An ingredient in Vitalerbs, Rose Hips, are part of the herbal vitamin/mineral blend that we use for all here; both two and four legged. Compare the nutritional content of oranges to rose hips and you will find that rose hips contain 25 percent more iron, 20 to 40 percent more Vitamin C (depending upon variety), 25 times the Vitamin A, and 28 percent more calcium. Owing to the high intensity of ascorbic acid present in them, the rose hips stimulating tart taste that is very much fruit-like. Chemical analysis of the rose hips has shown that they contain 0.5 to 1.7 percent vitamin C.
In addition, rose hips are a rich source of bioflavanoids, pectin, Vitamin E, selenium, manganese, and the B-complex vitamins. Rose hips also contain trace amounts of magnesium, potassium, sulfur and silicon. Herbal Legacy reports that Rose hips strengthens the circulatory system, capillaries and connective tissue. The astringent properties help to reduce inflamed tissue.
Long ago, people thought the rose hips to be sacred. This is corroborated from the fact that during the Middle Ages, the rosary of the Catholics was made from rose hips and hence they were called rosary. These rosaries were used to count the prayers as they were also being said. Even today, the beads of the rosary used by the Catholics resemble the rose hips and like the fruits of different species of the rose plant, these modern-day beads are also smooth and elongated in appearance.
Rose hips were long official in the Pritish Pharmacopceia for refrigerant and astringent properties, but have been discarded and only used in medicine to prepare the confection of hips used in conjunction with other drugs, the pulp being separated from the skin and hairy seeds and beaten up with sugar. It is astringent and considered strengthening to the stomach and useful in diarrhoea and dysentery, allaying thirst, and for its pectoral qualities good for coughs and spitting of blood.
Culpepper states that the hips are 'grateful to the taste and a considerable restorative, fitly given to consumptive persons, the conserve being proper in all distempers of the breast and in coughs and tickling rheums' and that it has 'a binding effect and helps digestion.' He also states that 'the pulp of the hips dried and powdered is used in drink to break the stone and to ease and help the colic.' The constituents of rose hips are malic and citric acids, sugar and small quantities of tannin, resin, wax, malates, citrates and other salts.
Wild roses grow throughout the world. There are literally thousands of varieties worldwide and most have been part of the human diet. In fact, it is difficult to find an area of the world or a temperature zone—barring parts of the Antarctic and the Sahara Desert—where wild roses don't grow.
When wild-crafting, the color of rose hips varies from dark red to bright scarlet. Their shapes and sizes differ too. While some of the rose hips may be ovoid in appearance, there are others that are pear-shaped. Basically, the rose hips are collected from the variety of rose plant after the first freeze.It is important to note that compared to the hybrids, it is generally easier to take care of the Heritage species of the rose plant. In addition, the original species of the rose also generate more tender and fleshy hips that are best for consumption. If you intend to use the rose for culinary as well as decorative purposes, you should go for the original species of the rose and cultivate them in your garden. On the other hand, if you fancy the climbing variety of the rose and also want them to fruit generously, never ever trim or prune the plants soon after their blossoming season in summer.
It may be mentioned here that if not harvested, the rose hips generally remain on the plant all through the early part of the winter or till the birds, rabbits and field rodents have either eaten them up or stored them somewhere for future use.
Rose hips may be used fresh or dried. To dry them, discard any with discoloration then rinse in cold water, pat dry, and spread on a wax paper-lined cookie sheet. It takes a couple of weeks for them to dry. They will be darker in color, hard, and semi-wrinkly. Rub off any stems or remaining blossom ends. Pour them into jars for storage in a dark pantry or cupboard.
Nutritional Value: Ash 6.8%, Calcium 810 mg, Calories 0.68/gm, Chromium 0.18 mg, Cobalt 0.23 mg, Crude Fiber 30.0%, Dietary Fiber 44.0%, Fat 1.9%, Magnesium 139mg, Manganese 0.40mg, Niacin 6.80mg, Phosphorus 256mg, Potassium 827mg, Protein 13.3%, Riboflavin 0.72mg, Selenium 0.21mg, Thiamine 0.38mg, Tin 2.2mg, Vita A 7,015iu, and Vita C 740mg per 100 grams.
Resources:
- Dr. John R. Christopher's http://www.herballegacy.com
- 'Culpeper's Complete Herbal' by
- 'Gather rose hips for health' by Gail Butler
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