When a rose fades and the petals fall, the round seed pod left on the stem is called a “rose hip”. Rose hips contain more vitamin C than grapefruit and oranges. They also contain vitamins A, D, and E, iron, and antioxidants. Rose hips have been clinically proven to lower cholesterol, improve diabetic conditions, and alleviate osteoarthritis.

The American Journal of Physiology , Endocrinology and Metabolism published a study in January 2011 showing the positive effects that rose hips had on diabetic mice. Rose hip powder was fed to diabetic mice, along with a high fat diet. Lean mice were fed this diet for twenty weeks, while obese mice were fed this diet for ten weeks. Rose hip powder was shown to be able to not only prevent a weight increase in the mice, but the obese mice actually lost weight. Glucose tolerance tests showed the mice on a diet which included rose hip powder tolerated glucose better than the control mice. There was a reduction in fat cells (lipids) in the liver, as well.

The study concluded that rose hips prevented a diabetic state and lowered the lipid profile in mice.

Clinical research has shown that rose hip powder relieves osteoarthritis in vitro. Rose hip powder is known to be high in ascorbic acid (vitamin C), polyphenols (a type of antioxidant), and unsaturated fatty acids. Scientists believe that rose hip powder provides “robust” anti-inflammatory responses and reduces the catabolic processes found in osteoarthritis.

Hippocrates Organic Dried Rose Hip Tea Cut Granules are available.