Wild Rose Monograph

Common Name(s): Rose, Wild Rose, Prickly wild rose, Arctic rose, Cabbage rose, Climbing prairie rose, Prairie rose, Dog rose, Dogwood rose, Japanese rose, Baby rose, Many flowered rose, Seven-sisters rose, Nutka rose, Swamp rose, Woods rose, French Rose

Latin Name(s): Rosa spp. (including R. rugosa, R. centifolia, R. setigera, R. canina, R. multiflora, R. nutkana, R. palustris,, R. woodsii, R. gallica, (and many more, over 10,000 species)

Family: Rosaceae (Rose)

Subfamilies: Rosoideae, Dryadoideae, Amygdaloideae, 

Genus: Rosa

Part(s) Used: Fruit(hips), Leaves, Flower petals

Actions: Analgesic, antioxidant, astringent, demulcent, inflammatory modulator, nutritive, cooling, moistening, emotional&physical heart medicine, aromatic nervine, antispasmodic, immune system and connective tissue tonic (hips), antiedemic (hips)

Constituents: Tannins (gallic acid), pectins, bioflavonoids, Vitamin C- Carotenoids, lycopene, B3, E, K (hips), cyanin (seeds) phytonutrients, phytochemicals, calcium, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, quercetin, tocopherols, polysaccharides, Omega 3’s (seeds) volatile oils such as damascenone, pinenes, nerol, linalool, limonene geraniol, 

Indications: colds&flu, inflammation, pain, wounds, eye wash, upper respiratory (tea), anxiety&depression, grief&loss, sexual health&self love, diabetes or metabolic syndrome, lyme disease (connective tissue tonic), immune deficiency, inflamed gut, diarrhea, mild bleeding, reproductive organs, skincare/cosmetic-(rosehip seed oil, rose toners, anti-aging)

Preparation & Dosage: Food, grinding whole dried fruits to include seeds as a form of nutrition (although some people complain of the hairs being irritating), petals in cakes and confections, rose flavored soda, (pop a whole rose blossom in a clear glass container, cover it with plain seltzer and steep 1 hr.), rose hip jam/jelly, honey, syrup, glycerite, tea, infusion, tincture, vinegar, elixer, infused oil, infused in spirits, hydrosol, essential oil, smoke blends

Dosages; Tea, 1tsp dried, or 1 large handful of fresh per 8 oz. water, 1-3xday, Tincture, 1ml/30 drops, 1-3xday or as needed, preferably diluted in water or other drink, up to 4 ml, Vinegar same as tincture or up to 1tsp, 1-3xday, Syrup, elixir, oxymel, or honey, ½ tsp-1tb, 1-3xday, Cordial, 1 oz. daily, Flower Essence 1-5 drops, 1-3x day on tongue, in water, as air mist or rubbed into skin.

Description: Patterns of Rose family; 5 separate petals, 5 separate sepals, numerous stamens, numerous styles, oval serrated leaves, alternate. Leaves vary from simple to trifoliate, palmate or pinnate. The whole leaves or smaller leaflets are frequently more or less oval shaped with serrated edges. Roses have compound leaves with an odd number of leaflets that grow alternately on the stems also called canes. Technically, roses don’t have thorns, they have prickles. Flowers grow in varying shades of white, pink, scarlet and yellow. They typically have 5 (rarely 3-10) separate sepals and a similar number of petals. A distinctive fuzzy center with at least 5 yellow stamens, usually more in multiples of 5. At the base is a star like calyx that sticks around the end of the fruit or rose hip.

Habitat and growing conditions: A deciduous or evergreen woody perennial, reproduces by seed or rhizome. Grows to a thorny shrub 1-15 ft. tall, found on coastal areas, dry slopes, fields, forest understories, hedgerows, lakeshores, marshes, meadows, pastures, riparian areas, roadsides, sand dunes, stream banks, and woodland edges, Roses need full sun to partial shade, and dry to moist soil, well drained, USDA zones 3-9 (depending on variety)

Status: No special status (USDA Forest service)

Cautions and Contraindications: Rose is very safe, especially in standard herbal doses (see above) The quality varies among roses in commerce, so be sure to buy for consumption (food grade) and not for potpourri. 

Magical properties: psychic, spiritual, and sexual boundaries, protection, love, connectivity, female intuition, dreams, luck, friendship, and love spells, to raise divanatory energies and to strengthen body and mind, Rose hips can be strung as a necklace or bracelet to attract love&good fortune

Flower essence Roses heal the heart deeply and to the core. The Divine Feminine, Mother Mary, and Goddess energy are all connected to the rose. As an aphrodisiac, Roses love lovers, and they help us to trust in love again. Red Rose is a flower of passionate love, heart-spirit connection, and intimacy. It also helps with transmuting feelings of betrayal by supporting the back of the heart chakra. Past betrayals can make it hard to open, but Red Rose shows us a path to intimacy with a partner. It helps with self-love, self-respect, and even healing tendencies of self-betrayal. White Rose represents the yoni in bloom; the beauty and sacredness of the womb, yoni, and motherhood.  It connects us to the inner goddess and helps us see the yoni as a goddess. It is also very clearing and cleansing and speaks of purification. The pink Wild Rose is great for feeling playful, fun, and flirtatious. 

(From Flower Essences and Sexuality, The Local Rose)

Resources 

Wild Remedies by Rosalee De La Foret &Emily Han

Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel

Northeast Foraging by Leda Meredith

Body into Balance by Maria Noel Groves

American Botanical Council

A Modern Herbal

Wikipedia

Wicca now

http://www.thelocalrose.com/tribe-health/flower-essences-and-sexuality/

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