Fruits of wild rose, or rose hips - popular medicine. Rosehip is rich in vitamin C, increases resistance to disease, improves appetite, and has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects. In addition, rosehip strengthens the walls of blood vessels and increases blood clotting. In medicine, as a rule, its fruits are used, from which teas, sweet syrups or alcohol tinctures can be made. For external use, ointments and oils are made based on rose hips.
Indications for taking rose hips
Rosehip helps well with the following diseases:
- anemia, when its regular use increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood;
- hypertension - here rose hips gently reduce blood pressure;
- illnesses genitourinary system and gallbladder, in which it is effective due to its diuretic and choleretic effects;
- vitamin deficiency and hypovitaminosis;
- diarrhea;
- When used externally, rosehip helps heal wounds, abrasions, burns - for these purposes, oil or ointment is made from it.
The list of ailments for which rose hips are useful goes on. But, like any medicine, it has its contraindications. An overdose of this drug is also dangerous, which is why you can't drink too much rose hips.
Who should not take rose hips?
Wild rose fruits are contraindicated for people prone to the following diseases:
- hypotension, since it is harmful to lower already low blood pressure;
- diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as thrombophlebitis, arterial hypertension, endocarditis, heart failure;
- constipation;
- peptic ulcers, gastritis - rosehip can irritate the walls of the stomach, as it contains acid and can only aggravate the disease (however, there is an opinion that rosehip actually strengthens the gastrointestinal tract, but not all doctors agree with this);
- hypertension, if we are talking about an alcohol tincture (rose hips in other forms are suitable for hypertensive patients).
Why you shouldn’t drink a lot of rose hips, and what this can lead to
Firstly, you need to be careful when taking rose hip decoction, especially concentrated ones. It is advisable to drink it with water, and be sure to rinse your mouth. Since rose hips contain a lot of acids, this can negatively affect tooth enamel or the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.
Secondly, an overdose of this medicine can cause serious damage to the liver. In large quantities, rose hips can even cause jaundice of a non-infectious nature.
Another delicate problem is that this remedy is very strong, so if you overdo it with rose hips, you can end up with constipation.
One cannot help but mention an allergic reaction. Like other plants containing vitamin C, rose hips are an allergen. Infants should not drink it, and older children can only take it in small doses. But even adults who have not previously consumed rosehip should monitor their condition and, if the body reacts negatively, immediately stop taking it. In case of overdose, rose hips can cause severe allergies, including skin rashes. It is also necessary to protect your kidneys - uncontrolled use of this medicine can damage them, and in rare severe cases, lead to kidney failure.
In conclusion, it must be said that rosehip is an excellent remedy given to people by nature itself, but it must be handled carefully - as, indeed, with any medicine. Competent use of rose hips is possible only after consultation with a doctor. If we perceive this plant not as a panacea, but as good help in the fight against various diseases - the result will definitely please you.
Rose hips are often used in the fight against colds. This is no coincidence, because the vitamin C content in them is 50 times higher than in lemon. But the use of the plant is not limited to obtaining a vitamin and antiseptic effect. It is successfully used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases, and not only berries are used, but also leaves, flowers and even roots. Let's try to figure out what benefits are contained in rose hips, how to brew it correctly and how to drink it to solve health problems.
What are the benefits of rose hips?
Rosehip is a wild-growing shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family; it is popularly called the wild rose. For medical and food purposes, the berries of the plant are most often used, which are simply a storehouse of healing substances. They contain vitamins B, A, C, E, K, as well as a lot of calcium, potassium, iron, chromium, phosphorus, magnesium and manganese. They are also rich in pectin, organic acids, healthy sugars and tannins.
What are the benefits of rose hips:
- Increases immunity and helps in the treatment of viral colds.
- Strengthens blood vessels and gets rid of cholesterol plaques.
- Increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
- Reduce blood pressure.
- They normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, prevent the development of inflammation in them, and improve the microflora.
- They have a pronounced diuretic effect and stimulate kidney function.
- Helps cope with vitamin deficiency.
- Improves the functioning of the genitourinary system.
