INTRUDUCTION

Rose hips are the round portion of the rose flower just below the petals. Rose hips contain the seeds of the rose plant. Dried rose hips and the seeds are used together to make medicine.

 

Fresh rose hips contain a lot of vitamin C, so they share many uses with vitamin C including preventing and treating colds, flu, and vitamin C deficiencies. However, much of the vitamin C in rose hips is destroyed during drying and processing and also declines rapidly during storage. Because of this, many rose hip-derived "natural" vitamin C products have actually been fortified with lab-made vitamin C, but their labels may not always say so.

 

Rose hips are also used for stomach disorders including stomach spasms, stomach acid deficiency, preventing stomach irritation and ulcers, and as a "stomach tonic" for intestinal diseases. They are also used for diarrhea, constipation, gallstones, gallbladder ailments, lower urinary tract and kidney disorders, fluid retention (dropsy or edema), gout, back and leg pain (sciatica), diabetes, high cholesterol, weight loss, high blood pressure, chest ailments, fever, increasing immune function during exhaustion, increasing blood flow in the limbs, increasing urine flow and quenching thirst.

 

In foods and in manufacturing, rose hips are used for tea, jam, soup, and as a natural source of vitamin C.

 

USES

Osteoarthritis. Overall, research suggests that rose hip is beneficial for people with osteoarthritis. Most research shows that taking a specific rose hip product (Hyben Vital) twice daily for 3-4 months reduces pain and stiffness and improves function in people with osteoarthritis.

 

Painful menstruation. Some evidence suggests that applying an aromatherapy formula containing lavender, clary sage, and rose hip to the stomach reduces menstrual cramps in young women with painful menstruation.

Obesity. Some research shows that taking rose hips powder mixed with apple juice does not affect weight or blood sugar levels in people who are obese. However, rose hip might modestly reduce cholesterol and blood pressure in obese people.

Rheumatoid arthritis. Early research shows that taking a specific rose hip product (LitoZin/i-flex, HybenVital, Denmark) by mouth improves some symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Preventing and treating colds.

Infections.

Fever.

Boosting the immune system.

Stomach irritations.

Diarrhea.

Other conditions.