Rose

Common Names: Rose, Sweet Briar

Botanical Name: Rosa species

Plant Family: Rosaceae, Rose Family

Parts Used: Hips, Buds and Petals (Flowering and Fruiting parts)

Actions: Anti-Inflammatory, Astringent, Relaxant nervine

Habitat: These commonly identified five-petal flowers and stems of prickles (a.k.a thorns) can be found in various altitudes. The straight growing stems (great for arrow shafts) have compound leaves with five to nine leaflets growing off of them. The wild flowers are commonly pink in color, varying in dark and light shades and richness of smell. Rose may form thickets that can be 2-3 feet tall. Depending on the species, you can find wild roses in the foothills, along streams, in moist meadows and near timberlines. Here, in the PNW, we most commonly find Rosa nutkana with plump fruit growing within the northern mountains.

Collection: Wild roses and cultivated roses (if not sprayed) can be collected.  The flowers and buds are found in the spring to early summer and can be picked accordingly. If the petals have been open for a long period of time and are beginning to wilt or brown, I would avoid harvesting them. The hips are best collected after the first strong frost (sometimes that never happens in Washington, so it’s best to harvest in the late Fall before the winter rains create mold and mildew on the hips). The hips (if not moldy) can be collected until the early spring.

Do not harvest the hips in really harsh winters, for they serve as a good food source for mule deer, squirrels and other animals.

Rose Food:

One of my favorite ways to take rose, is to eat the rose hips right off the plant. At the NW Herb Symposium Susan Weed had a class go out and eat one wild thing…for those drawn to the wild rose hips, she said eat 3 fresh hips a day to get your daily Vitamin C intake. Be careful not to eat the seeds, fine hairs surround them, which makes for an itchy bowel movement!

Rose Hips- High in Vitamin C, rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, Niacin, K, E, Bioflavonoids and pectin.  You will obtain the most vitamin C from eating FRESH rose hips. 

Rose Petals- Rich in B vitamins, polyphenols and Bioflavonoids.

Whole Plant (foliage and flowers)- Rich in anti-oxidants

Infuse or use roses in Teas, Honeys, Jellies, Wine, Vinegars, Oxymel and bits of taste in muffins, muesli, cereals and such!

Rose Medicine:

Vitamin C for Colds/Flu

The high amounts of Vitamin C found in this plant can help boost the immune system. Wherever vitamin C is required, rose hips (especially) serve as a natural and freely available source of vitamin C. In this case, it helps defend the body from infections and specifically colds. I have used rose petal tea specifically to help rid sinus congestion, a runny nose and damp heat within the lungs. 

Blood Tonic

Rose hips can aid in heart health. Studies have shown that taking rose hips daily for a couple of months can improve blood pressure and plasma cholesterol. Individuals feeling a sense of coldness, fatigue or vertigo, can combine rose hips with blackstrap molasses (in aa muesli?) to help tonify any blood deficiency. Rose hips can also help regulate menstruation and cramps due to blood stagnation. In TCM, rose helps harmonize the blood. This combination of increasing blood circulation and opening the heart has given rose a romantic reputation that also helps stimulate libido.

Anti-inflammatory

Applying rose petals or leaves externally can help reduce inflammation and redness, and taking rose hips internally helps with chronic inflammation. Studies are showing that rose hips can reduce pain and inflammation for patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Burns/Bites/Wounds

The flower petals can be used as a bandage around a burn or wound. The natural protection serves as a bacteriostatic (stops bacteria from spreading). The leaves can be made into a poultice to sooth any insect stings or bites.

Astringency

The astringent qualities of rose help with burns and wounds as mentioned above. And also, rose is a great treatment for diarrhea. Michael Moore recommends 5-10 flowers or buds steeped into how water for 20 minutes, drinking as often as needed and generally every 2-3 hours. Oddly, enough rose also helps against constipation. The vitamins and bioflavonoids in this plant can help regulate bowel movements and also relieve an overworked liver. Rose cools and supports the liver, which helps with the flow and function of the digestive system. Anyone experiencing uncomfortable, internal heat and inflammation or IBS can benefit from a rose petal infusion.

If there isn’t chamomile around, we turn to rose buds for a nice eye compress. When we are working outside or building, so much gunk gathers in our eyes, hence nightly eyewashes are soothing and tone the tissues, helping reduce inflammation and redness. We use 3-4 rose buds in ½ cup or so of hot water, letting it cool to body temperature before applying a wet cloth to our eyes.