Due to these beneficial properties, rose hips are actively used in folk medicine for the treatment of influenza and ARVI, anemia, atherosclerosis, cholelithiasis, female gynecological diseases and many other disorders in the body.
Contraindications
Like all medicinal plants, has rose hips and its contraindications:
- intolerance to the components of the composition;
- gastritis with increased acidity;
- thrombophlebitis;
- dermatological problems;
- endocarditis.
For some diseases, the benefit or harm will depend on how to drink rose hips. For example, in case of hypertension, only water infusions from fruits can be used to reduce blood pressure, while for hypotensive patients it is recommended to take alcohol infusions; on the contrary, they will increase blood pressure. Also great content ascorbic acid in products with rose hips has a negative effect on the condition of the teeth, so after each use it is necessary to thoroughly rinse the mouth with water.
The question often arises: can the plant be used in the treatment of pregnant women and children? Since rose hips rarely cause an allergic reaction, this useful plant should definitely be consumed during pregnancy and given to children. But before brewing rose hips for drinking in the dosages recommended by recipes, these categories of patients should be given a small amount of the product and carefully monitor the body’s reaction.
There is no doubt about the benefits of the plant, so we will consider further in what form it can be used, how to brew rosehip correctly and how to drink it for preventive purposes.
How to brew and drink rose hips for prevention
To prepare the drink, you can use either dry or fresh rose hips. Dried raw materials have the same chemical composition, which is fresher. Let's look at how to properly brew fruits in each case.
How to brew rose hips in a thermos
Dried berries can be prepared in two ways - in the form of a decoction and in the form of an infusion, for brewing which you will need a thermos.
How to brew dried rose hips in a thermos:
- Fruits and water are taken in a ratio of 1:10.
- Dry rose hips are washed thoroughly.
- The berries are crushed. If you do not want villi to be present in the infusion, you can put them whole, but then the taste will suffer and less of the healing components will go into the water.
- Place in a thermos and pour boiling water over it.
- Leave for at least 7 hours, or better yet, overnight.
Drink without thermos
It is also possible to prepare the drink correctly without a thermos; instead, you can use a simple glass jar with a plastic lid, wrapped in a towel, or try the following recipe.
From dried fruits
Preparation of dried rose hips without a thermos:
- The same amount of dried rose hips as in the previous recipe is boiled covered for about 1 hour.
- During the cooking process, water is added so that the original volume is retained at the end.
- The broth is infused for another 2-3 hours.
From fresh berries
A healthy drink can also be made from freshly picked berries.
How to brew fresh rose hips without a thermos:
- Take fruits at the rate of 3 tbsp. per liter of water.
- Wash them and mash them with a fork or grind them with a meat grinder.
- Pour half the volume of boiling water, cover the container with a lid and wrap it up.
- Strain the infusion after 40 minutes.
- Pour the remaining boiling water over the infusion berries and cook for 30 minutes.
- Strain again and combine the broth with the infusion.
If you want to use a thermos, then the drink from fresh fruits is made in the same way as dried rose hips were brewed.
Should I brew again or not?
An equally important question is how many times can you brew the same berries? Of course, for the drink to be as healthy as possible, it is better to use new raw materials each time. Medicinal properties rose hips, brewed again, are reduced significantly. But just for a tasty tea party, you can steam the fruits 2 times, for taste qualities it won't have much effect.
Tea for immunity
Depending on the purpose, you need to consume drinks from the plant in different ways. If you want to start drinking rosehip tea for immunity for preventive purposes, you need to adhere to the following rules:
- daily norm – no more than 3 cups per day;
- time of administration – 30 minutes before meals, or an hour later;
- After use, the mouth must be rinsed with water.
We looked at how to brew and drink rose hips for prevention. These are generally accepted methods, but when used by different categories of people and for different purposes, there will be their own nuances in preparation.
How to brew rose hips correctly to preserve vitamins
You need to understand that there is no brewing method after which 100% of the nutrients would survive. But you can use certain tricks to preserve vitamins. How to brew rose hips correctly in this case:
- First of all, you need to lower the water temperature. If you cool it to 60 degrees, the valuable substances will not be damaged during brewing, this also applies to fragile vitamin C. To do this, you just need to wait 2-3 minutes after boiling, and only then steam the fruits.
