Path of Beauty: Rose (Rosa damascena) Plant Profile

Two years ago, I was offered the opportunity to write a book by a publishing company whose back catalogue I’ve read most of since first spotting their ankh marked books in my local library as a kid.

When I eventually said yes I knew I wanted to fill the pages with some of my most beloved plant allies. Rose (Rosa spp.) was one of the first plants that came to mind since it was the first herb I wrote of in the style that would become the prototype for the plant ally profiles you'll find throughout this community blog - and I even painted a (nearly fluorescent) watercolor of to go along with that original but retired post.

To celebrate the official release of The Apothecary of Belonging: Seasonal Rituals & Practical Herbalism it felt like a lovely bit of magick to share the Rose plant profile you'll find within its pages. I first came to know Rose as a young witch, then as an herbal student, and over and over again as a community herbalist - it is a layered and beautiful form of plant remedy, generous in its wisdom, and protective in its energy. I'm happy to be sharing the stories and healing ways that I've come to know about Rose as I release the book that I've describe as a love letter - reminding us that we can always find our way back home to each other. 

So with heartfelt thanks for all your support over the years that made The Apothecary of Belonging possible, let's get to know Rose.

byrev, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rose
(Rosa damascena)

Common + Folk Names : Queen of flowers, rosa, satapatri, witch’s briar, thorn mother, oginii-waabigwan

Elements : Water, air, fire

Zodiac Signs : Embodies the energy of Taurus and Libra. A remedy for all signs.

Planets : Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Moon

Moon Phase : Full Moon

Parts Used : Flowers, hips, roots

Habitat : There are 47 species of the Rosa genus growing wild in Europe and 10,000 varieties, both wild and cultivated, worldwide.

Growing Conditions : Partial shade to full sun with frequent watering

Collection : Collect rosehips before flowering. Collect flowers in the spring and summer.

Flavor : Bitter, sweet, astringent

Temperature : Cooling

Moisture : Moist (flower + seed), Dry (hip + root)

Tissue States : Heat, Relaxation, Cold

Actions : Diaphoretic, carminative, probiotic, hepatoprotective, emmenagogue, reproductive tonic, aphrodisiac, aperient, decongestant, febrifuge, nervine, anxiolytic, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic, antimicrobial, antidepressant, analgesic, vulnerary, deodorant. Flower: Anodyne, antibacterial, antidepressant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, aphrodisiac, aromatic, astringent, blood tonic, cardiotonic, carminative, decongestant, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, hemostatic, hepatic, kidney tonic, laxative, refrigerant, sedative. Hip: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antiviral, astringent, blood tonic, cardiotonic, digestive, diuretic (mild), emmenagogue, kidney tonic, laxative, nutritive, stimulant, tonic. Seed: Diuretic, laxative. Root: Astringent, carminative.

Contraindications : Caution during pregnancy and while nursing

Dosage : Standard dosage

image via New York Public Library

Rose is one of the elder plants of our home planet, used medicinally for thousands of years and a beloved ancestor of our herbal practice. The herb helps us tap into ancestral wisdom, honor the ancient animal nature of our sensitivity, and learn how to unfold into our gifts just as a many-petaled Rose unfolds into maturity. As a sweet medicine that calms the nervous system, Rose assists with memory and promotes clarity of mind, heart, and spirit by connecting all three centers of experience. Within Ayurveda, Rose is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) and medhya (brain tonic and nervine) for all of the doshas. The Anishinaabe have a myth about Rose that teaches that “[t]he sight and smell of a rose are here to remind us of the harmony inherent in our world. The thorns are there to keep us mindful of greed that endangers the balance and thereby endangers the whole of creation.”¹

Rose is an essential remedy for imbalances arising from excess inflammation. The flower relieves pain from heat and inflammation, including gastritis, peptic ulcers, and cooling an overheated liver. Rose’s cooling qualities also alleviate the heat that can accompany autoimmune conditions and assist topically and internally with arthritic pain, improving flexibility of movement. Use as a remedy for fluid imbalances that lead to depletion of energy and blood in the body, including diarrhea, excess bleeding, and the accumulation of fluids. Rose prevents and alleviates colds and can also be used in the case of flu, sore throats, excess mucus, and coughs, including bronchitis. Rose is an uplifting, soothing, and nourishing medicine for those with weakened vitality, including children, elders, and people in recovery from illness. For fluid imbalances Rose can be effective in cases of an overactive bladder, bed-wetting, night sweats, and general excess excretion of fluids. Excessive menstruation is eased by a strong tea of dried Rose, and the herb is also useful for uterine spasms and cramping. A vaginal douche can relieve infection, inflammation, and conditions such as vaginitis and thrush. As an astringent, Rose can be useful for diarrhea and internal hemorrhage as well as acting as a healing herb in postpartum sitz baths.