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Rose is emotionally nourishing. It can help those suffering from grief, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Rose allows one to open their hearts and balance heat and passion in the body. Let the smell of rose support you. Take a bath with rose petals, steam yourself with rose oil, wake up and spritz your face with rose water. Take rose into your heart.

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Notice the specks of mold growing on these hips!

Recipes:

Rose Hip Wine

Ingredients:

10 cups Rose Hips

5 quarts Boiling Water

5 cups Sugar

Juice of 1 Lemon

Juice of 1 Orange

1-quart Cold Water

1 packet general-purpose yeast

Directions:

Pick rose hips after first frost and use immediately

Mince rose hips, place in a food-grade bucket and cover with boiling water, stirring with a spoon

Let stand, covered with cloth for 3 days, stirring daily

Strain into another bucket with a wine bag (or mesh strainer)

Prepare a “syrup” by combining sugar, juices, and cold water into a saucepan, then bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar

Add syrup to wine juice and pour into a 1-gallon jug

Activate yeast, then add to jug

Top up jar with water to approximately 1 inch towards the top

Fit with airlock

Leave until clear, then siphon wine into a clean container and keep for at least 3 months

Flavor improves over time.

(Home brewing without failures by H.E. Bravery)

Rose Hip Muesli

Rose-Petal Jelly

Ingredients:

1 lb. rose petals

1 ¾ lb. sugar

¾ cup water

1 ½ Tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:

Select petals from very fragrant roses. Take off the white tips. Wash petals and dry on paper towels. Arrange petals and sugar in layers in a saucepan, starting with sugar on the bottom. Pour water over the petals and sugar; add lemon juice. Slowly bring mixture to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Test for doneness by dropping a little for the mixture onto a chilled dish. It should form a firm ball. Take from heat and allow to cool, then pour into sterilized jars. Seal. (A Feast of Flowers)

References:

Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore

Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West by Gregory L. Tilford

A Feast of Flowers by Francesca Tillona and Cynthia Strowbridge

LearningHerbs with Rosalee de la foret

The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman

Home brewing without failures by H.E. Bravery

Peppermint

Common Names: Lamb Mint, Coyote Mint, menthe Montana, “Mint”, Brandy Mint,

Botanical Name: Mentha x piperita

Plant Family: Lamiaceae, Mint Family

Parts Used: Aerial parts, mainly the Leaves

Actions: aromatic, anodyne, anti-emetic, anti-spasmodic, carminative, stimulating nervine, stimulating diaphoretic

Habitat: Resembling both Bergamot Mint and Spearmint, this European plant can be found in any cool, damp stream of lower altitudes (CA, OR, WA, BC). Don’t confuse it with the other two look-alikes, crush the leaves to smell a sharp, pungent aroma in comparison to more sweet or lemony aromas. Peppermint can also be found growing in people’s gardens. It is a wild plant that likes to spread out, if you don’t keep your peppermint contained and its growing in rich, moist, well-drained soil with full sun, don’t be surprised to find it taking over!

Collection: The aerial parts can be collected just before the flowers open or while the flowers are in early bloom; this tends to be in the late summer. Collect in bundles and strip the leaves and flowers off the stems before drying.

Peppermint Medicine:

Stomachaches, Gas & Nausea

Peppermint helps with dyspepsia, stomach cramps, colic, flatulence and nausea. It has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the digestive system and stimulates bile and digestive enzymatic secretions. Michael Moore emphasizes the benefits of pharmaceutically distilled Oil of Peppermint to help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), alternating constipation and diarrhea induced by emotional stress, and severe digestive cramps. Adding the Peppermint essential oil drops to a cup of warm water will help regulate absorption in the stomach. Peppermint’s strong volatile oils acts as a mild anesthetic to the stomach walls, which helps nausea and the desire to vomit.

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“Peppermint is one of the best carminative agents available.”

-David Hoffman

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Pain Relief

The cooling properties of peppermint are soothing. Peppermint is an anodyne that is commonly used for headaches and migraines. I tend to make a nice tea with the dried leaves and using a couple of drops peppermint essential oil behind my neck and ears. The smell as well as the internal actions help relieve any head pain. The tea also helps with painful digestive issues. Externally, peppermint helps with itching, inflammation, burns, or poison oak/ivy. If you applied a fomentation, peppermint honey, or the essential oil on various external problems, peppermint will cool and soothe.

