In the latest series of the popular Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex welcomed viewers into her home as she prepared food, drinks and handmade gifts for her guests which included Chrissy Teigen, Jay Shetty, Tan France. But as well as the standout celebs, one standout ingredient featured in the series has proven to be surprisingly versatile and powerful.
Filmed in her Montecito residence, where she lives with Prince Harry and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, Meghan highlighted rose – not the wine, but the plant itself – as a natural powerhouse. Describing it as “anti-inflammatory” and impactful, she wasn’t exaggerating. According to ScienceDirect, the beautiful flower not only has a lovely fragrance, but it also offers a wide range of uses.
Various parts of the rose including its petals, fruit, leaves, and even bark can be applied across cosmetic, culinary, pharmaceutical, and even engineering fields. Medicinally, rose has also shown promise in managing inflammation, diabetes, menstrual disorders, depression, stress, seisures as well as signs of aging.
The experts explain: “Different plant parts have different healing properties.” They add that each part can be used for skincare and anti-inflammatory reasons.
| Parts | Chemical compound | Possible industry or medical applications |
|---|---|---|
| Petal | terpenes, aroma alcohols, flavonoids, anthocyanin, phenolic acids, polyphenols, aldehydes, ketones, tannins, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), carotenoids, minerals | analgesic, anticonvulsive, hypnotic, cardiovascular, laxative, and antioxidant properties, aromatherapy, perfumery, cosmetics and skincare, teas, natural colorant |
| Hips | vitamin C (ascorbic acid), carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, pectin, vitamin E (tocopherol), fatty acids, phytosterols | anti-Inflammatory and antioxidant properties, dietary supplements, cosmetics and skincare, natural coloring |
| Leaves | flavonoids, phenols, hydroxycinnamic acids, tannins, terpenes, aldehydes, alcohols, vitamin C, fatty acids, minerals. | diuretic properties, natural dyes, mild astringent properties |
In fact, “rose hips are rich in vitamins, notably vitamin C, alongside phenolic compounds, carotenoids, tocopherol, bioflavonoids, tannins, volatile oils, and pectins.” The NHS notes that the vitamin can help to protect cells and keeping them healthy.
They also work to maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage and promote wound healing. The benefits keep going as a randomised clinical trial examined the effects of Rosa damascena fragrance on anxiety and sleep quality in patients hospitalized in a cardiac care unit.
The results demonstrated that using Rosa damascena in aromatherapy significantly reduced anxiety and improved patients’ sleep quality. In their conclusion, they wrote: “The benefits of its multiple functions outweigh most other flowers.
“The beauty of rose can comfort people; the fragrance of rose can calm stressed-out body and mind; the ingredients of rose can be a good source of nutrients and medicinal herbs; the hierarchical structures of rose petals have anti-reflection and light-harvesting abilities, which have the potential to be materials for various electronic products.”
So will you be using rose more whether you use it as a health benefit or as a beauty benefit? Let us know in the comments below.