Rose
Rose is the flower of Aphrodite, Rumi and every love letter ever written, and it's been medicine for just as long. In herbalism it's a gentle nervine and heart-opener, traditionally used to soothe grief and tension, lift the mood and bring softness to hard days. It's also a cooling, mildly astringent herb valued for supporting radiant skin and easing the aches that come with your cycle. Tenderness in herb form, with thorns when you need them.
Find it in:
- Botanical nameRosa spp. (often Rosa damascena)
- Plant familyRosaceae (rose family)
- Also calledDamask rose, gulab, mei gui hua
- Part usedDried buds, petals and powdered petals
- TasteFloral, delicately sweet and slightly astringent
- CaffeineNone
Traditional Uses & Folklore
Persia: the birthplace of rosewater
Roses have been cultivated in Persia for thousands of years, and the physician Avicenna is often credited with perfecting the distillation of rosewater around the year 1000. Rosewater became a staple of medicine, perfume and cooking across the Middle East, from sweets to sacred rituals. In Sufi poetry, the rose stands for the beloved and the divine.
Ayurveda and Chinese medicine
In Ayurveda, rose is cooling and calming. Gulkand, a jam of rose petals and sugar, is eaten to cool excess heat in the body and mind. In traditional Chinese medicine, rosebuds (mei gui hua) are used to move stuck energy, lift the mood and ease menstrual discomfort, making them a classic women's herb.
A flower of the heart
From the Greek goddess Aphrodite to the Roman Venus, the rose has always been a symbol of love. Herbalists carry that meaning into the cup: rose is reached for in times of heartbreak, grief and tension, as a way to soften and open the heart.
The scienceWhat Modern Research Is Exploring
Rose has a modest body of research, ranging from rosewater and rose oil to rose tea. Here's what researchers are looking at:
- Period comfort. A clinical trial in adolescents found that drinking rose tea was linked to less period discomfort and better wellbeing.
- Mood. Studies on rose's scent and extracts have looked at relaxation and mood, with encouraging results.
- Antioxidants. Rose petals contain flavonoids and other polyphenols that are studied for their antioxidant activity.
We share this to show where the conversation is going, not to make promises. Herbalism is slow medicine, built on ritual, consistency, and how a plant feels in your own body.
From Tea LadyWhy Rose Is in Our Blends
Rose is our softness. In Luteal Phase Tea and Moon Phase Tea, it's tenderness in herb form: traditionally used for its soothing qualities, rose brings a little softness to the aches and edges of those phases. In Glow Up Tea and Glow Up Powder, it's a timeless beauty herb traditionally used to promote radiant skin, adding a delicate floral sweetness to every cup. And in Peppermint Pleasure Cocoa, it brings sensual, soft, delicate floral notes that help calm the nervous system.
Sip mindfullySafety & Who Should Check First
Rose is a common food and tea herb and is generally considered very gentle. A few things to keep in mind:
- Food-grade only. Only use roses grown for food or tea. Florist roses are often sprayed with pesticides.
- Pregnancy. Rose is generally considered gentle, but check with your healthcare provider before drinking any herbal tea regularly if you're pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
- Allergies. If you're sensitive to roses or other plants in the rose family, you may react to it.
- Surgery. Pause herbal teas about two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Sources & Further Reading
- Boskabady MH, Shafei MN, Saberi Z, Amini S. "Pharmacological effects of Rosa damascena." Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 2011; 14(4): 295–307.
- Tseng YF, Chen CH, Yang YH. "Rose tea for relief of primary dysmenorrhea in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial in Taiwan." Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 2005; 50(5): e51–e57.