Rosehips-This Bud's for You!

[Guest guest]

Rosehips-This Bud's for You! JoAnn Guest Jan 14, 2005 19:01 PST

 

In England during World War II, there was a shortage of citrus fruit,

among other things. The Brits needed vitamin C to prevent scurvy and

contagious diseases.

 

When it was discovered that rosehips were loaded with vitamin C, the

government advised everyone from the local youth groups to the happy

homemakers to go out into the fields and pick those hips.

 

Rosehips are the seed-filled fruit of the rose after the petals fall

away. They range in length from ¼ to ½ inch and are oblong in shape.

Within months, thousands of tons of rosehips were picked, eaten and

made into syrups, preserves and teas.

 

Many of those Brits would tell you today that the natural vitamin C

found in the rosehips was the magic bullet that kept them healthy!

 

A Difference of Opinion- Today, scientists tend to debunk that

statement. They argue that one would have to eat or drink " a dangerously

high volume " of rosehips to get the amount of vitamin C that is

recommended for prevention.

 

But herbalists, nutritionists and holistic health practitioners

aren't usually in agreement with " scientists " , especially about matters

of health. People who take the natural road of healing choose to look at

 

different statistics.

 

And those numbers tell us that fresh rosehips straight off the bush

have *60 TIMES* more vitamin C than 'citrus' fruits.

 

A generous handful of fresh hips equals as many as 10 or 12 oranges!

 

The syrups, preserves, extracts and teas don't pack the same punch as

the fresh fruit due to the drying process needed to make them.

 

But they still retain around " 30 to 40 percent " of the initial levels of

natural vitamin C found in the fresh fruit.

That is still a fair amount of C compared to what you might be

getting in the dried tablet vitamins.

 

Several Beneficial Varieties-

The variety of rosehips usually associated with medicinal value is

" Rosa Canina " , more commonly known as dog rose, wild rose, brier rose

and wild brier. The varieties known as Rosa Rugosa and Rosa Centifolia

are also winners in the rosehips field.

 

In order for vitamin C to really be effective, it must be combined

with " bio-flavonoids " .

When bio-flavonoids and vitamin C are in combination, they 'enhance'

the body's ability to absorb vitamin C and use it more effectively.

 

In plants and berries that are known for their vitamin C count,

bio-flavonoids naturally occur together with no synthetic, lab-created

middle man.

 

Bio-flavonoids are considered " essential nutrients " when it comes to

building and sustaining a strong vascular system. This, in turn, helps

those who suffer from problems associated with

the veins and capillaries.

 

What Are the Hips Good For?

The obvious benefits of rosehips' vitamin C are an ability to treat

an infection, stimulate the immune system and prevent contagious

disease.

 

Rosehips also have a healthy dose of vitamins A, B, E, and K, as well as

iron, selenium, manganese, calcium and B-complex.

 

Rosehips act as a gentle " blood purifier " , cleansing the body of

'toxins' that are eliminated through the kidneys.

 

This kidney connection is important, since rosehips have been used to

prevent and treat kidney stones and bladder infections by breaking up

" uric acid " deposits, commonly called " gravel " .

They do this without irritating the kidneys as many 'diuretics' have

been known to do.

 

If you suffer from migraines, there has been great success stopping

the attacks by taking 3 100 mg vitamin C tablets that include natural

rosehips.

The secret to this cure is that you take the 3 100 mg

tablets at the very beginning of the migraine attack.

 

When you're suffering from a cold and/or fever, rosehip tea can be a

gentle drink that both replenishes the system with much-needed

vitamins and supports the immune system response as it soothes the body.

 

 

Rosehips tea taken 3 times a day is a wonderful tonic when you have

that running-on-empty, exhausted feeling.

 

Furthermore, I cup taken before bedtime is said to ensure a restful

night's sleep.

You can thank rosehips' high " vitamin C content " for

this feat,since it works directly to soothe the nerves.

 

Tea-Brewing Tips-

When making a tea from the hips, NEVER boil them! This destroys their

medicinal value.

Pour 8 ounces of very hot, but not boiling, water over 2 or 3

teaspoons of dried hips.

Cover and let steep for 20 minutes.

 

To paraphrase the old saying,

" A rose is a rose is a rose " — a rosehip is a healer is a healer is a

healer.

 

Written by Laurel Dewey, renowned herbalist

 

Laurel Dewey's column, " The Humorous Herbalist "

Appears in newspapers and magazines nationwide.

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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