid taking if you are pregnant. Be sure to harvest your roses far from roadsides, and never harvest flowers that have been subject to chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
In herbal medicine, we use the petals and fruit (rosehips) of the rose. Rose petals are mildly sedative, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-parasitic. They’re also mild laxatives, a good supportive tonic for the heart, and great for lowering cholesterol (romantic, right?).
The antiseptic nature of rose petals makes them a wonderful treatment for wounds, bruises, rashes, and incisions. Taken internally, their anti-inflammatory properties make them a wonderful treatment for sore throats or ulcers. They can stimulate the liver and increase appetite and circulation.
Got flu? Rose can also lower your body temperature and help bring down a fever or cool you off in the summer. As an anti-spasmodic, it helps relieve spasms in the respiratory system (asthma and coughs), in the intestinal tract (cramping, constipation), and in the muscles (cramps and sports injuries). Adding its antiviral qualities, you’ve got an entire winter’s medicine chest in one herb.
The benefits don’t stop there, however! Rose petals (and we’re just talking the petals here, not the leaves) are an emmenagogue, which means this herb can help regulate and bring on delayed menstrual cycles (as a caution, avoid taking this herb internally if you are pregnant). They’re also a uterine tonic — healing cysts, infections, and bleeding. And, just like the essential oil, rose petals are a nervine; they help soothe and calm the nervous system, easing tension and pain.
Okay, so that’s just the flower. (What?! There’s more?!) Once the flower has run its course, we’re left with rosehips, or the fruit of the rose. Rosehips are wonderful little packages that are delicious in teas or even substituted for your favorite fruit in recipes for preserves. High in vitamin C, especially, but also containing vitamins A, B3, D, and E, rosehips are an effective nutritive — especially helpful during the long cold and flu season. Rosehips are also a strong antioxidant, protecting you from the ravaging effects of the free radicals that are a part of any urban lifestyle.
Rosehips also contain iron, which is therapeutic for anemia as well as for easing pain and discomfort during one’s monthly cycle. Their flavonoid content makes rosehips strong antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals (read: anti-aging tonic for inner and outer beauty). Their anti-inflammatory nature helps soothe all kinds of pain, including arthritis, gout, and sore muscles.
The smell of rose essential oil is soothing to the senses, inviting calm and focus. While it increases concentration, it can also bring on pleasant dreams if you scent your pillow with a few drops of oil at night.
For those who believe they are incapable of love (and we’ve all been there), rose flower essence (see Flower Essence vs. Essential Oil box) helps to open up the heart to that emotion. The essence also helps foster a feeling of community and belonging when you’re feeling lost or alone. Experiencing a lot of responsibility in a difficult situation? Rose essence helps caregivers, nurses, hospice patients, social workers, and parents find patience, compassion, and understanding and overcome the fear of death. The flower essence also deepens and instills grace in those who take it, fostering an ability to experience life openly and objectively, instead of subjectively (through the emotions).
Already found your soul mate? Worried about stagnation in the relationship (aren’t we all, at one point or another)? Rose essence helps long-standing couples re-ignite love and rekindle passion in their relationships.
What about the most essential relationship — the one between your “mundane” self and your divine, higher self? Deepen your relationship to the divine (whatever that is for you) with this essence. One way this works is by dissolving judgments and putting an end to long prejudices (realized or subconscious). Alternatively, it can also help you to find the strength and understanding needed to move on from a relationship, be it a personal or a professional one, when it is no longer working for you (bonus: this essence helps you do so with grace, poise, and no regrets).
Lastly, but certainly not the least of its benefits: rose creates a sense of compassion and empathy for all living creatures. When you take this flower essence, the veil is withdrawn and you awaken to the secret that all beings unite and relate.
As with all things in nature, mind, body, and spirit tend to overlap. You can easily see how fostering universal compassion — a key benefit of the rose flower essence — crosses over into the spiritual realm (indeed, it helps open you to the spiritual realm by ramping up sensitivity and dispelling fear). And, surely, you already know some of the common magical qualities of the rose. A rose invites romance, expresses sympathy, and conveys love and friendship simply with the gift of its presence; the rose signifies the bond between people, from passion to devotion to condolence and commiseration. Either way, roses say more than words ever could; this, my friends, is the definition of true magic.
