Gaby
The wild ancestor of the beautiful rose can be found throughout our country, from the European part to the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. This thorny bush thrives in sunny areas such as steppes, forest edges, gardens, and parks.
The fruits of the rosehip are particularly valued for their medicinal properties, serving as a veritable treasure trove of vitamins. They are rich in vitamins C, B, P, K, provitamin A (carotene), sugars, organic acids (such as malic and citric), mineral salts, glycosides, pectins, and pigments. When it comes to vitamin C content, rosehip is a champion, far surpassing blackcurrants, lemons, sea buckthorn, and sweet peppers. In 100 grams of fresh rosehips, there are 470 milligrams of vitamin C, and in 100 grams of dried rosehips, a staggering 1200 milligrams. Rosehip (including its fruits, leaves, and roots) is widely used in both folk and scientific medicine to treat various ailments. The pharmaceutical industry produces a medication called “holosas,” which doctors prescribe for cholecystitis and hepatitis as a choleretic agent, as well as an oil extract known as “Karotolin,” used to treat certain skin conditions.
Rosehip is also popular in cosmetics. Creams often contain rosehip oil, and some include an infusion made from the fruits. These creams are designed for the care of normal, dry, and aging skin. At home, for masks and skin treatments, it’s beneficial to use a vitamin-rich liquid made from dried rosehips. To prepare this, wash the fruits, blanch them in hot water for 6-10 minutes, grind them, and strain through a sieve. The resulting mixture is then poured with boiling water and steeped for 8-10 hours before being strained. It’s best to use the infusion within two to three days, keeping it in the refrigerator.
Another method involves pouring a tablespoon of crushed dried rosehips with a cup of boiling water, simmering in an enamel pot with a lid for 5 minutes, and then straining after it has settled. You should wash your face with the cooled infusion.
For dry and aging skin, it’s beneficial to apply an infusion made from fresh rose petals. To do this, finely chop the petals, pour two tablespoons with a cup of boiling water, and let it steep for 20-30 minutes in an enamel or glass container. After cooling, strain the mixture.