- Dishes also have an impact. Cooking in a thermos with a glass flask is considered the most gentle.
These rules will not help if you use dried rose hips prepared using the wrong technology. The healing properties are preserved only with this drying:
- in the shadow;
- in a well-ventilated area;
- at temperature conditions from +20 to +28 degrees.
From high-quality raw materials you can prepare a healthy vitamin drink:
- The crushed berries are placed in a cast iron pot and filled with filtered water at room temperature (for 3 tablespoons, 1 liter of water).
- Infuse until swelling for 30-60 minutes.
- Then another 100 ml of water is added and the cast iron is placed in the oven for 40 minutes at minimum heat, boiling is not allowed.
- The oven turns off and the drink infuses for 8-12 hours.
Thus, the benefits of rosehip tea depend on many factors - how many degrees in the water for brewing, how long the decoction is on the fire, how many times the fruits are brewed, as well as on the quality of the raw materials and the utensils used. It is not always easy to follow all these rules, but only in this case can you count on a therapeutic effect.
How to properly prepare and give rosehip tea to a child
As with any medicine, when treating a child with rose hips, you need to use smaller dosages than for an adult. How much rosehip to take per liter in this case? The number of fruits must be reduced by at least half than younger child, the lower the concentration. You can do it easier - brew a drink for the whole family in the usual way, and for the baby, dilute it 1:1 with boiled water.
There are also differences in how much infusion can be given. The child is given no more than a third of a glass at a time. For prevention during the cold season, taking it once a day is sufficient. IN medicinal purposes The drink is given 2 times a day until recovery. To improve its taste, honey or sugar is added to it. Or you can prepare not only healthy, but also delicious rosehip tea with apples, chamomile, lemon and honey for your baby:
- Prepare the ingredients - wash the rose hips (fresh or dry) and dried apples, wash the lemons too and cut into thin plastic pieces.
- 4 tbsp. rose hips, 1 tbsp. apples, 1 tbsp. dried chamomile flowers and 1 lemon, pour 8 cups of water into a saucepan, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.
- Leave to infuse under the lid. When the liquid has cooled slightly, add 6 tbsp. honey and stir until dissolved.
Children will definitely like this drink. But before you brew rose hips for your child for use in treatment, make sure that he is not allergic to the components of the plant. To do this, you need to start taking it with 1 tablespoon, observing the reaction, and only in the absence of allergy symptoms, proceed to the recommended dosages.
These were all ways to use rose hips to prevent and treat colds, but other health problems can also be solved with the help of the plant.
Medicinal decoctions of rose hips for various diseases
In medical recipes, not only rose hips are used, but also its other components.
For eye diseases (conjunctivitis, blepharitis). Pour 10 g of flowers into a glass of water, bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Then leave until cool and filter. Use to wash eyes 2 times a day.
For urolithiasis. 1 tbsp. fruits are brewed in 2 cups hot water, after which it boils for 10 minutes and infuses for a day in the dark under a lid. Drink half a glass of the strained product 2 times a day before meals.
For gout. You need to chop and brew the root of the plant (20g) in a liter of boiling water, then cook them at a low temperature for about 3 hours. A glass of the resulting hot broth is mixed with a glass of cool water and warm compresses soaked in it are applied to the sore spots.
For paresis and paralysis of the larynx. Take baths with a decoction of the roots. 40 g of dry roots are poured into 0.2 liters of water and boiled for half an hour, then infused for another 5 hours.
For cystitis. 1 tbsp. The roots are steamed with 0.4 liters of hot water and boiled for 15 minutes. After two hours of infusion, drink ½ glass 4 times a day before meals.
Weight loss
Rosehip is also a safe remedy for weight loss. The effect is achieved by normalizing the functioning of the digestive organs, restoring the water-salt balance and diuretic effect, which removes excess fluid from the body. To speed up the process, you can combine rose hips and hawthorn fruits, which have similar properties, in the drink.
How to brew rosehip correctly to combat extra pounds:
- Grind the fruits by taking 1 tbsp. rose hips and 1 tsp. hawthorn.
- Place everything in a thermos, pour 2 cups of boiling water, and leave overnight.
