Rose, Queen of Flowers
Rose as an Herbal Medicine | Rose Essential Oil | Rose Water | Beauty Routine | In the Home
This special flower has a lot to offer, and it’s one of my favorites. Stroll through the garden and learn all about this special Queen!
Your home is important. You may have children, or they may have already flown the nest, you may be single and loving it, or you may be between spaces right now, enjoying all the adventures life has to lend. Whatever the case, rose is going to be your new best friend, because everyone needs a little love, and rose after all, is the Queen of Flowers and a universal symbol of love.
ROSA, ROSACEAE FAMILY
The rose is a universal symbol of love, and also grief. We plant roses over our loved one’s graves, send roses to funerals, and we give a dozen roses to loved ones or to lovers on special occasions or St. Valentine’s Day. According to Eastern traditions, the first rose was stirred into life by the first rays of the rising sun in the Great Garden of Persia. Ecclesiasticus (39:13) encourages to
“Listen to me, my devout sons, and blossom
Like a rose planted by a stream.”
Many cultures use rose for its aesthetic beauty, heady aroma, and medicinal properties. Rose is used mainly as an astringent. Think of it as a gasket for a leaky sink. Tissues in our bodies shouldn’t be leaking, and astringents help to tone them. It’s also a relaxant, and great for anxiety, especially anxiety coupled with depression. It breaks up emotional rigidity, brings you into the present, and is uplifting (which is why it’s a gift for both the loving and the grieving).
Anxiety with Depression: Depression is a tricky ailment to understand, and if someone is in it deep enough, they often don’t care. Wild Rose flower essence helps lift the spirits and gives renewed life to those who just don’t have the spark and curiosity to live their lives. These people are apathetic and live a half-life. Rose petals, in conjunction with St. John’s Wort and Lemon Balm can be a game changer in less than a week, and up to a month. Please don’t use St. John’s Wort if you’re using SSRIs, it can be harmful. If you’re experiencing anxiety or depression, schedule a consultation with me, and we’ll see which herbs best match your constitution!
Restrains Infections: Rose hips, the seed cases of roses, are exceptionally high in vitamin C, A, B, and K. Children were given rose syrups as a tonic during the Second World War to prevent infections, and it’s also very good for coughs. To learn how to make a syrup, check out this video from include source here.
Reducing Pitta Qualities: Ayurveda, the Indian study of life, uses Rose species flowers for reducing Pitta, the fiery composition portion of the body. If you have an irritated rash or burn, it’s demonstrating Pitta qualities. Rose relieves heat and congested blood. Rose water can also relieve inflamed acne or other skin irritations. A famous blend is made of rose and shatavari for rejuvenating the female reproductive system or combined with safflower or hibiscus for the regulation of the menstruation system.
Need to jazz up your Moon Cycle? Book an Herbalism Appointment.
ELECTUARIES FOR HERBAL POWDERS
An electuary is as sugar-coating it as you can get. Powdered herbs are a great way to ingest a lot of herb at one time without guzzling tea all day, but they don’t always taste that great. We don’t want to take them as adults, and it’s even more difficult to get kids to down them. Sprinkling on food sometimes just doesn’t cut it!
A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. These electuaries are malleable and moldable, so you can form them into marbles, or peas, or squares. These will maintain their shape and soft condition for a long time. Use the recipe below to make your own electuary. You don’t have to dry and powder your own rose petals, but if you’re feeling adventurous then there’s nothing like using freshly powdered roses! Roses make the most delicious electuaries, but you can play with the recipe and use different powders. Try adding shatavari powder for an extra fertility boost.
Differences in Roses
Now that you’re this far, I’d like to say that not all roses grow equal. Roses with the highest essential oil content will be your cabbage roses (Rosa centiflora, French Rose, Maroc Rose) or the Bulgarian roses (Rosa damascena, Damask Rose). Traditionally tea roses and old-fashioned roses, while not the Valentine rose we think of today as the most beautiful, will be your best bets for extracting medicinal qualities. Never use a grocery store or florist roses, as these are generally heavily sprayed with poisonous insecticides and herbicides.
ROSE ESSENTIAL OIL
Did you know it takes around 22lbs of rose petals to make a 5ml bottle of essential oil? That’s a lot! It’s one of the more expensive oils you’ll find on the market. As a student of sustainability, I buy the diluted form (in Jojoba Oil) as an act of peace, to my purse and the Earth.
Rose essential oil is used widely in soaps, lotions, perfumes, and other beauty products. Most people are reminded of their grandmothers, inexplicable comfort, and peace when they smell this oil. It’s great for treating menstrual problems when the oil is massaged into the abdomen, and can even increase sperm count in men!
I use a Rose Facial Serum in my facial reflexology sessions. Most women like it because they’re worried about wrinkles (another secret, we all are!). Rosehip + rose essential oil
is a rejuvenative for the skin
reduces wrinkles
improves dry skin
stimulates poor circulation
Plus, it smells divine and uplifts you. Want to try a facial session with my special Rosehip Facial Serum? Book a session here.
ROSE WATER
Since the essential oil is hard on the environment, I like to use rose water more often. It’s easy to make at home, and takes a lot less rose petals to make. You can even make rose water out of those pesky multi-flora rose bushes that like to hang around creeks and damp forest edges.
Rose water smells like roses, and you can use it as a facial toner to reduce redness and inflammation. It can also be used as a mouthwash to soothe ulcers, mouth sores, and bleeding gums. Try new ways to use rose to help keep our Earth a beautiful place! Use the infographic below to make your own fresh rose water to use in the beauty routine recipes in the next section!
BEAUTY ROUTINE
Now you’re ready to use your new rosewater in your beauty routine! Rose brings us into our bodies and helps ease the overcritical self and disengages body shame. It reduces inflammation and redness in the skin, improves the complexion, and tightens pores. These recipes are easy to whip up!
Apply toner once or twice a day between cleansing and moisturizing. Your new makeup setting spray is also great for sunburns or aggravated skin, especially during the beginning of summer when we keep forgetting to wear our sunscreen!
ROSES IN THE HOME
Roses are a beautiful addition to the home. While rosy floral patterns on the couch may make us think too much about our grandmother’s parlor, don’t by shy to spread the petals in the tub and light a few candles. Floral bouquets lightly scent the air with their regal aroma and grace guests with their beauty. Roses fit into every area of entertainment, and are never unappreciated.
Serve your guests or family this simple Rose Hip Tea for a fancy tea time or get together by blending rosehips and hibiscus flowers. Use a 1:1 ratio, or play around with the flavors. You can even add a little splash of your new homemade rosewater! It’s deliciously citrusy, and a pretty pink! Add a rose petal on top for extra eye appeal.
A Rosy Lemonade is always a favorite among friends and family. Surprise and delight them this summer with a thirst quenching rosy treat! It’s only a few ingredients, and again, you can use your new rose water! Your guests will be amazed that some of you ingredients came right from your garden! If you don’t have your own tea roses, don’t be afraid of just adding some rosewater from the store. This delightfully refreshing treat won’t disappoint!
PS. I like to make a concentrate, and then add sparkling water to make a spritzer. Adding a little mint sprig to the glass sets it over the top!
Roses have a place in every garden and every home. They ground us physically while uplifting us spiritually. The Queen of Flowers truly is a wonder, and her throne is well deserved. Ready to celebrate roses in your home? Tell me in the comments how you like to use roses or rosehips in your daily life!
