Rose

(Rosa gallica L., R. centifolia L., Rosaceae)

Also Called: Rose Flowers, Provence Rose, Cabbage Rose.

Description: The double roses of our gardens and especially the pink and red varieties provide the rose petals of use in medicine.
No description of the rose is given for it is sufficiently well known.
We indicate only that the 5 exterior petals are truly petals, the others are transformed stamens and may be recognised as such because at times certain petals may revert to the staminal structure.
Our garden roses are hybrids of complex origin, derived from a number of species.

Part Used: The dried petals.
For domestic use the petals may be freshly gathered from the fully expanded (but not withered) flowers and these are equally efficacious.

Habitat and Collection: Cultivated in our gardens.
Collected before the flowers are fully opened (for herbal use) or before leaf fall and rapidly dried in the shade below 50 C (122 F).

Constituents and Action: Tannins, volatile oil.
The petals are astringent and anti-inflammatory.

Usage: As a decoction (a handful in 0.5 litre (1 pt) of cold water, raise to the boil and allow to stand 15 minutes) for diarrhoea (especially for children), to wash and paint the mucosa of the mouth (for children use rose honey).
The decoction is also applied to wounds and burns.