Discover how to fortify yourself against cancer, inflammation, depression and more with this one aromatic flower

Thursday, August 15, 2013 by: Carolanne Wright
Tags: rose oil, cancer, inflammation

(NaturalNews) With summer in full blossom and an abundance of roses in their prime glory, now is the perfect time to take full advantage of all the health promoting qualities of the flower. Whether utilizing the calming, antibacterial and therapeutic attributes of the essential oil or delighting in the wellness enhancing properties of rose petal tea, this fragrant bloom offers a profusion of versatile uses.

Not just another pretty face

A fierce champion of natural health, the rose has been recognized throughout history for its curative value. And now modern science validates many of the health giving features. A study published in the Journal of Food Science revealed that a hot infusion of air dried rose petals contained notable levels of phenols and anthocyanins along with gallic acid. Known not only for its antioxidant characteristics, gallic acid also has strong antiviral and antifungal properties. Furthermore, the acid destroys cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.

Another study in Current Microbiology had similar findings. Antioxidant and antibacterial activities as well as total phenolic content were investigated in three rose extracts: absolute, essential oil and hydrosol. Rose absolute and essential oil ranked highest in phenolic content and expressed exceptional antibacterial qualities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Erwinia carotovora and Chromobacterium violaceum. However, keep in mind that absolute or essential oil distillates should not be ingested without the guidance of a trained practitioner.

Additionally, since rose oil as well as hydrosol extractions are anti-inflammatory and contain significant levels of vitamin C, both are useful in calming skin conditions such as rosecea, eczema, sun damage and premature aging when applied topically.

Ultimate calm

Rose oil has been shown to be effective against nervous system disorders as well. Research published in Natural Product Communications compared the results of 40 healthy volunteers who were given either a placebo or transdermally administered rose oil. According to the study:

"Compared to placebo, rose oil caused significant decreases of breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure, which indicate a decrease of autonomic arousal. At the emotional level, subjects in the rose oil group rated themselves as more calm, more relaxed and less alert than subjects in the control group."

The team believes these findings indicate a possible avenue for relieving the mental disturbances of stress, depression and anxiety.

*Please note: Due to the high rate of pesticide use on commercially grown roses, it is important to source only organic flowers, oils and hydrosols.

Sources for this article include:

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

http://www.organicauthority.com

http://www.phytochemicals.info

About the author:
Carolanne believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, wellness coach and natural foods chef, she has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of green living for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people who share a similar vision.

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