The rose has always been called the queen of flowers and the ambassador of love. Its use as a medicinal plant still seems unusual in our latitudes. However, the wild rose has been used for thousands of years in China, in Ayurveda in India, in Persia, Greece and Rome. In Persia, for example, there was already a flourishing trade in rose oil and rose water in the 8th century AD. In the 16th century, the physician and scientist Paracelsus also began to use roses for headaches and sleeping disorders among other things. Rudolf Hauschka, Austrian chemist, anthroposophist and founder of Wala Heilmittel, discovered its harmonising and strengthening power when researching the rose. And Edward Bach also included Rosa canina, the dog rose, as the medicinal plant "wild rose" in his Bach flower therapy.
The effects of the rose
Rose petals contain important tannins, essential oils such as citronellol, geraniol, nerol, but also vitamins A, C and P (flavonoids), as well as lipids, wax and resin. The essential oils and tannins in the rose have an anti-inflammatory effect. For example, it strengthens the nerves and is astringent for minor skin injuries or mucous membrane inflammations. A light rose hydrolate compress can also be applied to insect bites. Itching and swelling go down quickly. It is important that the roses are not sprayed. Just as quickly and easily rose compresses work for swollen and irritated eyes: simply apply a cotton pad with rose hydrolate as a soothing compress and let the eyes relax for 10 minutes.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory and decongestant effect, the essential oil of the hydrolate also acts antispasmodic and invigorating. It helps with digestive disorders, strengthens the heart and circulation and has a calming and balancing effect on our mind. Rose is used in phytotherapy, aromatherapy and also in homeopathy. There is a multitude of possible applications for physical and mental problems. The rose also shows its particular strengths in the field of gynaecology.
Application of rose hydrolate (extract):
- For mouth inflammation
- Constipation, diarrhoea
- Fainting, headache, dizziness
- Toothache, earache, eye pain
- Mild burns, wounds that are difficult to heal and
- Face rose
