Thorny Issues- Hedgerow Harvesting- Foraging Rosehips for Nutrition, Health and Beauty
- victoria ward
- Jan 3
- 3 min read
Foraging journeys take us out and about in the countryside in search of those glorious, natural offerings that provide us with much needed nutrition and health benefits that we need to super-boost at this time of year. Crisp, autumn days are perfect for a hedgerow- harvest as the reds of hips and haws glimmer in the sunshine, beckoning us to make the most these wonderful jewels.
Foraging Rosehips
What Are Rosehips?
Rosehips are the fruiting bodies of roses that contain the seeds, they are orange- red in colour and usually oval in shape. The ones found in hedgerows at this time of year are the fruits of the wild roses.
Harvesting Rosehips
The wild roses are very tough with large thorns so gloves may be required. Inside the hips are seeds but they surrounded by hairs that are an irritant so caution with these, they will need to be removed. Do not to eat the raw hips.
Preparing Foraged Rosehips
Wash your rosehips then prepare according to how you intend to use them. For use in edible preparations the seeds and hair will need to be removed by halving the hips. The hips can then either be used fresh or dried.
For cosmetic use the seeds can be left and then strained out.
Nutritional Benefits of Rosehips
Rosehips are a functional food as they are very high in vitamins, minerals and other benefical phytochemicals. They are one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C, containing much more than citrus fruits, it si important to remember they are sensitive to heat and processing.
Rosehip Recipes
Here are a selection of great recipes to make the most out of your foraged rosehips-
Medicinal Use of Rosehips
There are many other benefits associated with Rosehips asides from their nutritional ones. Mostly due to their significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Benefits and conditons rosehips may help include-
Potential anticancer activity
Rheumatoid arthritis- particulalry dried powder of the Dog Rose
Osteoporosis
Diabetes
Hyperlipidema
Obesity
Liver and kidney health
Neuroprotectice
Skin health/anti-aging
Gut health
To gain the health benefits make a syrup or oxymel, simply drink rosehip tea or make a tincture or glycerite.
Cosmetic Uses of Rosehips- Natural Retinoid?
Rosehips have been well-studied and are proven to posess amazing skin-health properties. Due to the actions and phytochemicals they contain, rosehips are highly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and rich in fatty acids. Rosehips are not only superfoods, but highly effective for improving the skin.
Rosehip Oil Recipe
They are two ways to make your own Rosehip oil, the cold-infused method is suitable for dried rosehips and protects the heat-sensitive compounds, the warm-infused method is still an effective one where the rosehips can be used fresh.
Cold-Infused Rosehip Oil Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup of dried rosehips
2 cups of carrier oil
Vitamin E oil
Method
Crush the dried hips in a pestle and mortar or chop finely
Add to a sterile jar, top with carrier oil
Store in a for 2-6 weeks, shaking occasionaly
Strain through sieve or muslin cloth
Add to sterile bottle
Add a couple of drops of Vit e
Store for 6 months
Warm-infused Rosehip Recipe
Use either dry or fresh for this one in the same quantities as above. Ideally use a doube boiler and gently heat for 20-30 mins. Strain, cool and bottle as above.
Once you have your rosehip oil, you can make balms, creams and mix with other oils to make really effective skincare.
Follow me for much more advice and recipes for foraging and wild crafting for health, beauty and nutrition.
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