The Rose-An Aromatherapy Profile

They know the value of the rose to show affection and soothe ruffled feelings. What they may not know is that this beautiful flower with the sweet scent may also be therapeutic.

A bit of history
The rose originated in Asia but soon spread to the rest of the world. The ancient Greeks and Romans valued it highly, going so far as to incorporate it into their myths and legends-as did the Muslims. The ancient Egyptians used roses in their religious rituals and buried them with their dead. And medieval monks grew them specifically for medicinal use.

The development-through hybridization-of the many named varieties we see today began in the 19th century. But the French began distilling the flowers of the older varieties about a century before this. Their main product was their still-famous rosewater, but there was a byproduct-the essential oil-whose uses were not recognized until much later.

The many uses of rose petals
Fresh rose petals steeped in boiling water (to make a tea) have been used to treat the following conditions:
- constipation
- sinus trouble
- eye irritations
- the symptoms of colds and hay fever
- the emotional symptoms of PMS and menopause

In some cases the liquid is taken internally by drinking, but it may also be gargled (to help a sore throat) or applied to the affected area.

Speaking non-medicinally, rose petals are used to make jam, honey, and candy. When dried they can be used as a potpourri. And rosewater, besides being great for skin care, is used to flavor cakes and is popular in Middle Eastern cooking.

The essential oil of the rose
There are hundreds of different species of rose, but only three are grown specifically for perfumery and their essential oil-rosa gallica, rosa centifolia, and rosa damascena. These three are grown in many countries, most especially Bulgaria, Morocco, Turkey, Russia, and India.

Rose essential oil, as might be guessed, is made from the flowers-specifically the petals. The flowers used must be as fresh as possible, so the oil can be distilled only during the plants' blooming season. The flowers must be picked and processed quickly, because they dry out fast; sometimes they are sprayed with water after picking to keep them moist.

Distillation can be by steam or a chemical process. The steam method is obviously more natural, but the chemical process yields more oil. This is an important financial consideration, because it takes several tons of flowers to make only a pound or two of oil. This is why the price of rose oil is so much higher than that of many other oils.

But rose essential oil, mixed with a carrier oil like almond or grapeseed, can be a real treat. It can make an ordinary massage really special. Its relaxing qualities may help relieve insomnia and emotional issues like depression and anxiety, or just general stress. And it may help relieve minor circulatory problems as well.

It's even been used as an aphrodisiac, although this may be a secondary effect related to its stress-relieving qualities.

The rose is popular for a reason-or actually, many reasons. Don't wait for someone to buy you some. Treat yourself to a fresh flower once in a while, or even better, pick up a bottle of rose essential oil at your local natural food store. You'll be able to enjoy the sweet scent of the rose a lot longer-and even when it's out of season!