"Rosehips: A Nutrient-Rich Powerhouse for Wellness and Skincare"

Rosehip : Rosaceae family

Fall is my favorite time to gather rosehips. Rosehips, a vibrant autumn harvest from the Rosaceae family, offers a wealth of benefits, from boosting immunity with its high vitamin C content to promoting skin health with its nutrient-rich oils. I use these beautiful reddish orange fruits for teas, facial serums, hydrosols, and body care items. As a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herb, rose hips serve as a valuable natural remedy for seasonal wellness, skincare, and even chronic conditions like arthritis and glucose regulation.

This fruit makes a delicious, mildly sweet tea and are one of the best natural sources of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant with many disease fighting abilities. It is great to stock up on in the fall and winter months as it helps your body's defences against infections and colds. This amazing little fruit has more vitamin C than other edible fruits. However studies have shown that its vitamin C content varies amongst different species and what altitude it is grown. [1,2,3]. The processing and drying of these plants can significantly reduce vitamin C content.

Rosehip seed oil has been used in cosmetics because of its therapeutic effect on skin disorders. The oil is made by pressing the seeds and extracting its oil. Trans-retinoic acid, known for its rejuvenating qualities is present in large amounts in the essential oils extracted from rosehip seeds [1]. Rosehip seed oil helps repair your skin after sun damage and is a wonderful moisturizer especially for mature skin types. This acid has been shown to brighten skin, prevent blackheads, and reduce inflammation [1].  The oil significantly promotes wound healing and effectively improves scars in studies [4 , 5]. Vivo research has shown that the plants extracts demonstrate targeted effects on various skin conditions, including wound healing, collagen production, dermatitis, and anti-aging properties [1]. I have used this oil for many years for my daily skincare regimen to maintain my skin due to its rich nutrients and wonderful skin benefits.

Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip products have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory effects. This is linked to a group of compounds found in the fruit called galactolipids. These compounds do not have the ulcerative side effects commonly associated with other anti-inflammatory drugs. Some doctors propose that rose hip could serve as an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) since it seems to avoid thinning the blood and does not lead to stomach irritation or potential ulcers [6]. There has been several studies done on humans using 5 grams of rosehip powder with a mix of the shell, fruit, and seeds in applications for pain disorders such as back pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Some of the studies suggested the powder did help with reducing pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. However back pain was inconclusive [7, 8].  

There is some evidence indicating that taking the extract orally could result in lower levels of LDL cholesterol and fasting blood glucose. It may also have an impact on cardiovascular risk factors, including systolic blood pressure, visceral fat, and body mass index (BMI) [9]. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 32 subjects in a 12 week span taking 100mg of rosehip extract once a day showed a significant decrease in visceral fat and BMI [10]. Consuming 40 g of rose hip powder daily for 6 weeks can notably reduce cardiovascular risk in obese individuals by lowering systolic blood pressure and plasma cholesterol levels [11]. Due to rose hips high phenolic and flavonoid content this correlates to antioxidant activity which can protect against oxidative stress [12].

Rosehip fruit

Rosehip is a powerhouse of nutrients and medicinal properties, making them a valuable addition to both wellness and skincare routines. Their high vitamin C content, anti-inflammatory effects, and skin-rejuvenating properties offer numerous health benefits, from boosting immunity to supporting cardiovascular health and managing chronic conditions. While factors like species variation and processing methods can affect their potency, research continues to highlight their therapeutic potential. Whether consumed as a tea, used in skincare, or taken as a supplement, rosehips remain a versatile and beneficial natural remedy for overall health and well-being. Growing evidence has shown that rosehips have a high safety use in many forms and dosages.

1. Oargă (Porumb), Diana Patricia, Mihaiela Cornea-Cipcigan, and Mirela Irina Cordea. 2024. "Unveiling the mechanisms for the development of rosehip-based dermatological products: An updated review." Frontiers in Pharmacology 15: 1390419. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1390419.

   
   

2. Madhusoodanan, Jyoti. 2021. "Can Feeding the Gut Microbiome Treat Malnutrition?" Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 118 (50): e2120478118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120478118.

   
   

3. Oprica, Lăcrămioara, Cristina Bucşa, and Maria Magdalena Zamfirache. 2015. "Ascorbic Acid Content of Rose Hip Fruit Depending on Altitude." Iranian Journal of Public Health 44 (1): 138–139. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4450003/.

   
   

4. Lei, Zhiyong, Zhijian Cao, Zaiwang Yang, Mingzhang Ao, Wenwen Jin, and Longjiang Yu. 2019. "Rosehip Oil Promotes Excisional Wound Healing by Accelerating the Phenotypic Transition of Macrophages." Planta Medica 85 (7): 563–569. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0725-8456.

   
   

5. Valerón-Almazán, Pedro, Anselmo J. Gómez-Duaso, Néstor Santana-Molina, Miguel Ángel García-Bello, and Gregorio Carretero. 2015. "Evolution of Post-Surgical Scars Treated with Pure Rosehip Seed Oil." Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications 5 (2): 161–167. https://doi.org/10.4236/jcdsa.2015.52019.

   
   

6. Cohen, Marc. 2012. "Rosehip—An Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine for Inflammation and Arthritis." Australian Family Physician 41 (7): 495–98. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22762068/.

   
   

7. Marstrand, Kristian, and Joan Campbell-Tofte. 2016. "The Role of Rose Hip (Rosa canina L) Powder in Alleviating Arthritis Pain and Inflammation – Part II: Animal and Human Studies." Botanics: Targets and Therapy 6: 59–73. https://doi.org/10.2147/BTAT.S55573.

   
   

8. Willich, S. N., K. Rossnagel, S. Roll, A. Wagner, O. Mune, J. Erlendson, A. Kharazmi, H. Sörensen, and K. Winther. 2010. "Rose Hip Herbal Remedy in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomised Controlled Trial." Phytomedicine17 (2): 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2009.09.003.

   
   

9. Belkhelladi, Malachy. 2023. "Effects of Daily Intake of Rosehip Extract on Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Blood Glucose Levels: A Systematic Review." Cureus 15 (12): e51225. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.51225.

   
   

10. Nagatomo, Akifumi, Norihisa Nishida, Ikuo Fukuhara, Akira Noro, Yoshimichi Kozai, Hisao Sato, and Yoichi Matsuura. "Daily Intake of Rosehip Extract Decreases Abdominal Visceral Fat in Preobese Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial." Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy 8 (2015): 147–156. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S78623.

    
    

11. Andersson, U., K. Berger, A. Högberg, M. Landin-Olsson, and C. Holm. "Effects of Rose Hip Intake on Risk Markers of Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Investigation in Obese Persons." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 66, no. 5 (2012): 585–590. https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.203.

    
    

12. Cohen, Marc. "Rosehip—An Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine for Inflammation and Arthritis." Australian Family Physician 41, no. 7 (July 2012). https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2012/july/rosehip.

    
    
    
    
    
    

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    Stevie Van Halen is a Master Herbalist who has a n educational background in Nursing and Holistic Health. She enjoys research data and articles of health, whole food, herbs, and gardening. All articles on this blog are written by and her. All  information and resources are sited and referenced.

    
    

    All health content on juniperrosegarden.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.