|
From The June 2000 Issue of Nutrition Science News
Understanding Herbs
The Lore of the Roses
Mindy Green
 Rose is perhaps the most celebrated of all fragrances. It is thought to have originated in central Asia, and is mentioned in ancient medical texts from China, India, Persia, Assyria, Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Throughout the world's human history, rose has been the symbol of love, purity, devotion, inspiration, beauty, elegance, compassion, spirituality and sensuality. Much of this association is based in non-scientific folklore such as traditional and anecdotal observation. But rose has attributes with proven benefits for the physical as well as the emotional body.
The significance of rose is both religious and mythological. It was prized as the flower of Aphrodite to the ancient Greeks. To the early Christians it was the flower of the Virgin Mary. To the Arabs of old it represented the highest spiritual achievement. Rose was also a symbol of secrets held in confidence: It was an ancient practice to hang a rose over a council table, letting all who attended know they were sworn to secrecy.
The rose flower has five petals (or multiples of five) with numerous stamens, and often exhibits thorny stems or branches. Members of the Rosaceae family grow around the world. There are more than 10,000 types of cultivated rose species, including the popular and fragrant Rosa centifolia, R. damascena, R. muscatta, R. gallica, R. rugosa, R. indica and R. rubiginosa. The two main species used in the commercial production of rose oil are R. centifolia (Cabbage rose, often hybridized with R. gallica to produce Rose de Mai) and R. damascena, selected by a majority of perfumers as the standard for floral odors.
Where Does It Come From?
The fruit of the rose, known as the "hip," is a fleshy fruit that contains the seeds of the rose. They were widely used by American Indians and prevented scurvy because of their vitamin C content. Fresh rose hips contain from 0.5 to 1.7 percent vitamin C. Rose hips can be made into jams and jellies with either the fresh or the dried hip. The "official" hips are from Rosa canina, the dog rose, but many species are useful, most commonly R. rugosa, R. acicularis and R. cinnamomea. |
|
Before extraction methods were developed for rose essential oil, rose was used in its whole form: The flowers were prized for their beauty and fragrance; the petals, leaves and hips (the fleshy fruit containing seeds) were made into jams and infusions for food and medicine; oils and salves were used cosmetically. The flowers, hips and leaves contain vitamins C, E and K as well as tannins, pectin, carotene, fruit acids, fatty oil and nicotinamide.
Different extraction methods of rose oil are a therapeutic agent is the subject of much debate among aromatherapists. Many believe the absolute (solvent extraction process) leaves chemical residues and provides a lower vibrational healing energy inappropriate for therapeutic use. Others think solvent extraction is superior because the plant is not exposed to high heat, thereby producing a fragrance more true to the original plant and an end product with a broader range of constituents—and therefore, of higher therapeutic value. The distilled rose oil, or rose otto, is the only one suitable for food and flavoring use.
Rose-colored Uses
Many of the early medicinal uses of rose were based on tradition, empirical observation and trial and error. The modern-day uses of rose essential oil among medical practitioners and aromatherapists bear out the historical uses through a number of studies, most of which were not conducted in the United States.
Rose's ability to reduce blood lipids was confirmed in a Chinese study comparing Rosa multiflorae root in tablet form to two pharmaceutical drugs, clofibrate and hexanicotol, that reduce plasma lipids. Every day for one month, 93 adults took the rose pills representing 4 g crude alcoholic extract, 43 adults took clofibrate and 51 took hexanicotol. Overall, the rose group showed reduced serum cholesterol, lipoproteins and triglycerides. Although clofibrate was more effective in reducing triglycerides, rose was slightly more effective in reducing serum cholesterol. The difference between rose and hexanicotol was not statistically significant. The authors concluded the rose appeared as a safe and reliable serum lipid-reducing agent worthy of further trials.1
An extract of Rosa canina exhibited superior lipid-reducing qualities when compared with eight other natural polyphenolic extracts in vitro.2 All extracts studied scavenged superoxide radicals and inhibited lipid peroxidation. Researchers summarized that these activities are related to the total polyphenol content of the fruits.
