Monday, April 21, 2025

The Medicinal Uses of Wild Rose (Rosaceae family, R. gymnocarpa, R. nutkana, R. woodsia)

The wild rose grows all over the country.  Medicinally, the flowers, leaves, and hips are what is used.  Most of the information comes from renowned herbalists.  There’s not a whole lot being researched in the medical community.

Nutritional value:  Rose hips are an excellent source of vitamins A, B, E, and K. Three rose hips may hold as much vitamin C as an orange.[1]  On the other hand, Chatfield asserts that the vitamin C content of rose hips is rather low.[2]

HARVEST

Use gloves or pruners to strip the wild rose leaves.  Also collect the flowers.  Collect the rose hips in late summer to early fall when fully mature.  Dry out of direct sunlight.[3]

PREPARATIONS

Infusion:  Take 4-8 oz, 1-3 times per day.[4]

Flower.  2-4 ounces of hips, steeped in hot or cold water, or as directed.[5]  Leaf infusion may also be used as an eyewash. [6]  Be sure to strain very well, as the hairs that cling to the flesh can irritate the mouth and throat. [7]  The pectin content of rose hips is approximately 10%.[8]

Leaf-flower prepared in a 50-50 ratio.

Rose hips:  consider these a supplement to other treatments, not a stand-alone.

Seeds/rose hips:  steep 3-4 hours[9]

Eyewash:  2-3 flowers steeped in ½ cup water until it reaches body temperature, strain well.[10]  Use for inflammation, not infection.[11] [12]

Sitz bath:  1-2 times per day. [13]

USAGE

  • Cardiovascular
    • Inflammation
      • Rose hips[14], especially combined with hawthorn
    • Varicose veins
  • Dental/oral
    • Mouth bleeding
      • Root decoction, gargled[16]
    • Mouth sores
      • Rose petals[17]
      • Ground with grease to make a salve[18]
    • Toothache
      • Petals ground and mixed with wine[19]
  • Eyes
  • Gastrointestinal
    • Colic
    • Diarrhea
      • Stem or root bark tea[23]
      • 5-10 flowers or buds steeped in hot water for 20 minutes, drink as often as desired, every 2-3 hours, starting at least 12 hours after onset[24] [25]
    • Heartburn
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Stomach upset
      • Stem or root bark tea[28]
  • Hepatic
    • Chronic hepatitis
    • Cirrhosis
      • Rose hips[30], especially combined with western mugworts, milk thistle, or turmeric
  • Immunological
    • Lupus
  • Musculoskeletal
    • Rheumatism
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Sore muscles
      • Cooked seeds, eaten[34]
  • Neurological
    • Headache
    • Stress
  • Respiratory
    • Allergies
    • Asthma
    • Common cold
    • Ear ache
      • Petals ground and mixed with wine[40]
    • Pharyngitis
    • Rhinitis
      • Isotonic nasal wash with a leaf-flower infusion[42]
    • Sinusitis
      • Isotonic nasal wash with a leaf-flower infusion[43]
    • Sore throat
      • Leaf-flower infusion, gargled hourly[44]
      • Root decoction, gargled[45]
      • Syrup[46]
    • Tonsillitis
      • Root decoction, gargled[47]
  • Skin
    • Abrasion
      • Infusion, applied as a poultice[48]
    • Cut
      • Infusion, applied as a poultice[49]
    • Insect bite
      • Infusion, applied as a poultice[50]
    • Dermatitis
    • Eczema
    • Psoriasis
    • Rash
      • Infusion, applied as a poultice[54]
    • Sores
    • Swelling
      • Root decoction in a hot compress[56]
    • Wounds
  • Urogenital
    • Cervicitis
      • Sitz bath, leaf-flower infusion[58]
    • Cystitis
      • Leaf-flower infusion, 2-3 cups per day
    • Excessive menstruation
      • Leaf-flower infusion, taken internally[59]
    • Labor pain
      • Stem or root bark tea[60]
    • Mid-cycle spotting
      • Leaf-flower tea, several cups per day[61]
    • Perimenopause, excessive or erratic menstruation
      • Leaf-flower tea, several cups per day[62]
    • Post-partum healing
      • Leaf-flower tea taken internally, plus sitz bath with the same[63]
    • Urethritis
      • Leaf-flower infusion, 2-3 cups per day[64]
    • Uterine cramps
      • Petals ground and mixed with wine[65]
    • Vaginitis
      • Sitz bath, leaf-flower infusion[66]
  • Other
    • Strengthening babies
    • Leaf wash[67]

 

Contraindications:  Overconsumption may cause constipation.[68]



[1] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[2] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 112.

[3] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[4] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[5] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 224.

[6] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 224.

[7] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 224.

[8] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 112.

[9] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antivirals, 2013, 313.

[10] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 224.

[11] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 224.

[12] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 112.

[13] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[14] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[15] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[16] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[17] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[18] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[19] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[20] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[21] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 112.

[22] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[23] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[24] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 224.

[25] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 112.

[26] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[27] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[28] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[29] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[30] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[31] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[32] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 112.

[33] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[34] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[35] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[36] Thomas Easley, et al., Modern Herbal Dispensatory, 2016, 295.

[37] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[38] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[39] Kimball Chatfield, Medicine from the Mountains, 1997, 112.

[40] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[41] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[42] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[43] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[44] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[45] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[46] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[47] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[48] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[49] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[50] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[51] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[52] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[53] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[54] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[55] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[56] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[57] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[58] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[59] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[60] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[61] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[62] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[63] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[64] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[65] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[66] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

[67] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 72.

[68] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 317.

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