As for magical associations, the gender of the rose is feminine (no surprise there), the elements are fire and water (we are talking passion, after all), and the planets are Mars and Venus (masculine and feminine, don’t ya know?). The rose possesses the power to aid in healing, love, luck, protection, and psychic powers.
Roses are a talisman for good luck in romance. Sometimes objects are magical because they’ve been used for so long for one particular purpose, and sometimes they’ve been used for one particular purpose because their magic is that strong. Roses? I think it’s a little bit of both.
Gather rose petals (dried or fresh, conventionally grown or wild, though wild is always a stronger choice when passion is involved) and hold them in your hands. Picture the kind of love you’d like to invite into your life (not a particular person — we have some control, but not that much) and send that picture into the petals. Place these in a small pouch; keep it close to you during the day, and then sleep with it under your pillow at night.
Brew a cup of rose petal tea, lace it with honey, and share the cup with your significant other at the beginning of your evening. This will instill harmony and clear sight — in other words, if you’re right for each other, the relationship will progress smoothly and with joy. Conversely, if this isn’t the person for you, you’ll see it and release the relationship with grace and little or no attachment.
Roses aren’t just for bringing romantic love into your life; you can use them to manifest any kind of love. For example, in cases of infertility or estranged relationships, use them as above, bringing a different picture to mind. Ask for help in mending a relationship or in bringing new life into the world (remember, magic works as it works; in regard to infertility, for example, you may find the opportunity to adopt a child instead of conceiving one — we must be open to all possibilities).
Rosehips, too, have their own special magic. If there has been much disharmony or upheaval in your life, charge a handful of rosehips with peace and harmony, then tuck them around the house, especially in areas where discord has been especially strong (oftentimes, this is the bedroom, which represents relationships). Under the pillows is another good place — here the magic can blend with the subconscious during sleep. Also, try placing them in windows and doorsills to ensure that harmony stays within and discord without.
Roses have also had a long association with prophesy and foresight. To encourage prophetic dreams, have a cup of rose petal tea before bed and keep your journal nearby (these visions dissipate quickly until you get the hang of holding on to them). You can also try burning rose petals as incense to increase gifts of prophesy and clairvoyance. Light a charcoal disk and sprinkle the dried petals on top. Meditate as you breathe the scented smoke.
Finally, try rose magic to instill beauty in yourself — inside and out. Roses work their magic by increasing our self-confidence and acceptance of ourselves, not by radically and unrealistically changing our features overnight. Stand before a mirror and really look at yourself. Try to empty your mind of all judgment and simply observe. Add a few drops of rose essential oil or burn some rose incense. Inhale the aroma and imagine any doubts about your appearance dissolving on the exhale. Confirm that you are beautiful (know it, even if you don’t yet feel it). Try this every day for a week and be open to your own beauty. You may quickly find others confirming this newfound knowledge of yourself. Feel free to repeat this spell anytime doubt begins to creep in.
Base tea. One batch of rose petal tea can have many uses. For your base infusion, pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 to 4 teaspoons of dried rose petals. Cover and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Apply that base tea to any of the following:
Cough and cold remedy. Blend the base tea with 1 or 2 teaspoons of honey (a natural sore-throat soother and cough suppressant), plus a dash of lemon and/or brandy to taste. Both the lemon and the brandy are optional, but they do wonders for a stubborn cough, especially one that’s kept you up for a few nights.
Digestive tonic. When you’re under the weather (you know, below the belt), a strong tea full of tannins is helpful in treating diarrhea and bladder infections. Use a teaspoon more of the dried herb than usual and drink a cup without milk or sweetener. Repeat every 45 minutes to an hour, as needed. If the diarrhea is especially uncomfortable, you may bring on faster relief by adding a dash of black tea to the rose petals.
Rosehip tea. Use 4 teaspoons dried hips or 4 tablespoons fresh per cup of water and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. This makes a tangy, sour tea loaded with vitamin C. For a little variation, pour this hot infusion over 1 teaspoon spearmint leaves or toss a little ginger in with the hips while simmering. This tea is great chilled or heated, depending on how you feel. But let me tell you, there’s nothing like rosehip and ginger tea laced with stevia and a splash of vanilla almond milk in the midst of a snowstorm . . . bliss!
