A guest post by Shawna Paoli, Herbalist.

There’s a good reason as to why the British government organized the harvesting of as many rose hips as possible by the public when they experienced a shortage of citrus fruits during WWII. Approximately 134,000,000 hips were collected by school teachers, boy scouts, girl guides, and other voluntary organizations as an alternative source of Vitamin C. And, that isn’t their only claim to fame. Scandinavian folklore suggests that the Vikings were fueled by rose hips; the aggregate fruit of the rose, a flower that has long stood as a symbol of love, beauty, and femininity. That paints a drastically different picture of the Vikings than the one you’ve always envisioned, huh? (Sorry Viking’s fans). Aside from this fun rose- “hip-story”, rose hips have a rich ethnobotanical history in Native American culture and throughout Northern Europe.

What exactly is a rosehip?

Most consider a rosehip the “fruit” of a rose bush, but technically the fruits are the seeds (or achenes) inside the sweet, red, outer flesh, which is called the hypanthium in botany. The hypanthium is the desired, enjoyable part of the rosehip that is most commonly eaten and has a slightly sweet, tart taste reminiscent of apple. There are lots of different species and varieties of both wild and cultivated roses, and not all are created equal. Some are much larger and easier to work with, like the cultivated species Rosa rugosa, and some are much smaller, seedier, and hairier inside making them less desirable for processing and consumption. Rose hips are also called “rosehaws”. They’re in the Rosaceae family, a large family with many subfamilies and unique characteristics, thus making a rose family member easy to identify, particularly so if it’s a rose bush! Typical of all rose family plants rose bushes are prickly to thorny, have 5 sepals, 5 petals, numerous stamens, numerous styles, and usually serrated, oval leaves. Rose bushes can stand as tall as you or higher with pinnately compound leaves. The flowers are light pink to red and the leaves are astringent from tannic acid. Herbalists use this fun acronym to remember one of the rose family’s useful properties: ARFA- Another Rose Family Astringent. Most wild roses stay pretty low in elevation, in foothills and meadows, but the Nootka rose tends to grow a little higher in the mountains. When identifying, don’t worry about differentiating between species. The key is to make sure it’s a rose bush! Some of our common, local, Western Montana species include:

• Woods Rose (Rosa woodsia) – most common

• Nootka Rose (R. nutkana) – famous herbalist Michael Moore’s favorite

• Prickly Rose (R. acicularis)

So, why rose hips?

“Nature knows best how to organize.” – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Rose hips are chocked full of beneficial constituents. They contain: tannins, invert sugars, pectin, malic acid, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), calcium, flavonoids (quercetin, rutin, hesperidin, kaempferol), sulfur, alpha-tocopherol, carotenoids, lycopene, xanthophyll, zeaxanthin, polyphenols, chromium, selenium, sodium, thiamine, tin, crude fiber, dietary fiber, calcium, fat, phosphorus, cobalt, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicon, zinc, Vitamins A, B, E, K, amino acids and essential oils10,11,12 to be specific. You would lose an argument with an herbalist if you were arguing that nature does NOT create the best package deals. . . well at least you would with me. The rosehip is the perfect example of this. The coolest thing about Vitamin C from food-based sources is its synergy with flavonoids, which are naturally found in food, right beside Vitamin C. Flavonoids enhance the absorption of Vitamin C in our bodies when taken together and have other benefits of their own. One clinical study on rose hips shows they have anti-oxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects6. Another study shows that Rosa canina extracts were effective in growth inhibition and biofilm formation in methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)3. In more studies, Dogrose hips were found to have astringent, vitamins, choloagogue, choleretic, diuretic, anti-diarrhea, and anti-oxidant properties. They also have anti-diabetic properties due to their monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and pectins4. In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, rosehip extract decreased abdominal visceral fat in pre-obese subjects, and a powder made from the seeds and shells of rose hip species R. canina, reduced symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis and consumption of rescue medication in patients5. All of this, and you can harvest them for free! So why not rose hips?

