Shakespeare the great poet and author wrote one of the most famous statements about the Rose in his play ‘Romeo and Juliet.’
‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’.
Roses give us feelings of joy, warmth and positivity. A rose is often given as a token of love, celebration and friendship.
Though the beautiful bloom is admired all over the world, sadly, many of us are unaware just what this plant can do. So, here is some info that throws light on the therapeutic properties and components of the various fresh parts (fruits, petals and flower) of the rose plant. Rose products can usually be used without any side effects.
Roses have always been known as ornamental flowers believed to have originated in Asia. Ornamental because we have used them to adorn ourselves, our homes, our places of worship and many other aspects of our lives, since falling in love with their beauty thousands of years ago.
When it comes to cuisine, due to their rich Vitamin C content, rose hips are converted into soup, used as a tea, jam, marmalade etc. Wondering what a ‘rose hip’ is? it is the fruit of the rose plant which develops after flowering, if you don’t deadhead. The colour and size vary from red, orange, dark purple or black. They become ripe in the last weeks of summer right up to autumn.
It has been found that the components having the most therapeutic properties in rose plants are phenolic compounds. They exhibit properties of antioxidants, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer. Moreover, they act as free-radical scavengers. The vital vitamins found in rose are vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin B3.
Flavonoids present in rose plants exhibit antidepressant properties. An extract of the plant has been studied in relation to combating the pathological cause of Alzheimer disease. The oil also contains beneficial components which are well known for their anti-epileptic effects.
Rose oil shows antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Many eye drops contain rose compounds (made from rose petals) because of their anti-infective, anti-inflammatory properties. Not to mention Rose Oil smells GREAT!!!
The tea prepared from rose petals, leaves, hips or combinations can assist in reducing fever, flush toxins from the body and reduces skin rashes. It helps in boosting the immune system and acts as a decongestant, great for relieving cold and flu symptoms
Heres how to make your own, the more fragrant the petals the better the brew:
◦ Step 1: Mix a big handful of fresh clean rose petals with five cups of water.
◦ Step 2: Heat for minimum ten minutes breaking down the petals, try not to boil. Strain if desired
◦ Step 3: You can add a few drops of honey (optional). The brew can be drunk while warm or chilled and enjoyed with ice and petal garnish. Rose tea can usually be enjoyed without any side effects but decide for yourself, rose hips are a rich source of natural citric acid, fructose, flavonoids, bioflavonoids and zinc.
Gulkand (Rose Jam) can be used to calm the nerves and relieves stress, the fragrance from roses can stimulate nervous and immune systems.
Some of the amazing qualities of one of the worlds greatest ornamental plants, not to mention the cosmetic and perfume industries. So enjoy the ornamental qualities of your rose’s but don’t think that is all they have to offer!!
Sources:
https://www.google.com.au/search?client
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24395280/
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=who+was+shakespear&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
https://sayingimages.com/roses-quotes/
https://ijapr.in/index.php/ijapr/article/view/816
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13102818.2016.1277956
https://www.livealittlelonger.com/health-benefits-of-rose/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/412805-what-are-the-benefits-of-eating-rose-petals/
https://www.healthline.com/health/rose-water-benefits#forms-and-doses