Rose
(Gift of Angles)
Rosa damascena
Family: Rosaceae
Ayurvedic Name: Sanskrit-Satapatri; Hindi- Gulab-ka-phool.

International Name: English-the hundred leaves rose or Cabbage Rose, Persian Rose.
Habitat: (a) Indigenous to Persia. It is commercially cultivated in Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, France etc. In India it, is widely cultivated in Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab States. Bulgarian and Indian Rose have quality Fragrance due to its soil temperature and atmosphere.(b) Rose is a herb, grows as small shrub. In Ayurveda whole plant has been used for medicinal purpose.
Part used for getting oil and Rose water - Flower, Flower Buds, Petals and stems.
History: 5000 years ago in India at the time of Lord Krishna, Rose attar had been made through a very expensive and special process described below:
In a big size tub, fresh rose flowers were mixed with water and crushed. After that left overnight or longer until a thin film of rose oil has been appeared on the surface of the water in the tub. This oil has been carefully taken from the surface of the water. This is called Rose absolute. It is three of the most expensive among perfumes. It yields one ounce from a quarter million fresh rose flowers. Imagine how much manual labor has been used to grow these flowers. How much land, water, fertilizer and means of transportation has been used for cultivation. Now a days this method is too expensive to use.
When we praise beauty of a woman, we talk about her Rosy cheeks. Rose has been source of inspiration for artists. When we think of heaven we never forget to mention Rose gardens in which angels are enjoying celestial fragrance of the Rose. Cleopetra was bathing in Rose water and used absolute Rose to seduce her lover Antony.
Lord Krishna's favorite was Rose. Hindus wash and clean their alter of Gods with Rose water.
Roman banquets were decorated with Roses. When Alexander the Great came to India, He fell in love with beautiful gardens of India, nicely decorated with various kind of fragrant Roses.
Rose is the king of flowers. It has been made, the national flower of several countries.
Sources and methods for getting oil and other products-Rose absolute- It is made from the distillation of the Rose Petals through condensation process. In India through traditional methods, 3 ounce of Rose oil has been distilled from 100 kg Rose flowers. It is known as rose absolute. It took weeks to make it because a certain temperature, special kinds of equipments and skilled people are needed. It is one of the most expensive perfume in the world.

Gulkand: Fresh Rose petals has been cooked with granular sugar without water under hot sun light through a specific process, producing semi-sold but thick paste like Jam is known as Gulkand. It is good for memory, eyesight, cheerfulness and it is a good blood purifier. It reduces extra heat from the body and calms the body and mind. Indian Ayurvedic doctors, use it for cancer patients.
Gulkand Sharbat- Fresh Rose petals boiled with suger and water through a specific process and filtered to make a fragrant syrup is known as “Gulkand Sharbat” or Gulkand syrup. It has nearly same healing qualities like Gulkand.

Rose Vinegar: Rose vinegar from the petals of Rose has been made. It is commonly used throughout the world. It is digestive, refreshing and cooling.
Rose Wine- Rose wine is famous from thousands of years dating from Ancient Persia. Rose wine has been used by emperors, kings, queens and nobel people. It is digestive, refreshing, good for heart and mild stimulant.
Constituents of the oil - Alcohol : Volatile essential oil, fat, resin, malic, tartaric and tannic acids. Rose petals contain an aromatic volatile oil, a glucoside quercitrin, gallic acid quercitannic acid and coloring matter, alcohol, citronellol geraniol, farnesol, nevol phenol eugenol, narceine.
Action: Mildly astringent, aperient, carminative, and refrigerant, cardiac tonic. Antidepressant, Feminine scent, antiseptic essence.
Aroma of the oil: It has a smooth, warm and healing aroma which is good for mind and body both. It has a delicate flavor. It is not only producing a sheer Fragrance It also has wonderful healing qualities. Rose flower is heavenly beautiful too.
Uses in Ayurveda:
• Rose essence is one of the safest substances for healing. It has been primarily used for Anti-stress therapy. If some one is depressed having anxiety or feeling mentally exhausted, smelling Rose essence helps immediately, mind get freshness. Nerves system gets relief and a calm soothing stage of mind is attained.
•It is helpful in women’s Gynecological disorders, menopausal symptoms. It reduces excessive heat of the body.
•It has cleaning effect on liver, kidneys and spleen. In case of skin diseases it decrease ageing. It increase smoothness, reduce wrinkles on the face and helps the skin of the body glowing and charming. It is also good for respiratory disorders.
•It has been used to mask the taste of many obnoxious food dishes as well as to make them tastier to eat due to its rich and smooth flavor.
•It is useful in reducing extra fat from the body and make body slim. From the time of Queen Cleopetra most of the Persian, European and Indian Queens loved Rose for it’s wonderful healing qualities due to its soothing and cooling effects. If used before menstrual cycle, it reduces P.M.S. problems.
•After a whole day's hard work, in the early evening, Ayurvedic Doctors recommends Rose drink for refreshens and a romantic evening. This drink is called “Gulab Lassi”.
How to make Gulab Lassi: 10 drops of Rose water or 1 drop rose perfume, 500 gm. Fresh yoghurt, 2 table spoon Honey or Raw sugar (optional), a pinch of cardamom powder, 10 threads of Pure saffron (soaked in milk or water for few hours and mashed).
(a) Take a small cup, put one table spoon of water or milk and 10 saffron threads in it. Leave it for few hours, crush saffron threads by index finger and thumb until it dissolves in the milk.
(b) Take 1 tablespoon Raw sugar or glucose. Put 10 drops rose perfume in it. Mix it properly by Index Finger and thumb. Keep this mixture in a small glass bottle. Divide it in to 10 parts. Some people who are of sensitive type may divide it into 20 to 25 parts. Each part will make a drink for one person. This combination is called “Rose Sugar”.
(c) Take a blender or mixer, put 500 gm. yoghurt and 10 threads of saffron mixed in 1 table spoon milk or water, 2 table spoon sugar or Honey (optional). A pinch of cardamom powder and 1/10 part of rose sugar or 10 drops of rose water, few ice cubes.
Blend it properly and drink it as an evening refresher or any time you like to have a drink.
Gulkand syrup has been used as a mild laxative and is useful in enlarged tonsils, sore throat and liver disorders etc.
Gulkand Jelly has been used for eye disorders, especially those who are loosing vision frequent headaches, migraines. Rejuvenative tonic for young and old both, especially for Pitta and Kapha people.
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