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Did you know that rosehips have been used
since ancient Egyptian times and that they were a favourite during the
medieval period where they were used to make “syrop of roses” that will
“strengthen the heart and taketh away the shaking and trembling thereof”.
During
World War II, British children would collect tons of rosehips which would
be made into jams and sent to soldiers at the front to help provide them
with Vitamin C.
Rosehips, the bulbous part of the dog rose flower that remains after the
blooms have dropped, called the hips, is very high in Vitamin C and is one
of the best sources for natural iron, calcium, biotin, pectin, phosphorus,
tannin and Vitamins A B1, B2, C, E K and P, just to name a few.
The
hips are dried and either granulated or simply cut in half to form rosehip
shells. They have a pleasant, sweet and tangy taste and can be fed dry or
made into a tea.
Health benefits associated with Rosehips include being a mild purgative to
help gently move the bowel and an astringent to help reduce mucous and
fluid in the body.
Rosehips are a natural diuretic, blood purifier and tonic that can be used
to strengthen and invigorate the body to give a general feeling of
wellbeing.
In
horses Rosehips have been specifically used to improve the growth of
hooves, assist in the rehabilitation of kidney and adrenal function and as
a preventative for ‘tying up’.
Country
Park Animal Herbs has been recommending the use of Rosehips as part of the
natural equine diet for a number of years and we have available both
generally grown as well as organically grown Rosehips granules and
shells. These can be fed either dry or made into a tea by steeping them
in hot water and adding it to hard feed for easy assimilation.
(C)
Helen Nicolaou
Freelance Writer |
