The rose hip, also called rose hep or rose haw, is the fruit of a rose plant, which usually is red-to-orange, however, ranges from dark purple to black in certain species. Rose hip begins to form after efficacious pollination to flowers in late spring or early summer and become fully grown in late summer through fall.
Rose hip is definitely the greatest sources of vitamin C; it contains 50 percent more Vitamin C than an orange. Just one tablespoon of the pulp provides more than the recommended daily dose of 60 mg 1 . They can be consumed raw, after being soaked in water overnight and then cooked in the water for about 30 minutes, or simply being put through a blender.
Health Benefits of Rose Hip
Due to the high vitamin, C content rose hips are an incredible immune system booster and are usually used as a supplement in order to prevent or treat a cold. Their pulp may be made into jelly or used in sauces. Here are some of the best rose hip health benefits:
- Treats Skin Problems
Rose hip oil has astringent qualities, which makes it a valuable addition to various cosmetic preparations. Rose hips have the ability to help regenerate skin cells – that is beneficial for treating burns, scars, and acne. While this fruit is an astringent, it doesn’t dry out the skin; in fact, it assists to rehydrate your skin, keeping the moisture in. Drinking rose hip tea regularly will also benefit your skin 2 . This tiny fruit has a high Vitamin A content – and this vitamin is commonly known as the “skin vitamin”. It assists to regenerate skin cells, healing scars, and wounds. Moreover, it also helps to keep the skin nourished and elastic. This won’t just prevent wrinkles, but could actually help to diminish any that have already appeared.
- Acts as Diuretic and Laxative
Rose hip tea is a mild diuretic and laxative because of the fruit acids and pectin. It’s used to improve and ease the symptoms of kidney disorders, or to aid in the case of constipation 3 .
In order to prepare rose hip tea simply pour a cup of boiling water over 1 tbsp. of crushed, dried hips and leave for 10-15 minutes. In the end, strain, add some honey and drink.
- Supports Immune System
The vitamin A is also helpful to the immune system. As an abundant source of this vitamin, rose hips can help to prevent and treat infections from both viruses and bacteria. Therefore, drink rose hip tea regularly to prevent the common cold and flu that are “popular” this season.
- Antioxidants
Rose hips contain various antioxidants; flavonoids, catechins, leucoanthocyanidins, carotenoids, polyphenols, and flavonoids, which makes them a great cancer preventative 4
5 . These antioxidants are also used to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. 6
- Anti-inflammatory Properties
Numerous complementary medicine physicians use this fruit to treat inflammations and wounds 7 . Research in Germany and Denmark used a rose hip remedy. The outcomes showed that the remedy was actually truly beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The group taking the medicine had a significant improvement in their mobility by 20-25%. They had less pain and an overall improvement in mood and the way they felt. The research showed major improvement in people suffering from osteoarthritis too, proving the anti-inflammatory properties. 8
Cultivation
If you decide to produce your own rose hips there are some things to keep in mind. Ensure you don’t use any pesticides and herbicides on the plant. Even though you might want to prune off old plants, you need to let them croak and the petals fall naturally in order to get their hips. This means you might not have the plants around for as long as you can. You could store rose hips in the refrigerator, dried or made into jelly. Do not use metal container when storing them, because the fruit acids and the metal don’t mix well.
Rose hip has been used since ancient times. Today we are finding out, and proving, that the benefits of this fruit are really valid. Do not just take the time to stop and smell the roses, take a bit more time to consume the fruit too!
Conclusion:
Rose hips are herbal medications with amazing anti-inflammatory properties. Evidence suggests that this flower fruit may be effective in relieving some symptoms associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Rosehip extract contains anthocyanins and polyphenols, which are thought to prevent joint damage and ease joint inflammation. Rose hip is also rich in vitamin C that has excellent antioxidant properties. The antioxidants can prevail harmful molecules that are produced within the cells and which can cause damage or the tissue or disease. Some research has found that it may reduce the production of specific enzymes which break down cartilage.