Rose hip for osteoarthritis and arthritis

In natural medicine, rose hips can be used in powder form. Rosehip powder is considered a useful remedy for joint problems, chronic pain and inflammatory diseases. Its main active ingredients are vitamin C and the galactolipid plant compound.

What are rose hips?

The rose hip is the fruit (or, rather, pseudo-fruit) of all varieties of roses. The red rose hips of the common dog rose (Rosa canina or Rosa corymbifera) can be eaten as a fruit which, fresh, is loaded with vitamin C.

This wild rose likes roadsides and meadows, and can grow up to three meters tall.

Rose hips are round in shape and are usually bright red in color. But there are also varieties of roses that produce black or purple rose hips.

Rose hips consist of a fruity shell that contains the actual fruit, that is, the small seeds. These, in turn, are surrounded by hairs that can cause annoying itching when coming into contact with the skin.

Properties of rose hips

One of the most appreciated rose hips is that of the rosehip (rosa eglanteria). With its pulp you can make puree, jam or rosehip liqueur.

From the rosehip seeds can be extracted an oil rich in alpha-linolenic acid (omega 3), which is used in cosmetics and has calming, anti-inflammatory and irritated skin care properties.

Rosehip powder can be used as a dietary supplement for many diseases, especially osteoarthritis and inflammatory diseases chronic, but also for digestive problems or simply to prevent colds and for detoxification. The powder can also be given to pets, such as dogs, cats, and horses.

Very rich in vitamin C

Fresh rose hips are extraordinarily rich in vitamin C.

the rosehip provides per 100 g:

1,250 mg of vitamin C in fresh fruit 1,033 mg of vitamin C in frozen fruit 400 mg of vitamin C in rosehip powder 64 mg of vitamin C in jam

In addition, rose hips contain carotenes, copper, organic acids, flavonoids and galactolipids. The latter is the substance that makes rosehip, together with vitamin C, so effective in joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.

What are galactolipids?

Galactolipids are phytochemicals that they are found in exceptionally large numbers in the rosehip (more so in the seeds), and also in the two subspecies rosa canina litho and dog rose AP-4 .

Galactolipids are lipid soluble and sensitive to heat. If rose hips are heated above 40 degrees, the galactolipids denature and become ineffective.

Therefore, rosehip jam or rosehip infusion are not ideal forms of preparation if you want to enjoy their healing properties.

If you buy rosehip powder, you need to be clear in advance if it is raw food grade, meaning it has not been in contact with temperatures above 40 degrees during production. Only in this way can you preserve most of the vitamin C and galactolipids.

Parsley, leeks, peas, spinach and pumpkin are also rich in galactolipids.

Why are galactolipids effective?

These substances offer a double effect for patients with osteoarthritis:

They have an antioxidant effect, which means it can block free radicals that can otherwise have a damaging effect on cartilage. Contributes to the stabilization of the cartilage cell membrane, which favors the formation of new cartilage and the prevention of its deterioration.

Galactolipids also ensure that white blood cells (leukocytes) cannot penetrate and damage cartilage tissue (this is what occurs in arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease).

Galactolipids thus have a anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect improve mobility, joint and back pain and morning stiffness. With regular intake of rosehip powder, the inflammation could be reduced.

The effect on osteoarthritis

In a clinical trial involving 100 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip (or both), they received 2.5 g standardized rosehip powder or a placebo twice a day for four months. In similar studies, doses of 5 mg were taken.

In the rosehip group, joint mobility improved significantly compared to the placebo group. Pain in the rosehip group also decreased significantly, which was not the case in the placebo group.

The effect on arthritis

There is also evidence of the effect of rosehip powder on arthritis. Unlike osteoarthritis, arthritis It is not a wasting disease, but an autoimmune disease that causes severe joint inflammation. in episodes.

In one study, 89 participants with arthritis took 5 g of rosehip powder or a placebo for 6 months. In the group that received rosehip powder, arthritis symptoms were somewhat reduced.

How long should rosehip powder be taken?

It is recommended to take the rosehip powder regularly for a period of at least one to two months to determine whether an effect can be expected in the individual case.

Taking breaks of two to four weeks can prevent potential habituation effects. Since the effect of rosehip persists for a certain time after the intake period, a loss of efficacy during intake breaks is not expected.

Rosehip dust intake

Take 5 to 10 g of the powder (approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons) daily (better divided into at least two doses), add it to cold drinks (water, juice, smoothies…) or to sweet dishes (muesli, fruit purees, yoghurt).

Since galactolipids are fat soluble, it would be advisable to add a small amount of fat, for example half a teaspoon of almond butter or a few drops of extra virgin olive oil.

What to look for when buying rosehip powder

Pure rosehip powder in herbalists, organic stores or online, both in powder and in capsules. Make sure that the product is organic and cold-processed.

To save it, you must keep in a cool place.

Scientific references:

Warholm et al., The Effects of a Standardized Herbal Remedy Made from a Subtype of Rosa canina in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial, Current Therapeutic Research, January 2003

Willich et al., Rose hip herbal remedy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – a randomized controlled trial, Phytomedicine, February 2010

Winther et al., A powder made from seeds and shells of a rose-hip subspecies (Rosa canina) reduces symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Scand J Rheumatol, Juli 2005