Thank you so much for this article. To be honest, I really didn’t know much about rose hips, certainly not the fresh ones. I learned a lot about constipation the hard way and ultimately, the way I think of it is that the longer the material stays in the body, the most water is sucked out making it even more difficult. For diarrhea, the material doesn’t stay in the intestines long enough for proper moisture to be removed. When you said that hips were demulcent, moisturizing the mucous membranes, it all clicked into place. In my head now, I can see the hips coming into areas of the intestines that need something, providing whatever is needed to move toward balance. Very cool stuff indeed!
I don’t have any roses but I know of some wild bushes in my neighborhood . Tomorrow, I’m going to ask around and see if anyone would mind me poking around in their yards.
Yes! I think you put it perfectly. The idea that rosehips fit into areas that need balance within the intestines is so accurate. It seems they act on the bowels the way adaptogens act on the nervous system, once again proving that nothing man could manufacture will ever be as intuitive or as nourishing as what nature already provides. Rosehips have become such a strong ally for me in this season of my life. I hope you found a good harvest on your foraging trip :)
Wow! I definitely could stand to give rose-hips a try, for GI health. Very interesting, Indeed. I will have to try the recipe out. Love your writings! Thank you ❤️
So glad you enjoyed Candice! Yes, rosehips have definitely become a new teacher for me and find it does especially well when rotated with marshmallow root or violet leaf.
It's been months since you wrote this and since I read it, but now that rosehips are available where I live, I'm returning to this and I love it! I just dried some multiflora rosehips that I recently foraged, and I'm excited to try them in a cold infusion. I'm finding in a hot infusion their flavor is subtle. I'm also finding their flavor is slightly similar to white pine that grows in my yard, and I'm wondering what makes them so similar, and if they would work well together in an infusion. It's so fun to work with the plants in such a personal way and getting to know them like this!
This is great to hear Sara!! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the cold infusion. It becomes much more rich and tart, so nourishing. That's interesting that you find the flavor similar to white pine, I had never thought of it! Though they would certainly go well together. Both are very high in vitamin c, perfect for boosting the immune system during the winter months. Happy experimenting 😊
Maybe my taste buds are broken, or I made both infusions too mild, because my boyfriend also said he didn't think they were too similar 😅 but I'm excited to try the cold infusion and to experiment!
I haven't tried them next to each other so you may be right! Plants are made up of many many phenolic compounds that give it a particular flavor. It wouldn't be surprising if they shared some of the same ones. For example, both rosemary and pine contain the pine and terpineol. Very different plants, but these similar constituents give them both that woodsy camphor flavor. It would be interesting to analyze rose hips through that lens too.
This is so fantastic! I have dried Rosehips and keep coming back to them yet not quite knowing how I want to make with them - a simple cold infusion sounds perfect!! I have read that high heat or long cooking can actually break down Vitamin C, so I imagine the cold infusion is the best bet for the Whole magic of the hip in drinkable form.
That is a great point! I can definitely tell when I do a hot vs cold infusion that the cold infusion just tastes richer and more complex. The temp probably has a lot to do with it.
I prefer the dried rosehips for this infusion. The larger rosehips have stiff hairs on the outside of the skin when fresh which can irritate the digestive system instead of soothing it. If you're using the smaller hips like from Rosa multiflora then that may not be an issue.
Thank you for sharing! I've been interested in rose hips but never reasearched them. I've had digestive issues for years and I'm going to try your recipe! :)
I wish I could figure out how to share pictures on this platform but alas tech ain’t my gig 😆. But my pasture roses have produced rose hips this year like never before and I’m just in awe of them, they are calling to me as well and I’m so very grateful for this post for sharing Their incredible medicine and grace. Thanks so much for reminding me to listen to the wisdom of the plants and to my wisdom to hear.
In your defense, I don't think you can post photos in comments on Substack (yet at least!) but that would be so amazing to see!! It's interesting that you say that because I've felt that this year in general has been a very fertile year. My oak tree has a huge crop of acorns ripening, more spring flowers than I've ever seen, even two of my closest girlfriends got pregnant this year! Hah! Must be something in the air.
