More than a pretty face: Roses just might surprise you
The energetics of a rose are cooling and drying. They’re perfect for cooling you in the summer (they make a wonderful rose lemonade) and for anything related to your skin.
The Rose is not only beautiful, but a strong and powerful ally too. Here’s why.
When most people think of roses they think Valentine’s day. For most of us Valentine Day roses are the beautifully cultivated roses from a greenhouse in most cases because of the time of the year. In most parts of the US it’s still cold on Valentine’s day. But roses are a warm weather flower.
Wild roses and cultivated roses grown outside generally bloom in mid to late spring depending on your weather and will bloom all summer long.
The look of wild roses and cultivated roses are very different, but a rose is a rose, is a rose (as long as it’s not been sprayed with any herbicides or pesticides).
Once the blooming season is over, they give us one last gift before their season ends….the rose hip.
A Rose isn’t just pretty to look at.
Nutrition.
Rose hips are the fruit roses leave once the petals have fallen. These hips are highly nutritious (if you can beat the birds to them). A rose hip freshly picked from the vine contains more Vitamin C than an orange.
They’re rich in nutrients and bioflavonoids, and have been referred to as “nature’s biological response modifiers”, modifying the body’s reaction to compounds like allergens, viruses and carcinogens.
To eat rose hips, separate the fleshy outer part from the seeds inside to avoid the fuzzy, irritating hairs on the seeds. The fleshy outer part of the rose hips are the part you want to keep.
These can be used like berries to make jelly, jam or syrup or can be used to make tea, hot or cold.
Actions
Roses can have a positive effect on the heart, both physically and emotionally.
They not only lift your mood but can help dispel depression too. This calming and relaxing effect can work by drinking rose tea, eating foods made with roses or by simply smelling that beautiful aroma. As a matter of fact, the more scent a rose has, the more potent it is.
“Wild rose softens the areas that we tense to protect ourselves, unraveling emotional tension patterns that get locked in the body. Rose naturally works in places where ‘flow’ is impeded. Rose unwinds the stuck-ness that is often rooted in old grief, old trauma.”
Rebecca Altman, ThornandWonder.com.
Roses are an awesome astringent which is great for cleansing and healing or tightening and toning the skin. This makes it a great choice for an infused oil for your face and body.
The petals have antioxidant qualities which can help modulate inflammation too.
And those inflammation modulating properties can help relieve the pain caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and can help soothe minor sunburns.
Different ways to enjoy your roses.
There are a ton of rose tea recipes on the internet. The simplest is to simply use rose petals, dry or fresh and pour your just boiled water over them. Cover and let set for 5 minutes or so. You can enjoy this either hot or cold, sweetened or not. I prefer non-sweetened, but this is just a personal preference.
Use your rose tea as an additive or a base for other flavored waters or drinks.
You can also try rose tincture, which I have made several times. I add a few droppers of this to my water. It adds a very light sweet candy flavor to the water. A little flavor without any sugar. I enjoy this on a regular basis.
You can add the petals to honey or vinegar to use in your cooking or to flavor foods. You don’t even need to remove the petals. Spread the honey on your toast, enjoying petals and all.
It also makes a great syrup and jelly. I make rose petal jelly all summer and it tastes like candy. It’s so good.
Whatever you make and however you enjoy your them, be sure they are unsprayed. Most flowers bought at a florist shop are sprayed so they are completely bug free and look beautiful, so be sure you ask if you buy your roses from a shop.
Another wonderful way to enjoy roses is to add the petals to your bath. This not only allows you to soak in the benefits of the roses through the skin but you’ll also enjoy the scent as it fills the room. Add ½ cup of rose petals in a muslin or mesh bag and a cup of epsom salt to your bath. You don’t want to have to clean a tub after a relaxing bath. Then light a couple of lovely candles for a nice glow and some relaxing music for a spa-like experience. It’s a perfect way to end a long day.
Rose Essential Oils
A word of caution when buying rose essential oil. Always be sure to read the information on the bottle carefully. Rose essential oil is very, very expensive. It takes about 22 pounds of rose petals to make .5 mL of essential oils (for reference, there are 29.6 mL in an ounce.)
That’s a lot of roses and why it’s so expensive.
You’ll want to carefully read the label to know if it’s a small amount of essential oil added to a carrier oil or if it’s a fragrance rather than an actual rose essential oil. In some cases you may be okay with the essential oil added to a carrier oil. But you may want the actual essential oil rather than a synthetic fragrance.
So if you run across a killer sale of $20 per half ounce, re-read the label and then check it again. It’s probably not an actual rose essential oil, but a synthetic substitute.
Whether you want to use them to make something, or to put in a vase and enjoy the beauty of their soft petals or to fill your room with that wonderful rose aroma, fresh from your yard or garden you know is always going to be best.
What have you made from roses? Will this prompt you to create something new? How about some rose honey, sounds delicious? Comment below and give me a hint of what you might try or what you’ve already tried!
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