- Divide the resulting volume into 2-3 servings and drink throughout the day, an hour after meals.
And remember, no matter how many of these infusions you drink, if you don’t control your diet and move little, you shouldn’t count on good results. These are auxiliary means, and they give effect only with comprehensive measures to combat excess weight.
How to brew rosehip correctly at high and low pressure
Another unique property of wild rose is its ability to stabilize both high and low blood pressure. It all depends on how it is used.
How to brew rose hips correctly at high pressure:
- 2 tbsp. fresh fruits are brewed in a glass of hot water and allowed to brew for about an hour. Drink half a glass an hour after eating.
- 100 g of dried rose hips are poured into a thermos with 0.5 liters of hot water and left for 3 hours. They drink according to the same scheme as in the previous method.
- 1 tbsp. Rose hips are ground in a coffee grinder, 1 tbsp is added to it. cranberries, 1 grated lemon with zest and 1 glass of honey. Mix everything thoroughly and use 1 tbsp. twice a day.
All recipes for lowering blood pressure with rose hips have in common the fact that they are prepared only on a water basis. If you prepare it with alcohol, the effect will be the opposite - the pressure will increase.
For hypotension, you can prepare a vodka tincture:
- Grind 100 g of fruits in a coffee grinder and place them in a dark glass container.
- Pour 500 ml of vodka and leave in a cool, unlit place for 10 days.
- Take 25 drops half an hour before meals. Course duration is 20 days.
There are many ways to use the plant in home treatment. To have a positive result, you need to know how to brew rose hips correctly and how to drink it for various diseases. To do this, we looked at the ways in which drinks can be made from fruits and other components of the plant, how many times the berries can be brewed, and what kind of utensils should be used. Having knowledge of these nuances, you can easily heal from your illness with the help of rose hips.
We brew rose hips in winter to strengthen the immune system and find it very useful. Meanwhile, this “vitamin drink” can imperceptibly thin tooth enamel and lead to a sharp exacerbation of gastritis. Let's understand the benefits and harms of rosehip, and also find out why it was brought to the Russian-Turkish war in the 17th century.
In Europe and Asia, “rose hips” mean different things
When we say “rose hips,” we and the residents of, for example, Japan mean different things: in the Land of the Rising Sun, the fruits of “spiny rose hips” are grown and consumed; a drink from this species is also prepared in China and Korea - it grows high in the mountains. In India they brew "Aitchison's rosehip". In Russia, “dog rose” and “May rosehip” are very common, although more than 200 species grow in total.
Interesting: Rose hips are not always fruits and flowers with a pleasant aroma; there is also such a species as “smelly rose hips.”
Two ways to brew rose hips correctly
You can brew rose hips to boost your immunity. Or you can - to improve stomach function.
How to brew rose hips for immunity: pour 2 tablespoons of berries with water at 80-85 degrees. At higher temperature Vitamin C will be destroyed and the drink will not be beneficial. Place in a water bath for 15 minutes. Let cool.
How to brew rose hips for the stomach: pour 0.5 liters of boiling water over a tablespoon of berries. Vitamin C is destroyed, but two acids necessary for the gastrointestinal tract appear - hydroxycinnamic and cinnamic. They stimulate the stomach and improve bile production.
Interesting: In the 17th century, during the war with the Turks, rose hips were supplied to the front. Bandages for soldiers were soaked in the decoction - vitamin K contained in rose hips improves blood clotting, so wounds heal faster. Also, valuable substances in rose hips helped prevent gangrene.
What is the danger of rose hips?
Many are convinced that you can drink rose hips every day and the more, the better. But that's not true. Rosehip increases blood clotting, so if consumed daily, it can cause a blood clot. Rose hips contain many acids, for this reason the drink destroys tooth enamel and can provoke an attack of pain in people with high stomach acidity, gastritis and ulcers. Rose hips also increase blood pressure. Rosehip stimulates the functioning of the gallbladder, but if you drink the drink daily, an exacerbation of cholelithiasis may occur.
Interesting: In Japan, for a long time, only rosehip petals were used - they were used to make essential oil and made perfumes; recipes were preserved in ancient manuscripts. Later they began to plant gardens with them, and the first complete European description The properties of rose hips were based on a sample from a garden in Kyoto, the historical city where the imperial family lived. It was made by botanist Carl Thunberg at the end of the 18th century.
