Rose oil – a healing treasure with a thousand-year history
According to Nadejda Tzoneva-Tyutyulkova, MD, PhD, rose oil not only plays a significant role in perfumery, but its medicinal uses date back at least five thousand years.
The uses of rose are extremely wide and varied. Rose oil and other rose products have historically proven to be valuable healing agents. The origins of their use could be found in the very cradle of human civilization. As early as Hippocrates and his disciples (5th-6th century BC) made extensive use of rose products in their healing practices, especially in steam baths, sitz baths and suppositories.
The famous physician Avicenna wrote about rose oil:
"This oil increases brain power and sharpness of wit."
Rose Attar, which is a highly concentrated rose oil, has been applied to headaches caused by a variety of factors:
- feverish conditions,
- sun exposure and sunstroke,
- excessive alcohol consumption,
- injuries, concussions and migraines.
For patients with open head injuries, skull fractures, or brain damage, Avicenna recommended the use of warm rose oil. It was also applied to wounds and damaged nerves to speed up their healing and regeneration.
In Today's Medicine: The Healing Power of Roses
Rose is a favourite remedy of folk healers and its rose oil has a long history of traditional use in medicine.It is currently used to treat various health conditions such as:
- gynecological cramps in PMS
- hormonal changes in menopause
- urinary tract infections
- skin inflammations
The leaves, rose water, and attar (concentrated rose oil) have similar uses.
Skin care
Rose oil and rose water are suitable for all skin types, but have the greatest benefit for dry, sensitive and aging skin. Thanks to their toning and astringent effects on the capillaries just below the skin's surface, they help reduce redness caused by their enlargement.
It is important that the product contains genuine natural rose oil as synthetic ingredients have no therapeutic value.
Rose water – a natural miracle for the skin
Rose water is a cheaper, yet effective natural cosmetic product for:
- Cleansing and refreshing of the skin
- Soothing irritated skin
- Toning and antiseptic effects
Thanks to these properties, the rose is one of the most valuable aids in natural medicine and cosmetics.
