Plant Family: 

Roseaceae

Habitat & Cultivation: 

Rose is native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species are native to Asia, while others are native to North America, Europe, and northwest Africa. Roses are hybridized regularly and so the species are hard to identify regularly their parent-form. Wild and cultivated roses are found in the PNW.  

 

Damask rose is most commonly known for its role in perfumery and food industries. Originating from the middle east and then brought to Europe. The oil was extracted via crude distillation process in Persia in the late 7th century, and later developed in the provinces of the Ottoman Empire. Avicenna, a true polymath of the pre-modern era, noted the multiple medicinal benefits of Damask rose including gastrointestinal and cardiac tonic effects, anti-inflammatory benefits, eliminating unpleasant odors such as sweat, repair of the skin and mucosal lesions, brain tonic and pain killing effects for a variety of diseases.

Parts Used/Collection:

The flowers and buds (fruit hips) are used medicinally. 

Herbal Actions: 

• antioxidant

• anti-inflammatory

• astringent

• aphrodisiac

• demulcent

• nervine tonic

• nervine antidepressant

• nervine analgesic

• cardiotonic

• neuroprotective

• reproductive tonic

Indications: 

• GI inflammation

• Upper respiratory infection

• Increase integrity of the vascular system

  • **Varicose veins**

  • Healing bruising

• Rheumatic conditions

• Cosmetic

  • Skin toner

• **Relaxing and analgesic effects**

• Increase sexual function

Contraindications: 

Rosa allergies

Plant Constituents: 

Geraniol

System Affinities:

• Gastrointestinal

• Cardiac

• Respiratory

• Neurologic

• Integumentary

Energetics:

The energetic qualities of rose are bitter, pungent, astringent, sweet, and cooling.  VPK = may increase Kapha or Ama in excess (Frawley & Lad, 2001).

I understand rose to be cooling (astringent), moistening (demulcent), stabilizing (sweet), and uplifting (sweet, pungent, and bitter).  Also, warming to digestive fire (bitter, pungent). This plant is very neutral in qualities, reflected by the multiple tastes.

Safety: 

Safety class 1

Mouth irritation from small hair on fresh or dried fruit, otherwise, rose is a very safe plant.

Dosage: 

Rose water for skin irritation, bleeding, and to cleanse wounds, I couldn't find specific dosage but we use as needed. When we prepare the rose water we usually 50/50 ratio with water and rose hips.

 

“In traditional medicine, a dose of 2 to 5 g of the plant material (as tea) is taken 3 to 4 times a day. Dosages of 5 to 10 g/day of rose hip powder have been used in clinical studies in osteoarthritis.” (Drugs.com, 2019).

Infusion: 1 tsp rose buds or petals per 8 oz of water steeped 5-10 minutes (covered). 1-3 X per day or as needed.  Synergizes well with other herbs in infusions.

Tincture: (1:5, 40%) 5-30 drops TID or as needed.

Personal Experience:

I enjoyed a rose tea infusion. It is one of my favorite herbs to add to tea because of its soothing aroma. 

Research:

• Frawley, D. & Lad, V. (2001). The Yoga of Herbs. Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Lotus Press.

• Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism. Healing Arts Press. Rochester, VT. pp 604-605.

• Mills, S. & Bone, K. (2005). The essential guide to herbal safety. London, England: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone

• Nayebia, N., Khalilib, N., Kamalinejadc, M. & Emtiazy, M. (2017). A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of Rosa damascena Mill. with an overview on its phytopharmacological properties. Complementary Therapies in Medicine. I34 (2017) 129-140. Elsevier.