Roses

Some plants have the ability to impart healing to the body and to the spirit as well. Rose is one of these plants.

Rose is the head of a very large family of plants, with over 3,000 members. Apple, Cherry, Plum, Almond, Blackberry, Raspberries are just a few of them. Economically speaking, the rose family is one of the most important crop families of plants. The birthplace of the cultivated rose appears to have originated in Northern Persia, on the Caspian. From there it spread across Mesopotamia to Palestine and across Asia Minor to Greece. The Greeks brought the Rose to Southern Italy. Even in those days, Rose was cultivated and growing techniques to support maximum blooms were readily shared.

Once the Rose had spread throughout southern Europe, it quickly found purchase in the customs and literature of the people there. It was not only the theme of poets, but figured prominently in many legends. It was once the custom to suspend a Rose over the dinner table as a sign that all confidences were to be held sacred. Even now the plaster ornament in the center of a celing is known as 'the rose'.

Medicinally, Roses are mildly sedating, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, aphrodisiac, and a cooling astringent. The British Pharmacopia directs that only petals of the red rose, may be used for medicinal purposes. The Red Rose petals are offical in nearly all pharmacopias world wide. The petals have been made into fluid extracts, acid infusions, simple infusions, syrups, vinegars and a preparation used to make pills called the Confection. The Confection was prescribed in the US for hemorrhage of the lungs and for coughs.

Last but not least, Rose is the sovereign remedy for a broken heart.