Rose Hip: MedlinePlus Supplements

T What is it?
P Rose hip is the round portion of the rose flower just below the petals. Rose hip contains the seeds of the rose plant. Dried rose hip and the seeds are used together to make medicine.
P Fresh rose hip contains a lot of vitamin C, so it shares many uses with vitamin C including preventing and treating colds, flu, and vitamin C deficiencies. However, much of the vitamin C in rose hip is destroyed during drying and processing and also declines rapidly during storage. Because of this, many rose hip-derived "natural" vitamin C products have actually been fortified with lab-made vitamin C, but their labels may not always say so.
P Orally, rose hip is also used for stomach disorders including stomach spasms, stomach acid deficiency, preventing stomach irritation and ulcers, and as a "stomach tonic" for intestinal diseases. Rose hip is also used for diarrhea, constipation, gallstones, gallbladder ailments, lower urinary tract and kidney disorders, fluid retention (dropsy or edema), gout, back and leg pain (sciatica), diabetes, high cholesterol, weight loss, high blood pressure, chest ailments, fever, increasing immune function during exhaustion, increasing blood flow in the limbs, increasing urine flow and quenching thirst.
P Topically, rose hip is used for stretch marks.
P In foods and in manufacturing, rose hip is used for tea, jam, soup, and as a natural source of vitamin C.

T How effective is it?
P Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
P The effectiveness ratings for ROSE HIP are as follows:
t Possibly effective for...
- Osteoarthritis. Most research shows that taking a specific rose hip product (LitoZin/i-flex, Hyben Vital) by mouth twice daily for 3-4 months reduces pain and stiffness and improves function in people with osteoarthritis.
t Insufficient evidence to rate effectiveness for...
- Obesity. Early research shows that taking rose hip powder mixed with apple juice does not affect weight or blood sugar levels in people who are obese. But it might slightly reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. Early research shows that taking a specific rose hip product (LitoZin/i-flex, Hyben Vital) by mouth improves some symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Stretch marks (striae gravidarum). Early research shows that applying a specific cream containing rose hip oil and other ingredients (Velastisa Antiestrías, ISDIN) to the skin at least twice daily during pregnancy reduces the severity of stretch marks. It also might reduce the chance of getting stretch marks in women who didn't have stretch marks before becoming pregnant.
- Boosting the immune system.
- Diarrhea.
- Fever.
- Infections.
- Preventing and treating colds.
- Stomach irritations.
- Other conditions.
P More evidence is needed to rate rose hip for these uses.

T How does it work?
P Some people use rose hip as a source of vitamin C. It is true that fresh rose hip contains vitamin C. But processing and drying of the plant destroys most of the vitamin C. Besides vitamin C, other natural chemicals found in rose hip may be helpful for a variety of health conditions.

T Are there safety concerns?
P Rose hip is LIKELY SAFE for adults when taken by mouth appropriately. Rose hip can cause some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, stomach cramps, fatigue, headache, inability to sleep, and others.
P There is not enough reliable information about the safety of applying rose hip to the skin.
t Special precautions & warnings:
P Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking rose hip by mouth as a medicine during pregnancy or breast feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid using amounts larger than those found in food. There is also not enough reliable information about the safety of rose hip when applied to the skin during pregnancy or breast feeding.
P Diabetes: The vitamin C in rose hip might affect the control of diabetes, but not all experts agree on this.
P Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency): Large amounts of the vitamin C in rose hip might increase the risk of complications.
P Bleeding conditions: Rugosin E, a chemical found in rose hip, might slow blood clotting. Taking rose hip might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.
P Kidney stones: Large amounts of the vitamin C in rose hip might increase the chance of getting kidney stones.
P Iron-related disorders such as hemochromatosis, thalassemia, or anemia: Use rose hip with caution if you have any of these conditions. The vitamin C in rose hip can increase iron absorption, which could make your condition worse.
P Heart attack (myocardial infarction): Rose hip contains rugosin E. Rugosin E might cause blood clots. If you've had a heart attack, taking rose hip might increase the chance of blood clots or another heart attack.
P Sickle cell disease: It is rare, but the vitamin C in rose hip might make blood more acidic. This could bring on a sickle cell crisis. It's best to avoid use.
P Stroke: Rose hip contains rugosin E. Rugosin E might cause blood clots. If you've had a stroke, taking rose hip might increase the chance of blood clots or another stroke.
P Blood clots in legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism): Rose hip contains rugosin E. Rugosin E might cause blood clots. If you've had blood clots in your legs or lungs before, taking rose hip might increase the chance of another clot.