As a digestive aid, Rose has wonderful probiotic qualities and supports healthy gut flora. Use Rose during and after taking antibiotics to rebuild gut flora as it encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria while countering harmful pathogens. As a clearing herb, Rose improves circulation and promotes healthy blood flow, breaks up kidney stones and helps the kidneys process toxins, and relieves brain fog.

As an aphrodisiac, Rose is an opener—it opens the heart and body to healing experiences with oneself and others. Like many aphrodisiacs, Rose has nervine qualities that relax the body into a place of connected intimacy. For those seeking fertility support, Rose has also been shown to increase sperm count. In addition to the powder and juice of Rose, a Rose honey can be a topical treatment for inflammation, rashes, wounds, ulcers, acne, herpes, and similar skin imbalances. My favorite form of Rose skincare is rosewater, which adds and maintains water in the skin and can be used as a mild antiseptic for first-aid needs. Use as a mouthwash for ulcers and bleeding gums. Rose vinegar or a strong tea is especially cooling and repairing for the skin after prolonged sun exposure. Apply externally on the eyes as a soothing compress to relieve eye-strain and conjunctivitis and improve vision.

image via @cristina_glebova

Seasonal Uses

In spring Rose skincare recipes rejuvenate winter skin. A Rose herbal oil can loosen up stiff joints, waking the body up to the new season. In summer, use rosewater, a strong Rose tea, or Rose vinegar for after-sun care, and keep Rose honey or Rose petal powder handy for stings, bumps, and bruises. In autumn rosehips are a great addition to tea to prevent colds and flu. Add Rose petals to teas and desserts during winter to gladden the heart and as a digestive aid so that the body can rest deeply during the darkest part of the year.

Magickal Uses

The Rose is a symbol of many ancient goddesses, including Ishtar, Isis, and Aphrodite. The flower also has a special relationship to Sappho and lesbians as it is from Sappho that Rose received the name “Queen of Flowers.”² Use Rose in spells and charms for love, desire, charm, and attraction. Add the petals to your dream pillow to dream of love. Rose is a great plant ally for those desiring to deepen their spiritual study and experience. Add to charms of mirth, reverence, and joy. Use in charms of secrecy (“under the rose . . .”). Use in handfasting rituals for divine blessing of the union. Thorns can be included in charms of protection. Rose tea awakens psychic visions and connects us to our intuitive heart-knowings.

The Rose Personality

The Rose personality has lost their spark of desire. They might have trouble sleeping, be restless and exhausted, and ultimately not have enough energy to explore their worlds either physically or philosophically. The desire to create and experience life and relationships of all kinds is low; their vitality stagnant. What they think they should be doing dominates their thoughts more than what they want to be doing. Sometimes they are not even sure they know what they want to be doing. Many Rose folks experience a disconnection in relationships, creating distance between themselves and those they love. For those who’ve been in this state of exhaustion for a while, their brain and heart fog can be punctured by sudden overwhelming feelings of despair, like they are living without a light in the dark. Sometimes, unresolved anger simmers deep below the surface - Rose teaches us how to use both our thorns and petals to set up boundaries and supportive spaces to express how we really feel. Working with Rose helps folk reconnect to their wildness, their fierceness, and their determination to know and name their heart’s desires.

Rose helps folks to dream and want and feel and move closer to the relationships that feel whole and holy, closing the distance between themselves and the people, places, and creatures they love. Ultimately, Rose connects folks back to the secret excitement of mystery, where it is safe to express desire and seek it out. The profound gift of Rose folks is the ability to name desire, honor it in others, and shine like a fiery, welcoming, and protective light wherever they go.

🏵️

I hope you enjoyed this exploration of Rose’s healing and magickal gifts. You can find many more plant profiles in my archive and my complete collection of plant profiles in The Plant Ally Library. If you’d like to learn more about the thorn energy of Rose, come this way. Rose has a special relationship with Venus within astroherbalism, and if you’re into connecting with the wise crone energy of Venus during the year’s renewal at Samhain, you might like this tarot spread.

If you are one of the folks who have already preordered The Apothecary of Belonging or are planning on purchasing it today or requested it at your library - thank you! Thank you for your enthusiasm - I hope the book is useful to you and your practice, becoming appropriately tea-stained and well-worn in the years to come.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