Speaking of roses, many of us are familiar with this beautiful gardening variety. Today, we are going to talk about the stems of roses, also known as rose branches, which have high medicinal value in traditional Chinese medicine!
【Morphological Characteristics of Rose Branches】
Rose branches are deciduous shrubs that can grow up to 2 meters tall. The stems and branches are often covered in thorns, sometimes in a prostrate or twining form. The leaves are pinnately compound, usually with 9 elliptical or broadly ovate leaflets.
The leaflets are usually obtuse or pointed at the apex, rounded at the base, serrated at the edges, and hairless or covered in soft hairs on both sides. The stipules are very prominent, connate with the petiole below the middle, and deeply lobed with a comb-like margin.
The flowers are clustered in umbel-shaped inflorescences, white in color and fragrant, with a few glandular hairs on the peduncle. The sepals are lanceolate and densely covered in hairs. The petals are heart-shaped or broadly ovate, with a concave tip. There are numerous stamens, and the pistils are hairless, fused, and protrude from the calyx tube. The receptacle becomes fleshy and shiny when mature. The fruits are produced inside the ring-shaped or pitcher-shaped receptacle. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
【Efficacy and Usage of Rose Branches】
Rose branches have the effects of clearing heat, reducing swelling, and promoting hair growth. They are mainly used to treat sores, carbuncles, and alopecia.
According to the "Gangmu Shiyi" (Supplementary Notes to the Compendium of Materia Medica), "For women with alopecia, boil rose branches and Chinese date branches together, and use the decoction to brush the affected area."
Usual usage: For internal use, boil 10-15g of rose branches in water to make a decoction. For external use, use an appropriate amount of boiled decoction to wash the affected area. It is not advisable to consume large amounts.
1. For treating alopecia in women, boil rose branches and Chinese date branches together, and use the decoction to brush the affected area.
2. For treating hot carbuncles, take 15g of wild rose stems and 9g of Isatis indigotica leaves. Boil them in water and consume the decoction.