What's so good about rose hips?
Rosehip is mainly useful because it can saturate the body with vitamin C at one time - neither apples, nor currants, nor any other product can compare with it. The daily requirement is contained in seven berries. In addition, they contain vitamins E and A. The value is that in a trio with vitamin C, they begin to work especially effectively: they not only stimulate the immune system, but also “kill” in the bud the activity of free radicals, which constantly damage healthy cells and try to begin the production of cancer in the body. Rose hips contain potassium, magnesium, iron and tannins, which, when entering the body together, quickly normalize the functioning of blood vessels and remove uric acid salts from the body, which reduces the symptoms of gout. If you consume rose hips in a course, you can stimulate the restoration of liver function.
Interesting: Rose hips were supplied to the front, but for civilians it was a “luxury” drink - rose hips were stored in the Kremlin itself, and the “Apothecary Order” - the governing body that managed the work of doctors and pharmacists - released rose hips only with the approval of the tsar.
Why is a rosehip not a rose?
Rosehip is part of the botanical genus "rose". However, unlike its relative, rose hips, in addition to beautiful flowers, also bear multivitamin fruits. They ripen from August to September. Rose hips begin to bear fruit only after three years of life. In Russia, the Far East, Siberia and the Central Black Earth Region are richest in it.
Interesting: The properties of rose hips were first noticed back in the 4th century. BC. – a scientist from Ancient Greece named Theophrastus in his treatise “Natural History”. In Russia, Siberia was the first to make a decoction - local residents noted that those who drink it do not suffer from scurvy.
In our age of new technologies and universal progress, people are increasingly turning to traditional medicine. The reason for this paradox is quite clear: they have been tested by many years of experience and consist only of natural ingredients. One of the wonderful gifts of nature is the rose hip. Its ruby berries are of great value for human health.
Rosehip decoction was widely used by our ancestors in ancient times; many beautiful legends are dedicated to it. In those distant times, rosehip was called “wild rose” and was considered a panacea for all ailments. This wonderful drink was used to treat diarrhea and even wash non-healing wounds.
Today, rosehip decoction is a popular immunomodulator, tonic and general strengthening agent. It is used in the treatment and prevention of colds, ARVI and influenza. IN winter time day, doctors recommend regularly taking a decoction of rose hips, because they contain ten times more ascorbic acid than lemon and currants. In terms of the amount of vitamins and microelements so necessary for people, these berries are rightfully considered champions among fruits, plants and herbs.
The chemical composition of the healing decoction includes many useful substances:
- Vitamins: A, B1, B2, C, E, PP
- Trace elements: Iron, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum and Manganese
- Macroelements: Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Sodium
At the same time, the product contains only 18.7 kcal per 100 g of concentrated unstrained drink, provided that it is prepared without added sugar. Therefore, people who are watching their weight and figure can afford to enjoy the decoction.
A drink made from rose hips has a beneficial effect on the state of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, helps restore the functions of almost all internal organs, ; improves blood circulation and normalizes metabolic processes in the body, thereby preventing aging.
Rose hip decoction is an excellent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent, has hemostatic, diuretic and choleretic effects, helps strengthen blood vessels and capillaries, and therefore prevents the development of atherosclerosis.
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The secret of making a medicinal drink
The main goal of any healing agent is maximum benefit for the body. Proper preparation of rosehip decoction will preserve more vitamins and other useful substances. You should start with selecting berries.
The ideal drink is obtained from fresh ripe rose hips, alas, the possibility of its use is limited to two short summer weeks. It is better to collect rose hips with your own hands, in the forest or at the dacha, most importantly, away from highways, factories and steamships. Fresh berries are very delicate and need to be handled with care.
It is recommended to cut them in half, remove seeds and coarse fibers that can cause a sore throat, irritation of the larynx and digestive organs. The halves should be washed and dried with a towel, then poured into a thermos and filled with boiled water heated to 60 degrees. They should not be boiled, because... cannot tolerate high temperatures. The recipe calls for brewing 1 tablespoon with one glass of water, infusing the drink for an hour, then be sure to strain through a sieve or cheesecloth.
