herbal medicine
ROSES – History in Bloom
Dating back to ancient civilizations, rose has been used for herbal medicine from China to North America. Over 4000 years ago, ancient China used rose to stimulate energy, prevent scurvy, treat insomnia and cleanse blood. Because of its ability to fight infections of the stomach and digestive tract, the inner bark of the plant was used to in ancient China and by the Chayenne Native Americans to treat diarrhea and stomach diseases. If you need further proof that great minds think alike, the Omaha, Chippewa, Chayenne and Flathead tribes used the petals, stems, roots and hips to treat eye inflammations and diseases, including snow blindness and cataracts. Similarly, the Pawnee and Crow tribes took advantage of roses’ healing properties to treat burns and reduces swelling. However, they achieved this through two very different methods. The Pawnee people would char and crush up insect galls (small abnormal bumps caused by insects) found on the lower stems in order to dress wounds and burns. In contrast, the Crow tribe ground the roots before boiling them to make a hot compress for swelling.
Thousands of years of documented medicinal properties and it wasn’t until the 1930’s that the Western world caught on. With the discovery of vitamin C by Linus Pauling and the claim that it could treat the common cold, people scrambled to find anything with high doses of vitamin C. Aside from claims of being an antidepressant, sedative, antispasmodic, stress reliever, aphrodisiac, astringent, antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, digestive stimulant, anti-anxiety, expectorant and menstrual regulator, reports show rose also claims to be high in vitamin C. Thus its use in North America and other western countries suddenly skyrocketed after their long hiatus. Rosehip syrups, gargles, tinctures and oils then became a normality when it came to at home remedies. Shortly after, creams, lotions, and perfumes were produced to moisturize and relieve stress. Which explains its social evolution from useful medicine into a luxury.
To anyone familiar with ancient history, it comes to no surprise that the symbolism and use of roses are closely intertwined. In Christianity specifically, roses and the Virgin Mary are often intertwined, which is why praying with the rosary, or crown of roses, is said to focus the mind and protect the user from evil. It can also be applied to both the crown of thorns and the thorns commonly depicted around the sacred heart. This thread of thought is also shared in Ancient Chinese and Greek-Arabic medicine. Both methods agree roses have a definitive effect on the spiritual health of the heart. Roses are said to have spirit lifting properties that removes negative emotions, such as anxiety or depression, and purify the heart. With such a definition, it’s easy to see how the depictions of angels holding roses in art are supposed to give someone calm, hope and happiness.
If you feel like bringing some of the same positive energy into your daily life, try blending it with different types of tea! When paired with a black tea with heavy and smoky tones, adding rose brings out the rounder and more floral hints within the tea, making for a well balanced tea blend with more dimension. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, try blending it with other medicinal herbs to heighten one of its many beneficial properties! Depression for example could be further aides with St. John’s Wort, lavender, skullcap, valerian root or mugwort. However, while we feel it is important to appreciate herbal medicine for all that it is, it is also important to keep one's safety in mind. If you are not skilled herbalist, please consult one or a doctor before making any remedies. Take time to smell the roses, it could benefit you more than you think!
