Rose: Rosa damascena

Plant Family: Rosacea

Nomenclature/History: Rose has been a symbol of love, beauty, purity and faith since ancient times. The name "rose" is French, and comes from the Latin "rosa" which comes from Oscan, which came from Greek, which was borrowed from Persian, and related to a word in Parthian (which is an incredibly ancient, extinct language from Iran). We have a LONG history of use with rose.

Native Habitat: Roses are native to the Middle East and Europe, also to Asia. We have native roses in North America.

Herbal Actions: Cardiac tonic, cardioprotective, nervine tonic, demulcent, antioxidant, neuroprotective, astringent, aphrodisiac, nervine analgesic, nervine antidepressant, reproductive tonic

Indications: All nervous system imbalances (anxiety, depression, insomnia, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, etc, cardiovascular disease, low libido, inflammation, male and female infertility, dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia.

Parts used: Buds, Flowers, Fruit Hips, Leaves.

Forms: Infusions, Essential Oil (distilled with steam distillation, CO2, or solvents), Tincture, Glycerite

Season: Mid-summer.

Taste/ Smell: Sweet, bitter, pungent aromatic.

Energetic Qualities: Cooling, Moistening, Stabilizing, Uplifting. Warming to digestive fire.

Body system affinities: Nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, reproductive.

Harvesting: Harvest in bud and flower for nervine/reproductive/cardiovascular tonic/ digestive uses.

Harvest in fruit (hips) stage for antioxidant and cardioprotective uses.

Key Points: Rose is incredibly balancing for conditions of the heart, mind, and reproductive system. It cools inflammation throughout the cardiovascular system which helps the heart work better and improve circulation throughout the body. Rose emotionally cools anger and stabilizes nervous system disorders which allow people to more fully inhabit their bodies and feel safe in relationship, as well as re-pattern the nervous system from sympathetic dominance. Interestingly, the pungent and bitter flavors of rose moisten and bring fire deeply into the digestive tract which in turn improves digestion, helping the body take in nutrients for health and recovery.