Thank you so much for this article. To be honest, I really didn’t know much about rose hips, certainly not the fresh ones. I learned a lot about constipation the hard way and ultimately, the way I think of it is that the longer the material stays in the body, the most water is sucked out making it even more difficult. For diarrhea, the material doesn’t stay in the intestines long enough for proper moisture to be removed. When you said that hips were demulcent, moisturizing the mucous membranes, it all clicked into place. In my head now, I can see the hips coming into areas of the intestines that need something, providing whatever is needed to move toward balance. Very cool stuff indeed!
I don’t have any roses but I know of some wild bushes in my neighborhood . Tomorrow, I’m going to ask around and see if anyone would mind me poking around in their yards.
Thanks so very much!! Love it!!💚💚💚
Yes! I think you put it perfectly. The idea that rosehips fit into areas that need balance within the intestines is so accurate. It seems they act on the bowels the way adaptogens act on the nervous system, once again proving that nothing man could manufacture will ever be as intuitive or as nourishing as what nature already provides. Rosehips have become such a strong ally for me in this season of my life. I hope you found a good harvest on your foraging trip :)
Thank you for sharing, Val!
Wow! I definitely could stand to give rose-hips a try, for GI health. Very interesting, Indeed. I will have to try the recipe out. Love your writings! Thank you ❤️
So glad you enjoyed Candice! Yes, rosehips have definitely become a new teacher for me and find it does especially well when rotated with marshmallow root or violet leaf.
It's been months since you wrote this and since I read it, but now that rosehips are available where I live, I'm returning to this and I love it! I just dried some multiflora rosehips that I recently foraged, and I'm excited to try them in a cold infusion. I'm finding in a hot infusion their flavor is subtle. I'm also finding their flavor is slightly similar to white pine that grows in my yard, and I'm wondering what makes them so similar, and if they would work well together in an infusion. It's so fun to work with the plants in such a personal way and getting to know them like this!
This is great to hear Sara!! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the cold infusion. It becomes much more rich and tart, so nourishing. That's interesting that you find the flavor similar to white pine, I had never thought of it! Though they would certainly go well together. Both are very high in vitamin c, perfect for boosting the immune system during the winter months. Happy experimenting 😊
Maybe my taste buds are broken, or I made both infusions too mild, because my boyfriend also said he didn't think they were too similar 😅 but I'm excited to try the cold infusion and to experiment!
I haven't tried them next to each other so you may be right! Plants are made up of many many phenolic compounds that give it a particular flavor. It wouldn't be surprising if they shared some of the same ones. For example, both rosemary and pine contain the pine and terpineol. Very different plants, but these similar constituents give them both that woodsy camphor flavor. It would be interesting to analyze rose hips through that lens too.
This is so fantastic! I have dried Rosehips and keep coming back to them yet not quite knowing how I want to make with them - a simple cold infusion sounds perfect!! I have read that high heat or long cooking can actually break down Vitamin C, so I imagine the cold infusion is the best bet for the Whole magic of the hip in drinkable form.
That is a great point! I can definitely tell when I do a hot vs cold infusion that the cold infusion just tastes richer and more complex. The temp probably has a lot to do with it.
Thanks for sharing ! Wondering is it best to use dried rosehips for infusion, or can they be fresh?
I prefer the dried rosehips for this infusion. The larger rosehips have stiff hairs on the outside of the skin when fresh which can irritate the digestive system instead of soothing it. If you're using the smaller hips like from Rosa multiflora then that may not be an issue.
Thank you for sharing! I've been interested in rose hips but never reasearched them. I've had digestive issues for years and I'm going to try your recipe! :)
I'm so glad you enjoyed! I think rosehips can be an amazing addition to any gut healing plan. Plus the infusion honestly tastes delicious.
I wish I could figure out how to share pictures on this platform but alas tech ain’t my gig 😆. But my pasture roses have produced rose hips this year like never before and I’m just in awe of them, they are calling to me as well and I’m so very grateful for this post for sharing Their incredible medicine and grace. Thanks so much for reminding me to listen to the wisdom of the plants and to my wisdom to hear.
In your defense, I don't think you can post photos in comments on Substack (yet at least!) but that would be so amazing to see!! It's interesting that you say that because I've felt that this year in general has been a very fertile year. My oak tree has a huge crop of acorns ripening, more spring flowers than I've ever seen, even two of my closest girlfriends got pregnant this year! Hah! Must be something in the air.