ROSEHIP (ROSE HIP)
Written by Slawomir (“Swavak”) Gromadzki, MPH
Rose hips (rosehips) are the fruits (usually red) that develop on rose bushes after the flower petals drop off. Rose hips are edible and for centuries they were regularly consumed by native people of North America where roses were found growing wild. Although rose hip seeds, like other fruits seeds, contain some cyanide yet one would have to consume them in large amounts to develop dangerous side effects.
The wild rose (Rosa canina), also called dog rose, produces the largest and most valued fruits.
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT
Wild rose may contain hundreds times as much vitamin C as oranges. They are also rich in bioflavonoids that help enhance effectiveness of vitamin C, and have long been used in folk medicine to strengthen blood vessels or prevent colds. Rose hips also contain flavonoids, phenols, lycopene, ellagic acid, vitamin E, beta carotene, manganese, vitamin K, and even fatty acids.
ARTHRITIS
Rose hips from Rosa canina (dog rose) have been shown to alleviate arthritis symptoms when taken on a daily basis. It alleviates joint pain through its immunosuppressive effects as human immune system contributes to not only rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune condition in which immune system sends antibodies against joints) but also to the osteoarthritis. An inflammatory cytokine called Interleukin 1-Beta (IL-1β) stimulates cartilage cells to make proteins that break down join tissue. Normally (in moderation), this process encourages cell turnover, but in excess, it contributes to chronic joint cartilage degradation.
Although rose hip doesn’t seem to reduce IL-1β levels, yet it has been shown to block the activation of proteins in cartilage cells that can lead to unhealthy degradation of joint tissue.
Rose hip has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties also by decreasing chemotaxis (transportation of immune cells into tissue).
The key active ingredient in Rosehip which is responsible for helping recover, or at least reduce symptoms of arthritis, is a fat-soluble galactolipid compound called GOPO.
I personally know individuals who told me they completely recovered from arthritis by taking a good quality rose hip powders or supplements.
As arthritis remedy rose hip was evaluated in 1980s by Danish farmer Erik Hansen who suffered from osteoarthritis. After conventional medicine failed to help, he decided to try some natural remedies and found out that rose hip jam was very helpful. After eating it regularly, his arthritis began to improve. So he decided to create a more concentrated version of it by drying and grinding wild rose hips into a powder. Within a month of taking the powder, his pain disappeared. After his recovery Hansen began selling the rose hip powder to arthritis sufferers all over Denmark. The results were so good that eventually the researchers at the Copenhagen University Department of Clinical Microbiology decided to analyse rose hips. They identified the active compound in the rose hip responsible for the positive results and named it GOPO. They also found that its content in wild rose hips varies considerably in different species.
The remedy should be made from a rose hip subspecies of a special type of dog rose (Rosa canina), as it has been shown in various pharmacological studies, as well as clinical trials, to have anti-inflammatory properties and very beneficial for people with osteoarthritic pain.
Danish researchers found the specially cultivated compound reduced nagging pain in 9 out of 10 people who took part in clinical trials. The results of studies carried out at Frederiksberg University in Copenhagen and published in the Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Disease show the curing effect of rose hip extract. According to the lead researcher Kaj Winther, “GOPO has been shown to anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective activity, helping to protect and repair joint cartilage even at low concentrations.”
OBESITY
The researchers found that daily intake of rose hip extract significantly reduced abdominal fat area; abdominal visceral fat area; body weight; and body mass index.
ANTI-AGEING
According to a randomized, double-blind clinical study published in 2015 in the journal Clinical Interventions participants on rose hip showed significant improvements in wrinkles, skin moisture and elasticity.
CANCER
Breast cancer cells treated with rosehip extracts demonstrated a significant decrease in cell proliferation.
OTHER BENEFITS
Preliminary evidence also suggests rose hip may be beneficial to people with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
DOSAGE
Take 3-5 grams (1 teaspoon) of rosehip powder 2-3 times per day with meals. Simply mix the powder in your breakfast, smoothie, meal or water.
DRIED ROSE HIP IN THE POWDER FORM
Drying and freeze-drying seems to preserve the antioxidant and therapeutic activity of rose hips.
Though a variety of rosehip supplements in the form of capsules and powder are available on the market, it’s not clear whether they contain the same amount of GOPO as the product used in the studies. However, if you want to buy a supplement try find one with a highly concentrated extract which is standardised to make sure it contains active ingredients. Here is a good example >
USING ROSE HIP WITH OTHER ARTHRITIS REMEDIES AND SUPPLEMENTS
Because rosehip works through different mechanism than glucosamine and other joint remedies or supplements, you can add it to your current supplementation regimen for enhanced results. The most effective ones are listed in my article on ARTHRITIS >
HOW TO USE FRESH ROSE HIPS
Experts suggest to pick them after the first frost as at that time the sweetness of the fruit increases.
For internal use cut them in half, remove the hairs and seeds, wash in cold water and eat them raw or make a jam.
ROSE HIP JAM RECIPE
Ingredients
- 1 cup of seeded rose hips
- 2 x 1 cup of distilled or filtered water
- 4 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1-2 cups of healthy sweetener (raw organic sugar-free honey, xylitol or erythritol)
- 1 package of powdered fruit pectin
Directions
– Blend rose hips, 1 cup water, and lemon juice for about 30 seconds or until the mixture is smooth. While the blender is running, add the sweetener and blend until it is dissolved.
– Stir the pectin into the second cup of water. Add to a saucepan and bring to a boil and simmer for few minutes. Pour it into the rose hip mixture, and blend for about 30 seconds.
– Pour the jam into glass containers (with lids) and store in the refrigerator.
Another ROSE HIP JAM RECIPE > (use xylitol or erythritol instead of sugar).
HOW TO DRY ROSE HIPS?
Wash the rose hips, cut in half, seed them, and dry on a clan white paper in the sun or use a food dehydrator.
SIDE EFFECTS
When taken in appropriate doses by mouth, rose hip typically does not have any unwanted side effects. Doses as high as 40 grams per day have been studied. Intestinal distress is the most common side effect of high doses.
Some species of the Rosacea (rose) family contain cyanogenic glycosides, which produce toxic hydrogen cyanide. Also rose hip seeds can contain some cyanide, and for this reason it’s better to remove the seeds.
Other commonly consumed by us fruits, including apples, also contain seeds with cyanide. If we eat a few seeds from time to time, it’s not harmful, but we should avoid large quantities.
So, although rose hip seeds contain some cyanide there is no need to worry if you have some fruits with seeds because you would have to consume very large amounts of the seeds (probably impossible to consume) to develop dangerous effects.
CONTRAINDICATIONS & INTERACTIONS
Although interactions with rose hip are not well documented, as a precaution, it is rather not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women; people with excessive blood clotting (rose hips contain rugosin E, which is believed to increase blood clotting), sickle cell disease; and those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency).
RELATED ARTICLES
– 19 ABSTRACTS WITH ROSE HIPS RESEARCH >
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