Potentially, these findings make rose oil a prospective agent for the prophylaxis and treatment of atherosclerosis. A Russian study showed rose oil reduced blood lipid concentrations in rats. The recommended therapeutic dose is 2-4 mg rose oil/kg body weight. The oral dose of 5 mg/kg body weight was safe.3
A rose hips tea (Rosa canina) showed some benefit against kidney stones in a rat study conducted in Spain. The primary benefits were that two markers of kidney stone risk improved—calcium in the urine decreased and the urinary concentration of citrate increased—when 16 rats were given an infusion of rose hips tea for 12 days.4
Rose is traditionally used to treat a number of female reproductive disorders; its astringent tannins, for instance, help excessive menstrual flow. In fact, though it is the consummate feminine remedy, rose is also reported to increase sperm count in men (though the journal did not offer specifics).5
A preparation of rose ointment was found useful for cancer patients with radiation-induced burns, inflammation and tissue degeneration. It was also useful in 154 cases where antibiotics were ineffective in treating skin ulcers.6
Interestingly, an in vitro study showed that compounds isolated from Rosa damascena exhibit anti-HIV activity.7 London re-searchers isolated nine compounds from a methanol extract and discovered that the combined effects of different compounds act additively against different stages of virus replication. They do this by binding to various proteins to inhibit HIV infection.
Rose water has medicinal value almost equal to rose oil. It makes a tasty beverage and was historically used as a quick remedy for hangovers. Rose water has a pleasant and refreshing aroma, and its abundance of natural acids makes it an excellent hydrating and anti-inflammatory remedy for skin care.8 It has disinfecting and soothing properties for dry, delicate and mature complexions and makes a good eye compress for dry, inflamed eye conditions.
The toxicology data on rose essential oil suggest it is very safe. One study on the safety and low oral toxicity of rose oil reported that it has no cumulative effect and does not appear to have any ill effects on the development of the embryo when taken internally.3 According to Essential Oil Safety by aromatherapist Robert Tisserand and pharmacologist Tony Balacs, rose is non-phototoxic and non-sensitizing—though undiluted it can be a mild skin irritant to some people. They also report it has a low oral toxicity compared to spearmint and citrus oils, both of which are considered safe.9
Rose oil's purported effects on depression and anxiety seem wholly anecdotal, but upon closer investigation there may be a more tangible basis for this action. Some people speculate that these states are often the result of an overstressed kidney/adrenal system, which may be corrected through the nourishing effect of rose on the hypothalamus area of the limbic system.1 While this seems plausible, there is little hard scientific evidence to support the theory.
Rose is much more than a nice perfume ingredient. Through traditional use and current medical studies, it has effects ranging from an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic to a cardiotonic, digestive aid and restorative agent, demonstrating spasmolytic and hypolipidemic properties.
Rose has influenced cultures aesthetically, economically, medically, religiously and spiritually since humankind could smell and appreciate its fragrance. Whether its properties were discovered through contact with the ethereal realms or through the clinical outcome of the scientific study of its chemical constituents, rose has much to offer on physical, psychological and spiritual levels. If appreciated only for its aroma—unequalled among flowers—life is more lavish for the fragrant and extravagant gift it offers.
Sidebars:
Commission E Monograph - Rose Flower
Mindy Green is an herbalist, aromatherapist and director of education for the Herb Research Foundation in Boulder, Colo. Her latest book is Natural Perfumes (Interweave Press, 1999).
References
1. Chen YC, Zhang J. Clinical observation on the effect of radix rosae multiflorae in reducing blood lipids. J Trad Chinese Med 1984;4(4):295-6.
2. Costantino L, et al. Antilipoperoxidant activity of polyphenolic crude extracts of some edible fruits. Planta Med 1992;58 (Supp 1):A662-3.
3. Kirov M, Bainova A. Acute and subacute oral toxicity of rose oil. Medico Biologic Information. "Farmakhin," Sofia, Bulgaria 1988;3:9-15.
4. Grases F, et al. Effect of Rosa canina infusion and magnesium on the urinary risk factors of calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Planta Med 1992;58:509-12.
5. Holmes P. Rose the water goddess. Int J of Aromatherapy 1994;6(2):10.
6. Christov G. Medico Biologic Information 1969;3:8.
7. Mahmood N, et al. The anti-HIV activity and mechanisms of action of pure compounds isolated from Rosa damascena. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 1996;229:73-9.
8. Portarska F, et al. Bulgarian rose water. Medico Biologic Information 1989;6:3-7.
9. Tisserand R, Balacs T. Essential oil safety, a guide for health care professionals. Churchill Livingstone, New York:1995. p.204-10.
|