T Are there interactions with medications?
P Moderate
P Be cautious with this combination.
P Aluminum
P Aluminum is found in most antacids. Rose hips contain vitamin C. Vitamin C can increase how much aluminum the body absorbs. But it isn't clear if this interaction is a big concern. Take rose hip two hours before or four hours after antacids.
P Estrogens
P Rose hip contains a large amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C can increase how much estrogen the body absorbs. Taking rose hip along with estrogen can increase the effects and side effects of estrogens.
P Some estrogen pills include conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin), ethinyl estradiol, estradiol, and others.
P Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
P Rose hip contains vitamin C. Large amounts of vitamin C might increase how quickly the body gets rid of fluphenazine (Prolixin). Taking rose hip along with fluphenazine (Prolixin) might decrease the effectiveness of fluphenazine (Prolixin).
P Lithium
P Rose hip might have an effect like a water pill or "diuretic." Taking rose hip might decrease how well the body gets rid of lithium. This could increase how much lithium is in the body and result in serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider before using this product if you are taking lithium. Your lithium dose might need to be changed.
P Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
P Rose hip contains a chemical that might cause blood to clot. Taking rose hip along with medications that slow clotting might decrease how well these medications work.
P Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
P Warfarin (Coumadin)
P Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to slow blood clotting. Rose hip contains vitamin C. Large amounts of vitamin C might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin). Decreasing the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) might increase the chance of clotting. Be sure to have your blood checked regularly. The dose of your warfarin (Coumadin) might need to be changed.
P Minor
P Be watchful with this combination.
P Aspirin
P The body breaks down aspirin to get rid of it. Rose hip contains large amounts of vitamin C. Large amounts of vitamin C might decrease the breakdown of aspirin. Taking large amount of rose hip along with aspirin might increase the effects and side effects of aspirin. Do not take large amounts of vitamin C if you take large amounts of aspirin.
P Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate (Trilisate)
P Rose hip contains vitamin C. Vitamin C might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of choline magnesium trisalicylate (Trilisate). But it is not clear if this interaction is a big concern.
P Salsalate (Disalcid)
P Rose hip contains vitamin C. Vitamin C might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of salsalate (Disalcid). Taking rose hip along with salsalate (Disalcid) might increase the effects and side effects of salsalate.

T Are there interactions with herbs and supplements?
P Iron
P The vitamin C in rose hip could increase the amount of iron that the body absorbs.
P Vitamin C
P Rose hip contains vitamin C. Taking rose hip with vitamin C supplements might increase the chance of side effects associated with vitamin C.

T Are there interactions with foods?
P Iron
P The vitamin C in rose hip could increase the amount of iron that the body absorbs.

T What dose is used?
P The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
P ADULTS
- For osteoarthritis: Five capsules containing a total of 2.5 grams of rose hip powder (LitoZin/i-flex, Hyben Vital) has been taken twice daily for 3 months.

T Other names
P Apothecary Rose, Cynorhodon, Cynorhodons, Cynosbatos, Dog Rose, Dog Rose Hips, Églantier, Fruit de l'Églantier, Gulab, Heps, Hip, Hip Fruit, Hip Sweet, Hipberry, Hop Fruit, Persian Rose, Phool Gulab, Pink Rose, Poire d'oiseaux, Rosa alba, Rosa canina, Rosa centifolia, Rosa damascena, Rosa de Castillo, Rosa gallica, Rosa lutetiana, Rosa Mosqueta, Rosa pomifera, Rosa provincialis, Rosa rugosa, Rosa villosa, Rosae Pseudofructus Cum Semen, Rose de Provins, Rose des Apothicaires, Rose Hips, Rose Rouge de Lancaster, Rosehip, Rosehips, Rosier de Provence, Satapatri, Satapatrika, Shatpari, Wild Boar Fruit.

T Methodology
P To learn more about how this article was written, please see the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database methodology.

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