Vitamin C Considerations

Vitamin C is one of the body’s most important and powerful anti-oxidants. It helps to regenerate other important antioxidants like Vitamin E (found in rosehip seeds!) and Glutathione. Free radicals can cause mutations and harm to DNA, but anti-oxidants, like Vitamin C, block free radicals and have the ability to destroy them. Vitamin C also plays a big role in collagen synthesis, supports the structural integrity and healing of connective tissues, supports immune function and when taken in unison with iron, increases iron absorption. If you want to best preserve the C, then make an alcohol extract. Alcohol extracts generally capture the herb’s largest spectrum of constituents, don’t ruin the Vitamin C, and are convenient and quickly absorbed. You can use the folk method by just chopping up your hips, stuffing them into a jar, and covering them with vodka or ethyl-alcohol. You can also use the method listed below under how to make an alcohol tincture. If you can’t do alcohol or want to make a more kid-friendly tincture, you can also use vegetable glycerin.

Processing

When processing, keep in mind that Vitamin C is water-soluble and very reactive to light, oxygen, and heat. Studies show that Vitamin C content also lowers when frozen. Take note that the tiny hairs on the seeds have irritated some people’s GI tract, but it isn’t a problem for most. You may have seen rosehip seed oil on a shelf in beauty or health food stores; that’s because rosehip seeds are high in Vitamin E, an antioxidant that’s known for reducing wrinkles and healing scars. Rose petals are also great for the skin and have been used in lots of facial and body care products throughout history. One fun thing you could do with rose hips is made an herbal infused beauty oil to use alone or to make a plethora of things, like a salve, lotion, or lip balm. To do this, simply blend 1 part fresh rose hips (seeds included for Vitamin E, unless really hairy) with 3 parts carrier oil of your choice until the blender is warm to the touch. Then pour into a jar and let sit for one month with a paper towel or cheesecloth secured around the top so any moisture can evaporate. Strain very well to avoid collecting little seed hairs in your oil. Make note that the Vitamin C you’ll find in beauty in stores has most likely already oxidized or will oxidize in the sun. Avoid applying rosehip oil to the face and other places that will see lots of sun exposure soon after application. You can use this technique with any other fresh herb. Try rose petals for an extra luxurious face oil. Always store your herbal oils in a dark, dry, cool place. Traditionally, a tea was made from rose hips for both internal and external use. The Scandinavians also made famous fruit soups featuring hips. During WWII, the British pressed hips in pills and made syrups, which acted as a Vitamin C supplement. There are lots of different, delicious ways to process rose hips. Like Euell Gibbons said, “The rosehip is a fruit, and not a bad fruit either, so why make a disagreeable medicine out of it?” Here is my favorite recipe for a raw jam that utilizes the naturally occurring pectin in rose hips:

Raw Rose Hip Jam (modified from Northwest School of Botanical Medicine)

• Deseed rose hips. (Try to harvest larger hips as this is very tedious otherwise.)

• Remove peduncle (stalk) and old calyx ends so you just have the red hip

• Use 1 part rosehip flesh to 2 parts juice or vinegar

• Sweeten, as desired, with maple syrup or honey

• Combine, blend, keep in a jar for 1-2 months

• Use as jam or relish on meats, add pickles

How to Make an Alcohol Extract (tincture):

You will need the herb (preferably fresh), a jar, a scale, a knife or herb grinder, and a menstruum (the combination of liquid used in extraction). You can use ethyl-alcohol (EtOH) such as Everclear, vodka, or vegetable glycerin as your menstruum. Since Vitamin C is water-soluble, you’ll want to tincture at 95%. (95% stands for your total alcohol or glycerin and the remaining 5% is water. We don’t do 100% alcohol because we need a little water to extract Vitamin C.) 1 part hips by weight : 2 parts alcohol by volume

To Make a tincture: Chop or grind your fresh rose hips (it’s okay to leave seeds in). Weigh the hips, then determine your total menstruum and use 95% EtOH (5% H20), jar together, cap, shake if desired. Macerate for 2-4 weeks, then strain and press marc (spent herb) if you have a press, or just use a muslin bag or cheesecloth and squeeze with clean hands. . Store your tincture in a cool, dry, dark place, preferably in a blue or amber bottle. Take the tincture by itself, or throw it in smoothies, juice, or whatever else you can conjure. There are some really neat recipes out there for collagen gelatin squares (a healthier, more natural take on JELL-O) to which you could add the tincture for picky eaters and those looking for extra connective tissue support.

