Another of my favorite herbs, (I
seem to have allot of those don't I.) the medicinal parts of this herb
are the flowers and the flowers "hips". (The fruit of the plant.) These
may be used as an aperient, an astringent, as a stomachic, a carminative,
a stimulant, or as an emmenagogue. The main organs affected are the liver
and the spleen. The active constituents in the plant are; citronellol,
geraniol, eugenol, linalool, L-p- Menthene, cyanin, gallic acid and beta-carotene.
It will dry a cold, clear mucous discharges, relieve constrictive feelings
of the chest and the abdomen, treat poor appetite, harmonize the blood
and is used for irregular menstruation and pain caused by blood stagnation.
The common red garden rose has long been a favorite medicinal plant in
European folk medicine. An infusion of the dried red petals is taken for
headache, dizziness, and with honey added, is used as a heart and nerve
tonic, as well as a blood purifier. A decoction of the petals serves to
treat mouth sores and when mixed with wine, it will invigorate a tired
body and ease uterine cramps. As a mouthwash the wine decoction helps to
relieve toothache, a warm drip put in the ear will relive earache. Rose
honey is an ancient remedy for sore throat. The common red rose is the
one considered most helpful medicinally. When using rose petals or the
hips in medicated oils, it is best to macerate the dried powdered herb
directly into the oil, as this particular herb is one with what is called
a "volatile natural oil" and will lose its potency when over heated. It
is also said to grow best when "stolen". Esoterically speaking, as usual,
the benefits of this herb are far more reaching. For example, roses have
since ancient times been used in "love" mixtures, as you can see by most
of the deities that this herb is ascribed to. The nature of the plant itself,
as well as its scent, has long been associated with human emotion. A chaplet
of roses worn when performing love spells (Remove the thorns first.), or
a single rose upon your altar, are very powerful love-magick aids. The
petals are added to the bath for both their calming effect on the nerves,
as well as the fact that this will help "cleanse" the "spirit", and act
as a protectant. (I like to mix the bath water with Angelica and Cinnamon
leaf as well.) A tea of rosebuds drunk before bed is said to induce prophetic
dreams. To discover their romantic future, women used to take three "green"
rose leaves and name each one for their lovers, the leaf that stayed green
the longest answered the question "which one". Roses are added to "fast
luck mixtures", and when worn act as a personal protectant. When used in
incense rose petals (Ground into a fine powder first.) kabbalisticaly attract
the planet Venus and all of her virtues, and all of the entities that are
ascribed to her. (Love probably isn't a bad thing to have around when using
any form of magick.) Roses planted in the garden are said to attract fairies
and as stated above the plant is said to "grow best", when stolen.