Makes 1 ounce
Smooth this on your face at night, after exposure to sun or wind, or anytime the skin feels tight and dry. Or, for an easy fix, you can add a few drops of rose essential oil to the moisturizer you already use.
Blend the oils and apply!
Makes 8 ounces
This scrub exfoliates the skin and moisturizes at the same time — perfect for the dryness that’s a by-product of climate-controlled environments.
With diffuser. We’ve already talked a bit about the nerve-soothing (not to mention warm-fuzzy-inducing) benefits of the rose essential oil. So if you’re feeling stressed or anxious, add a few drops of oil to an aromatherapy diffuser (or sprinkle a few drops into hot water), sit back, and relax.
For pulse points. Add a few drops of rose essential oil to a carrier oil (such as almond, apricot, or jojoba) and apply to the pulse points (incidentally, you can try this same oil on skin suffering from eczema).
As steam. Simmer a handful of petals on the stove and let the aromatic steam disperse through the house.
In a bath. Try adding the essential oil to a warm bath, and enjoy the simultaneous relaxation and uplifting action of the scent — not to mention the skin softening and soothing qualities of the rose.
On a charcoal disk. Light a disk, and when it’s glowing, sprinkle a few dried rose petals on top.
Makes 4 bars
This is an easy way to make soap (without having to get into all that caustic chemistry). A by-product of vegetable oil, glycerin is a wonderful substance that actually draws moisture to the skin.
Makes 2 to 3 treatments
There’s not much that’s more healing or detoxifying than a good clay mask. It’s super-easy to create your own, and you can use pretty much any flower (including chapter 1’s chamomile) if you like. This recipe is definitely not set in stone — you have to experiment and do a little trial and error. But once you have adjusted the recipe to your satisfaction, make sure you write down your ingredients and ratios. Make a huge batch and fill a bunch of jars — this stuff has a really long shelf life. You can give some away as gifts as well! Need to find clay? See the Resources.
Makes 6 cups syrup
Syrups are really wonderful ways to take herbs — especially for children and those who feel unwell. Rose-infused honey or sugar syrup is especially soothing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. This is a variation on a recipe the British Ministry of Food released in 1943 (rosehips have something like 20 times the amount of vitamin C as do the same amount of oranges).
Makes 24 squares of leather, depending on how large you like them
Remember fruit roll-ups? God, I loved those things — so much sugar! This recipe uses the rosehip purée you ended up with in the rosehip syrup recipe (you know . . . that stuff left over in the jelly bag or cheesecloth) to make your own healthy, fun, and funky fruit rolls.
Makes about 3 dozen
My great-aunt Lois had a gift for confections.
Makes 4 dozen cookies
Butter cookies are the quintessential cookie, in my opinion. Even when I started substituting vegan butter in these recipes, nothing really changed. Ah, the wonders of the modern age.
Makes about 4 cups
Rose is all about the heart, as we’ve seen. So, let’s get in touch with that heart in one of my favorite poses: Melting Heart Pose (Anahatasana).
Starting position. Start on all fours. Make sure that your wrists are beneath your shoulders, knees below your hips. Inhale. As you exhale, leave your hips where they are (you’ll really be sticking your bum up in the air; I know . . . graceful) and start to walk your hands toward the front of your yoga mat. Keep going as far as you can.
Moving into Melting Heart. If you have the flexibility, you can come all the way down onto your chest (hips are still straight up over your knees) and rest your chin on the mat. This is Melting Heart Pose. If your heart doesn’t quite touch the mat, let it hover and bring your forehead to the mat. If neither of those is an option for you, then don’t walk your hands all the way down. Come to your forearms and stop there. Breathe deeply into your heart and back. Stay as long as you wish.
Melting Heart Pose
Finishing. Child’s Pose (Balasana) is my favorite pose for any situation, ever. It is kind of your go-to stress reliever. Inhale. As you exhale, press into your hands and walk yourself back until your hips sit on your heels. Can’t sit on your heels? No worries! Just put some blankets or a pillow between your hips and your lower legs and sit on that. Lay your torso along your upper legs. (Not comfortable? Lie on some stacked pillows or blankets.) Your arms can rest alongside your body, fold under your forehead, or stretch out in front of you — whatever is comfortable.
Stay and rest, coming out slowly when you’re ready.
Child’s Pose