Roses are associated by most people merely as decoration. Yet the plants have ingredients that give them healing properties. Unlike drugs used in traditional medicine, side effects are not usually expected when roses are used medicinally.
Occurrence and cultivation of the rose
The first planned cultivation of roses could be discovered in China, where it originated about 5000 years ago. Roses permeate the entire history of mankind. Due to their visual aesthetics, fragrance and healing properties, they were cultivated early. The first planned cultivation of roses could be discovered in China, where it originated about 5000 years ago. In the meantime, there are about 30,000 species of roses, which can be traced back to various cultivars. Originally, the wild rose originated only in the northern hemisphere of the earth. Fossils prove that the flower has been present on the planet for about 25 million years. The plant gained more and more importance in different eras, and for about 2000 years it has been considered a symbol of love. Roses belong to the rose family. Botanists distinguish between wild roses and cultivated roses. The differentiated species are characterized by their flower color, spines and rose hips. In most cases, roses are deciduous plants. Evergreen characteristics have only the fewest species. Generalization is difficult to achieve due to the great diversity of plants. With regard to their medicinal properties, there are no differences. However, most often roses prefer calcareous soils and have buds of five petals each. Roses reach a maximum height of about four meters.
Effect and application
Nowadays roses can be found in almost every garden. If they often serve only aesthetic purposes, their leaves can also be processed for their medicinal properties. Especially often the plant is used for abdominal pain and menstrual cramps, but also for hay fever or pain in the region of the heart. The application can be internal or external, depending on the complaints. The basis for the medicinal effect of the flower are its ingredients. Here are mainly essential oils, tannins, tannic acid, geraniol and saponins. Only the flowers of the rose are suitable for medicinal use. Thus, the collection period is simultaneously reduced to the months of June, July and August. However, certain processes allow the drying of the leaves, which makes them preserved and can be used at a later date. In case of headaches, dizziness or heavy menstruation, it is recommended to use the plant in the form of a tea. For this purpose, one teaspoon of each of the dried leaves is brewed with a cup of hot water. The infusion time is five to ten minutes. After straining, the liquid can be sweetened and drunk several times a day. Externally, rose tea in the form of compresses, washes or partial baths helps with minor burns or poorly healing wounds. In the case of mouth inflammation or discomfort of the gums, the tea can be used as a mouth rinse. However, external use requires the tea to be at a cooler temperature. To avoid scalding, the liquid should first have enough time to cool down. At the same time, the active ingredients of rose petals can also be found in numerous conventional creams and ointments. Some companies produce oils from the ingredients. Because of the high cost and the large number of roses needed, the oil is considered precious. Facial rose can be alleviated by applying the fresh leaves. They should be used quickly after collecting. In summary, the effect of rose petals can be described mainly as anti-inflammatory, astringent and nervine. It is suitable for both physical and psychological ailments.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Rose petals have a positive effect on health in several ways. Thus, the ingredients succeed in having a treating effect on numerous ailments. On the other hand, the plant is not suitable as a preventive agent. Instead, it can relieve inflammation, for example. The tannins in the leaves combine with certain proteins on surfaces of the organism. In this way, compounds are formed that act like a protective shield.Pathogens find it difficult to break through the protective layer, so inflammation subsides more quickly. In this way, rose petals have an anti-inflammatory effect, they also reduce the growth of fungi and bacteria. The effect is particularly interesting in cases of gum disease, tonsillitis and other inflammatory complaints in the area of the mouth. But external surfaces also benefit from the reduction of various pathogens. Thus, the plant succeeds in alleviating skin diseases such as facial erysipelas or wounds that have a slow healing process. Away from the physical component is the use of the essential oil extracted from rose petals. However, this is only used in alternative medicine, such as aromatherapy. Here, the scent is said to help especially with psychological complaints such as anxiety, depressive mood, emotional disorders, permanent stress, fatigue and burnout. In contrast to the use of the petals, however, the oil can be located more in folk medicine as well as experiential medicine, it is not an officially recognized medicine. The effect of rose petals is therefore limited to certain complaints, but here contributes to an effective cure. Side effects are usually not to be expected. Accordingly, the medicinal plant can be perceived as an alternative to conventional medicine. In children, under certain circumstances, consultation with the attending physician should first take place before the therapy begins.
