Roses and their many uses through the ages

Maharishi Ayurveda places the rose at the pinnacle of the flower kingdom. The essence of roses contains a large number of different biochemicals, making it the most complex of all aromatic oils.

Rose oil has been prized throughout the ages as a way to calm the emotions, soothe stress, cool frustration, and cultivate love. Used in India for a long, long, time as a healing flower, in Maharishi Ayurveda specifically the rose is used to help alleviate depression, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and memory loss. It is also used to enhance beauty.

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According to the ayurvedic texts, it is not a coincidence that the rose is associated with romance, because it balances Sadhaka Pitta, the subdosha of Pitta that governs the emotions and their effect on the heart. Sadhaka Pitta can go out of balance more easily in summer, when the hot, humid weather increases all aspects of Pitta dosha, one of three ayurvedic mind-body operators that governs heat, digestion, and metabolism in the body.

What may surprise you is that the rose also balances the mind. It enhances the coordination between Sadhaka Pitta and Prana Vata (the subdosha of Vata dosha that governs the brain, head, chest, respiration, sensory perception, and the mind).

Other properties are equally surprising. The rose is cooling, yet it enhances agni, the digestive fire. This is a unique quality, which makes it balancing for all three doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha - when used in moderate amounts.

These healing properties are not lost on modern researchers, who are investigating the effect of the rose in balancing hormones and creating overall well-being. Essential rose oils used in aromatherapy are also being investigated for their antibacterial, antiinflammatory, and antihemorrhagic properties.

Traditional Uses of the Rose

Even though there are hundreds of varieties of wild and cultivated roses, it is only the Rosa Centifolia that is used in Maharishi Ayurveda. The ayurvedic name for this particular rose is shatapattri, which means 'a hundred petals', as does the Latin name Rosa Centifolia.

In Maharishi Ayurveda, the rose is used in many Rasayanas, pre-eminent ayurvedic herbal formulas that are stated to promote overall health and longevity. It is also used as rose
water. The essence of rose (rose aroma oil) appears in aromatherapy, and tonics are made from mixing rose paste, water, and spices. Cold poultices with rose and sandalwood paste are sometimes prescribed to cool mild burning.

The rose enhances beauty in many ways. Local applications (such as in creams and poultices) cool, moisturize, and tone the skin. Massaging the body with rose and sandalwood pastes enhances beauty. The essence of rose augments the glow and complexion of the skin. The rose enlivens inner beauty, helps the skin to radiate inner glow out to others, and enhances all seven dhatus (body tissues). When used over time, the essence of rose pacifies the heat in the blood, and thus keeps imbalances in the skin from erupting.

There are some specific ailments that are said, in the texts, to be helped by the rose. These include amenorrhea (absence of menstrual flow), inflamed eyes, dizziness, headache due to Pitta aggravation, sore throat, enlarged tonsils, nervousness, grief, dullness of the skin and acne caused by Pitta imbalances. For conditions such as these, of course, it is recommended that you consult a physician trained in Maharishi Ayurveda to prescribe appropriate treatments.

A traditional preparation using the rose is rose petal jam, made by cooking rose petals and sugar. Eaten on its own, or made into a drink with milk or fresh yogurt and water, rose petal jam has a cooling effect on mind and body.

Roses for the Skin

Maharishi Ayurveda incorporates the rose in traditional ayurvedic formulations for the skin. The properties of the rose--cooling, moisturizing, and soothing--have a nourishing effect on the skin when incorporated into cleansers or creams.

Pure rose water is ideal for facial toning, especially in summer. You can spritz your face before or after your facial. It also helps moisturize the skin at bedtime, or before and after exposure to the sun. With its pleasant aroma, rose water spray enhances the mood and is cooling and toning. It pacifies Bhrajaka Pitta (the subdosha of Pitta that governs the biochemical aspects of the skin). All of these factors together enhance the glow and appearance of the skin.

So the next time you feel the overheated effects of summer-whether it's a slight feeling of irritability, insatiable thirst, or just a lack of satisfaction-reach for the nearest rose. You'll not only feel cooled, soothed, and nourished, but you might find yourself dreaming sweet dreams of the heart as well.

About the author

Rama Kant Mishra is a world renowned ayurvedic expert. He comes from a family tradition of Raj Vaidyas - physicians to the kings and queens of India - that can be traced back many
centuries. He is also intimately involved in researching the ancient ayurvedic texts and has developed dozens of ayurvedic formulations based on this research. Rama Mishra is currently Director of Research at Maharishi Ayurveda Products International, Inc. in Colorado Springs, CO. For more information on Maharishi Ayurveda, visit http://www.mapi.com. Comments or questions for the author may be e-mailed to info@all-veda.com.

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