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Herb Profiles

Rose

February 04, 2021

ROSE

Rosa rugosa, Rosa gallica

Family: Rosaceae

Part used: Flowers, leaves, hips

Energetics: Sweet, bitter, moist

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Antidepressant, cardiotonic (mild), nervine

Wild beach rose, Rosa rugosa, grows all over the Maine coast, and we grow it in abundance here on the farm. Rose has a long history of being associated with the heart, through poems, stories, tales, songs and tattoos, of course. Rose is a wonderful heart tonic and nervine, which has a supportive effect on the physical heart; I also like to use rose for its energetic effects on the heart. It can be beneficial for broken hearts, grief and depression. I harvest the flowers fresh and tincture them immediately in alcohol and honey or dry them for later use in tinctures and teas. If you don't have access to lovely wild roses, then I suggest getting organic, as these plants are heavily sprayed.

Contraindications: None known.

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