The Medicinal Herb Info site was created to help educate visitors about the often forgotten wisdom of the old ways of treating illnesses. Many of today's drugs and medicines were originally derived from natural ingredients, combinations of plants and other items found in nature.

We are not suggesting that you ignore the help of trained medical professionals, simply that you have additional options available for treating illnesses. Often the most effective treatment involves a responsible blend of both modern and traditional treatments.

We wish you peace and health!

Wild Rose

Scientific Names

Wild Rose

  • Rosa canina L.
  • Rosaceae
  • Rose family

Common Names

  • Brier hip
  • Brier rose
  • Dogberry
  • Dogbrier
  • Dog rose
  • Eglantine gall
  • Hep tree
  • Hip fruit
  • Hip rose
  • Hip tree
  • Hop fruit
  • Hogseed
  • Shatapatri (Sanskrit name)
  • Sweet brier
  • Wild brier
  • Witch’s brier
  • Yeu-ji-hua (Chinese name)

Back to Top


Parts Usually Used

Rose hips (fruit), flowers
Back to Top


Description of Plant(s) and
Culture

Brier hip is a bushy shrub; varying in height from 2-13 feet, its numerous stems are covered with sharp spines and prickles. The leaves are odd-pinnate, usually consisting of 5-7 leaflets that are opposite, ovate, acute, serrate, and hairy beneath. The flowers are red, pale red, or nearly white and appear from May to July. The oblong, scarlet to orange-red fruit, or hip, contains many one-seeded achenes and ripens in the fall.

There are literally 100s of species of rose, and to them and their varieties have been given thousands of names. The genus Rosa consists of prickly shrubs found wild or cultivated. Red roses are considered best for medicinal use.

Other varieties used as rose hips: Rock-rose (Helianthemum canadense); Rosa californica; Cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia); Rosa Damascena; Rosa eglanteria; Rosa gallica; Rosa laevigata; Rosa roxburghii; Large-hip rose (Rosa rugosa); Rosa chinensis.
Back to Top


Where Found

Grows in open fields and thickets and on dry banks from Nova Scotia to Virginia and Tennessee. It is naturalized from Europe, where it is found around the edges of woods, hedges, garden fences, and on sloping ground.
Back to Top


Medicinal Properties

Astringent, carminative, diuretic, tonic
Back to Top


Biochemical Information

Citric acid, flavonoids, fructose, malic acid, sucrose, tannins, vitamins A, B3, C, D, E, and P, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc
Back to Top


Legends, Myths and Stories

The rose, cultivated for over 3,000 years and known from time immemorial as the queen of the flowers, is thought to have originated in Asia Minor. The genus name Rosa is derived from the Greek work rodon, meaning “red”. The ancient Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used the rose not only as a garden ornamental but as the main ingredient in various perfumes and cosmetics.

According to Christian legend the rose grew in the Garden of Eden without thorns; but after the fall, thorns sprouted to remind man of his sinful and imperfect nature.

Roses of different colors often have special connotations: the pink rose represents simplicity, often being associated with the Virgin Mary; the yellow rose means perfect achievement, and sometimes jealousy; and the red rose signifies passion and sensual desire, shame, and occasionally blood and sacrifice. From the times of the ancient Egyptians, the rose has been a token of silence.

Many legends purport to explain how the red rose acquired its color. Assuming that the rose was originally white, the Greeks held that it became red from the blood of Aphrodite, who had pricked her foot on a thorn while trying to aid her beloved, dying Adonis. The Turks claim the white rose was stained red by the blood of Mohammed. Christian legend has the red rose resulting from the blood of martyrs.
Back to Top


Uses

Good for all infections and bladder problems. Helps combat stress. Particularly good for digestion and to produce a diuretic effect without irritating the kidneys. Kidney stones or gravel; brier hips used as a preventative or arrestant. Use for kidney and bladder inflammations. By eliminating uric acid accumulations, brier hips help in gouty and rheumatic complaints. A decoction of crushed achenes is also sometimes used for fever and as a beverage tea. Rose hips enhance fruit dishes and drinks. Both the hips ant the petals are made into jellies.

Rosewater and glycerin, an old-fashioned cosmetic, but really is very effective. Use a rosewater-to-glycerin ratio between 50-50 and 75-25.

Try candied rose petals.
Back to Top


Formulas or Dosages

Infusion: use 1 to 2 tsp. hips (without seeds) with 1 cup boiling water.

Decoction: use 1/2 to 1 tsp. powdered achenes with 1 cup water. Boil until 1/2 cup of liquid remains. Drink in the course of the day.

Rose hip tea: Long served in northern Europe. Very high in vitamin C and good for daily use. The dried, finely chopped rose hips must be soaked in a small amount of water for 12 hours before using. The tea is made by simmering 1 tbsp. rosehips in 3 cups of water for 30-40 minutes. A small amount of dried hibiscus flowers makes a nice addition to this tea, giving it a lemony flavor and a very attractive burgundy color.
Back to Top


Nutrient Content

Vitamins A, B3, C, D, E, and P, Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc
Back to Top


How Sold

Rosewater is available from the pharmacy. Also, rosewater and glycerin may be found.
Back to Top


Warning

Do not use roses that have been treated with pesticides or pesticide-containing fertilizers.
Back to Top


Bibliography

Buy It! The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

Buy It! Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Herbal Gardening, compiled by The Robison York State Herb Garden, Cornell Plantations, Matthaei Botanical Gardens of the University of Michigan, University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley., Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition

Buy It! The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991

Buy It!The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)

Buy It! Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992

Buy It! The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993

Buy It! American Folk Medicine, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1973

Buy It! Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements, by James F. Balch, M.D. and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C., Avery Publishing Group, Inc., Garden City Park, NY

Buy It! Webster’s New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, New World Dictionaries: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023

Buy It! How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts, by Frances Densmore, Dover Publications, Inc., 180 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014, first printed by the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, in 1928, this Dover edition 1974

Buy It! An Instant Guide to Medicinal Plants, by Pamela Forey and Ruth Lindsay, Crescent Books (January 27, 1992).

Buy It! The Magic of Herbs in Daily Living, by Richard Lucas, Parker Publishing Co. (1988).

Buy It! The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.

Buy It! The Rodale Herb Book: How to Use, Grow, and Buy Nature’s Miracle Plants (An Organic gardening and farming book), edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974

Buy It! The Healing Plants, by Mannfried Pahlow, Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788, 1992

Back to Top

Share