Dried rosehip is the most accessible; it can be purchased at the market or pharmacy all year round. It is worth paying attention to the color of the berries; if they are overdried, they are of no value. Dried fruits need to be washed and dried well. The most useful will be a mixed decoction; it is prepared as follows:
Pour seven berries with a glass of warm water (about 60 degrees) and leave for about 40 minutes. Strain, add seven more berries to the remaining thick mass, add a glass of water and boil for 15-20 minutes, then let it brew for three to twelve hours. Mix the prepared decoction with the previously prepared infusion. Vitamins will be preserved in such a drink, and other useful substances will be obtained through digestion.
You should not prepare the decoction in a metal container, as the oxidation process is inevitable. All harmful results of this chemical reaction will get into the drink, and accordingly into the human body. Adding sugar to the broth is not recommended, but honey is welcome if there are no negative reactions to this product.
Correct use and dosage
To achieve this, it is better to take rosehip decoction in courses of two to four weeks, with equal breaks. Unless, of course, the doctor prescribes an appointment according to a different regimen.
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People who do not have problems with the gastrointestinal tract can drink the decoction in the morning on an empty stomach. If the stomach is not inclined to acidic foods, it is better to drink the drink after meals and in small batches, dividing the daily dose into three or four doses.
Due to an excess of ascorbic acid, rosehip decoction can harm tooth enamel; therefore, after drinking, it is worth rinsing your mouth with boiled water, and it is better to drink through a straw.
As a choleretic agent, the decoction should be taken strictly on an empty stomach, albeit in small quantities. And for general strengthening of the body and as a tonic drink, best time taken in the morning and on an empty stomach. As a sedative, and also for better absorption of calcium, it is better to drink the decoction immediately before bed.
The daily dose for children over fourteen years of age and adults is 200 ml. Children from seven to fourteen years old are recommended to take 150 ml of the drink per day, and under seven years old - up to 100 ml.
You shouldn’t get too carried away with the miracle - the decoction, you need to know the limit in everything. Before starting therapy, you should consult with your doctor; he is the best person to determine how and how much of the drug is best for each person to take, based on the characteristics of a particular organism.
Who should use rosehip decoction?
Rosehip decoction truly helps prevent and cure many diseases, including:
- Bronchial asthma
- Anemia and anemia
- Diseases associated with poor blood clotting
- Cholecystitis and
- Liver and gallbladder diseases
- stomach and intestines
- Disorders of the genitourinary and cardiovascular systems
- Skin diseases
- Acute and chronic infections
- Lung diseases
A decoction of rosehip roots helps cleanse the kidneys. Dry crushed root of the plant can be bought at the pharmacy. To prepare a medicinal drink from it, you need to pour two tablespoons of the root into a glass of water in an enamel bowl and boil for fifteen minutes. Then cool, strain and take 1/3 cup three times a day for two weeks.
This product is irreplaceable. Their the immune system is weakened due to the additional load, and being sick during this period is not at all advisable. Rosehip decoction is an ideal solution for expectant mothers: affordable, natural and harmless.
Contraindications
Even the most magical and natural remedy is not without contraindications, rosehip decoction is no exception. Human body- a very fragile structure and it is much easier to harm it than to help it. A drink made from ruby berries should be used with caution and only after consultation with a specialist for people with the following diseases:
- Thrombophlebitis, endocarditis and thrombosis
- Gastritis, stomach ulcers, dyspepsia and high acidity
- Hypervitaminosis of vitamins C and P
- Functional liver pathologies
- Intestinal diseases, constant stool disorders
- , caries and other oral diseases
The decoction should be introduced into the diet of young children with caution, starting with microscopic doses. This rule applies to people prone to allergic reactions and neurodermatitis. We should not forget about individual intolerance, because each organism has its own characteristics.
Of course, a decoction that is three days old or made from rotten or moldy berries will not be beneficial. This potion is for everyone without exception.
In order not to harm your health yourself, it is better to consult a doctor once again, then the path to recovery will not be so long and thorny.
Jun 30, 2016 Violetta Doctor
