You might need Rosehips if . . .

You could use a boost of vitamin C! This herb is the fruit that forms on a rose bush after the rose flower has died off. Rosehips contain 8 times more vitamin C than oranges, so they are particularly great for supporting your immune system. Nearly 200% of the recommended daily value is found in just 1 ounce of wild rosehips; they are also a good source of vitamin A, manganese, calcium, and magnesium.

Rosehips is a great choice for those who:

• Are looking to support immunity
• Need to improve circulation
• Would like to boost bone health
• Need a digestive aid

Benefits of Rosehips

Rosehips are increasingly of interest in research on joint conditions, and indeed they have been used in folk medicine for arthritic inflammation. One randomized controlled trial concluded that rosehips could reduce physical symptom scores for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rich in nutrients and disease-fighting properties, rosehips have gained attention for their role in health and beauty.

• Reduces inflammation: Rosehips have been used for centuries in traditional and folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory and discomfort-relieving properties.
• Anti-aging properties: Rosehip seeds are high in polyunsaturated fats, which support a healthy skin membrane and protect your skin from inflammatory compounds, such as ultraviolet (UV) rays, cigarette smoke, and pollution.
• May reduce joint discomfort: A recent review of 24 studies found that supplementing with rosehips may soothe joint discomfort by combating oxidative stress and inflammation in your joints.
• May improve heart health: Consuming rosehips may support a healthy heart.

Common ways to use Rosehips

Rosehips can be used in many homemade recipes- remember they technically are a fruit!

Jams, jellies or syrups: tart and full of vitamin c, these options can be an absolutely delicious addition to your breakfasts or treats.

Seasoning: You can grind the rose hips up and use it as a seasoning in many recipes. It is known to be used on meat and is said to help tenderize.

Teas: Steep 4-8 rose hips in a cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Don’t use aluminum containers for this, since aluminum destroys vitamin C.

Growing and Foraging Information

Rosehips grow on almost every variety of rose bush, but they are particularly high in nutrients when foraged from a wild rose bush. Here are some tips to properly identify a wild rose plant. Look for its shrub form. Examine the leaf texture and shape. Look for thorns. Pay close attention to when the rose blooms. Take note of the flower color and size, petal number and shape, fragrance, and whether they are borne in sprays or singly. Most truly wild roses have flowers with only five petals, usually pink. Most also bloom only once, in early summer. Any rose blooming later in the season may be a cultivated variety gone wild. Foraging for rosehips should be done after flowers have bloomed and wilted, typically in late summer to autumn, in places where wild roses are abundant and have been allowed to grow undisturbed.

Safety Concerns

Drug Interaction: If you have any health concerns or are taking any prescription medication, please consult with your health care provider before adding new herbs to your diet. Rose hips is known to interfere with a few prescription drugs.

Breastfeeding and Pregnancy: There are no known contraindications for breastfeeding and pregnancy.

Other Concerns: Rosehip is generally considered safe when taken by mouth and used as directed.

Select Studies About Rosehips

Therapeutic Applications of Rose Hips from Different Rosa Species

This article gives in-depth scientific information on rose hips.

Rose hip as an underutilized functional food: Evidence-based review

“A myriad of multi-paradigm studies have supported the nutraceutical potency of rose hips, attributing them to their ample polyphenol, flavonoids, galactolipids, vitamins and other bioactive components. In fact, studies report that rose hips have higher vitamin C content than most edible berries. Even if rose hip extract cannot alleviate complex metabolic, auto immune, and degenerative diseases, it can promote healthy redox status of the body.”