Flower

Rose

SanskritShatapatriBotanicalRosa × damascenaAlso calledDamask rose, Gulab

Fragrant, cooling petals Ayurveda loves for soothing pitta, softening the heart and bringing a little sweetness to skin and mood.

Rose, flower

Few things change a mood faster than the smell of a real rose. Ayurveda takes that seriously. Shatapatri, "the hundred petaled," is one of the gentlest herbs in the tradition, and one of the most loved.

Rose is cooling, a little sweet and a little astringent. It is used whenever pitta runs hot: flushed skin, a sharp tongue, a short temper, a summer afternoon that feels like too much. It is also a flower of the heart, used to soften grief and invite a kinder, steadier mood.

You will find it in rose water for the face, in gulkand (a sun-cooked jam of petals and sugar), and in simple teas. Our rose buds steep into a pale pink cup that smells like a garden after rain.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Sweet
  • Bitter
  • Astringent
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Sweet
AgniEffect on digestion
Neutral for agni

Cooling and gentle, with little direct effect on digestion.

GunaQualities
  • Light
  • Oily
  • Soft
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: decreases, in moderation
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Rose is considered tridoshic and especially loved by pitta. Its gentle, fragrant nature also comforts vata, and kapha does well with it in small amounts, without too much sugar.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support a calm heart and a softer, steadier mood.
  • Traditionally used to support cool, clear, comfortable skin.
  • Traditionally used to support a comfortable monthly cycle when pitta runs hot.
  • Traditionally used to support restful sleep and an easy evening wind-down.
  • Traditionally used to support comfortable digestion and regularity, especially as gulkand.

How People Use It

  • TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried rose buds in a cup of hot, not boiling, water for 5 to 7 minutes. Lovely with a few cardamom pods.
  • TopicalRose water can be splashed or spritzed on the face as a cooling toner. Patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
  • MilkA few petals or a splash of food-grade rose water in warm milk with cardamom makes a soothing bedtime drink.
  • FoodGulkand, a jam of rose petals and sugar, is traditionally eaten by the small spoonful or stirred into milk.
Try This

Rose Cardamom Tea

A pale pink cup for warm evenings and tender hearts.

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried rose buds
  • 2 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • 1 cup water, just off the boil
  • Honey to taste (optional)
  1. Place the rose buds and cardamom in a mug or small teapot.
  2. Pour the hot water over them, cover, and steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Strain and let it cool a little before stirring in honey.
  4. Sip slowly, maybe with a few minutes of quiet breathing or a short journal entry.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Rose petals, rose tea and food-grade rose water are generally considered safe in food and tea amounts.
  • Use only organic, food-grade roses. Florist roses are often heavily sprayed and should not be eaten or brewed.
  • There is little research on concentrated rose extracts during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so stick to gentle tea amounts and avoid supplements unless your doctor approves.
  • Rose essential oil is very concentrated. Do not swallow it, and always dilute it well and patch test before using it on skin.
  • Safety research on rose beyond food use is limited. If you have allergies to plants in the rose family, take care. Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor if you have any health condition or take any medication.

In Our Shop

Organic Rose Buds and Petals

Organic Rose Buds and Petals, from $7.00. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

Shop Rose →

From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.