Rose
Rosa damascena
Herbs & Roots. Middle Eastern & Unani and Ayurveda.
Also called Damask rose, Gulab
Spanish: Rosa de Damasco
Fragrant petals of a pink rose, used in tea, desserts and rose water, and in skin and mood products.
Did you know? The Damask rose takes its name from the city of Damascus, though most rose oil today comes from Bulgaria and Turkey.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Low mood. Smell studies and a few small trials hint that rose scent may ease stress. Proof is weak.Traditional proof
- Digestion & gut health. Traditional use for upset stomach and constipation. Human studies are very few.Traditional proof
- Skin. Rose water is used for skin comfort. Lab studies show antioxidant effects, but human proof is limited.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Ayurveda describes rose as cooling and uses it to calm excess heat. Middle Eastern healers used rose water for skin and eye comfort and to lift mood.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Nervine, Astringent, Antioxidant. Energy: cooling.
How people take it
Steep petals in hot water for tea, add rose water to desserts, or use it in skin products. No medicine dose is set.
Tea, food and topical.
Where to get it
Grown in Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran and Morocco. Buy dried petals in tea shops and food-grade rose water in grocery stores, since some skin products are not safe to eat.
Be careful
Safe as food and tea. Rarely, people react to rose on the skin. Rose essential oil is strong and should not be swallowed.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Persian sweets and drinks often mix rose and saffron.
The honest take
Rose is a pleasant food and tea with a long history. Its health claims rest mostly on tradition and scent studies, with very few trials. Enjoy it for flavor and scent. Its health claims are still unproven.