Rose Family

Rose hip syrup

Rose plants, both wild and domestically grown, are useful additions to herb gardens. The leaves, roots, bark, twigs, flower petals, and fruit hips can be used medicinally.

Dried and fresh rose leaves can be used to make tea and are helpful for diarrhea or as a rinse for dermatitis or other itchy skin conditions. The flowers, bark, and twigs are known for their astringent properties and can be made into a decoction to apply to minor cuts, scrapes, insect bites, and hemorrhoids. Flower petals can also be used to make tea and jelly and can be put in sandwiches or salads.

Fresh rose hips

Rose hips are the most frequently used part of the plant and can even be eaten fresh. They are best harvested in the fall after the first frost and can be air-dried whole and stored whole or crushed. The hips are high in vitamin P, vitamin C, and citric acid. The vitamin P helps maintain and repair small blood vessels, and hips are useful as a general blood tonic, helping to strengthen the heart. The citric acid is useful in treating kidney/bladder/urinary tract infections. Vitamin C is helpful in preventing and treating colds and the flu. Hips may also be helpful in strengthening the stomach and liver, relieving rheumatic and other joint pains, vomiting and digestive issues, and stopping hemorrhaging. Crushed hips can be used in herbal teas or sprinkled over foods such as fruit or oatmeal. Hips can also be used to make wine, jelly, and syrups.

In the garden, be prepared that wild and domestic varieties can hybridize with each other, so be careful when planting.

Member of the Hamamelidaceae family

Witch hazel is a well-known astringent herb. It grows as a deciduous small tree or shrub, with the bark being the most popular part being used, although the leaves and twigs can be also. While the leaves, twigs, and bark can both be used

Witch Hazel leaves

externally, the bark can also be used internally.

Witch Hazel’s astringent nature is its most popular use, with the herb being found in numerous skin care products. It is also known for its ability to stop bleeding and as an anti-inflammatory. It is helpful to use for eczema, as a skin toner, as a douche for vaginal discharge, as a treatment for varicose veins, bruises, hemorrhoids, menorrhagia and hemorrhaging, piles, sore muscles, as a skin cooling agent, diarrhea, and eye ailments.

A tea can be made from the bark to be used internally for coughs and asthma. Do NOT drink the bottled extract found in stores (also known as hamamelis water). Instead, look for the bark in health food stores.

Witch Hazel