Harvesting tips and guidelines;

with great power comes great responsibility

Harvest the hips when bright red in late summer and through the winter. Contact whoever manages or owns the land to find out if the area has been sprayed. If they are private owners, always ask permission before you harvest. Michael Moore says the best hips are those that are plentiful and the darkest red-wine in color. Its commonly known that harvesting rose hips after a frost is best because freezing makes them sweeter, but it can also lower their Vitamin C content. Studies have shown that the higher the elevation you harvest, the higher the Vitamin C content the hips will contain. Be sure to bring a basket or bag and some gloves, as rose family plants are thorny. And, only harvest from intact ecosystems. If you’re new to wildcrafting, make sure you read up on ethical wildcrafting practices. Here are a few good ones to get you started: always pack out garbage, fill your holes, replant seeds and root segments, never take too much or more than you need, and follow your intuition.

Thanks for reading! Stay “hip”!—Shawna

Graduate of Green Path Herb School's 2015 Herbalist Certification Program, guest teacher, and owner of a natural topical remedies company, Old Friend Herbal Remedies, Shawna Paoli is a passionate herbalist and wild food enthusiast. She has been fascinated by plants and the natural world since day one. She has taken this fascination and is slowly building a career in the herb world at a pace that fits her active lifestyle and allows her to reap the most from this beautiful life on this beautiful planet. When she's not lapping the bowls at Montana Snowbowl on her snowboard in the winter, she's formulating, concocting, and experimenting with topical herbal applications and harvesting, learning, and teaching about plants in Missoula, MT. Follow Shawna on Instagram and FacebookReferences: Rose Hips: Natural and Free Vitamin C

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2. "The Rose Hip Collection Campaign (WW II)." Blog post. The Rose Hip Collection Campaign (WW II). The Old Foodie, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 17 Jan. 2017. <http://www.theoldfoodie.com/2014/05/the-rose-hip-collection-campaign-ww-ii.html>.

3. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan 31;(1):CD000980.doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub

4. Mikels, Alexander J., PhD. "Vitamin C and Skin Health." Linus Pauling Institute. Neutrogena Corporation, 03 Jan. 2017. Web. 17 Jan. 2017. <http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/micronutrients-health/skin-health/nutrient-index/vitamin-C>.

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7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16195164/?i=5&from=/25043856/related

8. United States. National Institutes of Health. Daily Intake of Rose hip Extract Decreases Abdominal Visceral Fat in Preobese Subjects: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial. By Akifumi Nagatomo, Norhisa Nishida, Ikuo Fukohara, Akira Noro, Yoshimishi Kozai, Hisao Sato, and Yoichi Matsuura. N.p.: Dove, 2015. US National Library of Medicine. Web. Jan.-Feb. 2017.

9. United States. Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Rosa Canina L. Biotypes from Spontaneous Flora of Transylvania. By Iona Roman, Andreea Stanila, and Sorin Stanila. N.p.: Chem Cent J., 2013. US National Library of Medicine. Web. Jan.-Feb. 2017.

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11. Elpel, Thomas J. Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification: Thomas J. Elpel's Herbal Field Guide to Plant Families. Pony, MT: HOPS, 2004. Print.

12. Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West: A Guide to the Identification, Preparation, and Uses of Traditional Medicinal Plants Found in the Mountains, Foothills, and Upland Areas of the American West. Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico, 1979. Print.