Colds/Flu/Headaches

Peppermint is commonly found in a “Gypsy Cold Care” tea that helps reduce fevers brought on by the flu. Peppermint helps opens the pores, allowing heat to escape when a person begins to feel too hot. Making a steam bath with the essential oils will also help break up congestion in the sinus and lungs.

Tummy Tamer Tea:

1-part chamomile

1-part peppermint

1-part fennel

Pour hot (almost boiling) water over herbs and let infuse for approximately 15 minutes. Strain herbs, serve tea with honey.

Drink ½ cup of warm tea before and after meals to help an upset stomach or indigestion.

References:

The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman

Plants of the Pacific West by Michael Moore

Herbalpedia by Maureen Rogers

Peppermint; Featured Herb by Rosalee de la Forêt

Medicinal Herbs; A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar

Thyme

Common Names: Garden Thyme, Mother of Thyme, subspecies include: Lemon Thyme, Basil Thyme, Caraway Thyme, Orange Thyme, Silver Thyme, Variegated Thyme, etc.

Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris, T. serpyllum

Plant Family: Lamiaceae, Mint Family

Parts Used: Whole Herbaceous parts

Actions: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, expectorant, digestive tonic, carminative, parasiticide

Habitat: Thyme is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Wild thyme grows in hard rocky soils. Garden thyme has so many different varieties and, for that matter, is quite adaptable. It’s an easy to grow hardy perennial that is found in most herb gardens. It prefers sunny, well drained growing conditions.

Collection: Like a lot of my hardy culinary herbs, I harvest them fresh whenever I need them for cooking (thank goodness for the temperate pacific northwest). Yet it if were going to collect Thyme for medicinal purposes I gather the herb with its flowering branches between June and August. And I will harvest the leaves in the late summer, early fall.

Thyme Medicine:

Disinfectant

Internally: This strong antimicrobial helps fight off various bacterial infections. It helps with mouth and gum infections, fungal infections, vaginal infections and also digestive and respiratory infections. Gargle with thyme to soothe a mouth infection or even a sore throat. Thyme’s ability to inhibit pathogens may be underestimated. My favorite N.D. Aviva Romm recommends Thyme as a vaginal suppository for Group B Streptococcus in late stages of pregnancy. This common herb can be used for laryngitis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, whooping cough and asthma.

Externally: An oil infusion or lotion with thyme can be applied externally on infected wounds.

Coughs and Congestion

Historically thyme’s main use is for treating coughs. Currently, essential oil trends have re-popularized thyme’s aromatic oils for the same purpose. I prefer fresh or dried plant (taking an actual herb) to treat coughs or chest complaints. Studies by Dr. Paul Lee, a professor at U.C. Santa Cruz, found that thyme has a major effect on strengthening the thymus gland, which enhances the immune system. His study showed thyme’s positive effect on the glandular system as a whole.

Digestion

Yet another aromatic carminative! Thyme is a digestive aid that can calm nausea, gas, bloating and flatulence. Its antispasmodic effects help rid digestive spasms induced by diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Most culinary herbs help with digestion; hence we add them to our meals…

SAFETY FACTOR: Do not use Thyme during pregnancy. It is a uterine stimulant.

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Uses for Thyme: Herbal spice for culinary purposes, tincture, tea, Vinegar, honey, oil, essential oil (salves, lotions, baths)

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Thyme Honey 

Photos by Rachael Witt

By Rosemary Gladstar

To Make:

• Fill a widemouthed glass jar half full of fresh thyme leaves and flowers.
• Gently warm a batch of raw, unpasteurized honey, so that it will better extract the properties of thyme.
• DO NOT OVERHEAT OR BOIL HONEY; heat over 110 degrees Fahrenheit will kill the honey's enzymes and destroy its medicinal benefit.
•  Add enough honey to the jar to cover the herbs, and place the jar in a warm spot.
• When the honey tastes and smells strongly of thyme, it's finished. 
• You can leave the thyme leaves in the honey, or strain them out.
• Bottle and store in a cool pantry.

To Use: Use by the spoonful. Enjoy this delicious thyme honey by itself, or use it to sweeten teas for additional medicinal benefits.

References:

The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffman

Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health by Aviva Romm

Thyme Article by Henriette Kress

Thyme; Featured Herb by Rosalee de la Forêt

Medicinal Herbs; A Beginner’s Guide by Rosemary Gladstar