Content
Many people know that rose hips are extremely rich in vitamin C. But not everyone knows that its concentration in these fruits is 50 times higher than in lemons. Ascorbic acid is a powerful immunostimulant and antioxidant. Therefore, if you take rose hips for a cold, you can shorten the duration of the illness and recover faster from it. Products containing it will also be effective for the prevention of influenza and ARVI.
What are the benefits of rose hips for colds and coughs?
Rosehip is widely used in folk medicine. All parts of the plant are used - not only fruits, but also rhizomes, leaves, petals. Their benefits for colds and coughs are due to the richness of their composition:
- Vitamin C. This is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes the negative effects of free radicals on the body.They are formed en masse during the development of infection and destroy healthy cells. At the same time, this vitamin promotes the synthesis of special substances - interferons, which kill viruses and other pathogenic microflora, which is necessary for colds.
- Vitamin R. Inhibits the development of infection, stops the inflammatory process, reducing the permeability of capillary walls.
- Vitamin RR. Strengthens the walls of blood vessels, expands their lumen. Thanks to this, all organs and tissues are better supplied with oxygen and other substances they need for normal functioning, and waste and toxins are removed from the body more quickly.
- B vitamins. Have a beneficial effect on the immune system and the cardiovascular system as a whole.
- Vitamin E. Increases the body's resistance to the negative effects of environmental factors, neutralizes free radicals.
- Tannins. A powerful natural antiseptic that stops the inflammatory process.
- Potassium, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, iron. These macro- and microelements are vital for the functioning of all organs and systems.
The benefits of rose hips for colds are also recognized by official medicine; dried fruits and leaves are sold in pharmacies
Is it possible for pregnant women with a cold?
Pregnant women can take decoction and other medications only if they are prescribed by their doctor. In the absence of contraindications and individual intolerance, rose hips will be useful for a pregnant woman not only for colds.Daily course intake in small portions will help prevent infection with influenza, ARVI, strengthen the immune system, strengthen the body's protective functions and saturate it with useful substances, a deficiency of which inevitably occurs during pregnancy. The duration of the course of treatment and other important nuances of the “treatment regimen” are determined by the doctor.
Additional beneficial properties of rose hips for those who are pregnant:
- relief of symptoms of toxicosis;
- fight against edema;
- strengthening and normalization of the cardiovascular system.
A pregnant woman’s body, weakened by toxicosis, is more susceptible to diseases, including colds
Pregnant women are not advised to use vasoconstrictor nasal drops. However, a runny nose is inevitable when you have a cold. As an alternative, you can use rosehip oil. It is instilled into the nostrils or turundas made of gauze or cotton wool soaked in the product are inserted into them, removing them after 5-10 minutes.
How to brew rose hips correctly for colds and flu
Most often, for colds and flu, rose hips are used in combination with other medicinal plants. This enhances the desired effect.
Decoction with sea buckthorn and mint
This remedy copes very effectively with all the symptoms of ARVI. It is advisable that the ingredients be fresh. But in the absence of such, dried rose hips, sea buckthorn, and mint leaves are also suitable.
To prepare the decoction, you need to mix about a handful of each ingredient. The mixture is poured with a liter of cold water, and its temperature is brought to 75-80 ° C in a water bath. You cannot boil the decoction. After 15-20 minutes, remove it from the stove and allow it to cool to approximately body temperature under a tightly closed lid.
Drink a glass of prepared rosehip decoction for colds 2-3 times a day after meals, adding a teaspoon of liquid honey (preferably linden honey). If desired, you can also add a slice of lemon to the cup.
Rosehip and sea buckthorn are a “shock” dose of vitamin C
Infusion with raspberries
A drink for influenza and ARVI helps to quickly reduce the temperature and get rid of unpleasant aches in the joints. An infusion of fresh berries will be healthier, but you can also use dried ones.
Fresh fruits (3-4 tablespoons each) should be cut in half or lightly “beat” with a wooden culinary mallet. Then they are poured with hot water and infused in a thermos or other container under a tightly closed lid for 8-10 hours. Drink a glass three times a day after meals.
Sore throat reliever
A cold almost always means a sore and sore throat. To get rid of this unpleasant symptom, two glasses of fresh fruits are turned into pulp using a meat grinder or blender. Then you need to squeeze the juice out of it, pour it into a glass, add 1/4 tsp. baking soda, salt on the tip of a knife and add warm water, bringing the volume of liquid to 200 ml. The product is used to gargle. Procedures are carried out up to five times a day.
Decoction with anti-inflammatory effect
It will require 1 tbsp. l. dry rose hips and the same amount of dry leaves of elecampane and coltsfoot. The mixture of ingredients is poured into a glass of hot water, kept in a water bath for 7-10 minutes, and left for 2-3 hours. After straining the liquid, add pomegranate juice (1/4 cup) to it if desired. This is a single serving; you can drink the decoction three times a day.
Flower decoction for colds
The product is “seasonal”, only fresh flowers are suitable for it. About 100 g of “raw material” is poured into 0.5 liters of hot water and kept in a water bath for 30-40 minutes. Then the liquid is infused for at least seven hours. The decoction copes well not only with the cold itself, but also with its typical symptoms - general weakness, lack of appetite. The daily norm is about 1 liter, the liquid should be drunk during the day between meals.
A decoction of rosehip flowers not only helps to cope with colds, but also quenches thirst well.
How to brew rosehip for cough
If a cold is accompanied by a cough and sore throat, it is recommended to mash the rose hips or at least cut them in half. This promotes better extraction of beneficial substances. Before drinking, the drink must be filtered, getting rid of hard “hairs” that can damage the mucous membrane.
Classic recipe
For the infusion you will need a glass of fresh fruits and 0.5 liters of hot water. The berries are cut and transferred to a suitable container. The ideal option is a thermos, but you can also use a saucepan. Rose hips are poured with water and left for 8-10 hours. Take a glass twice a day after lunch and dinner.
Rosehip infusion, useful for colds, is extremely easy to prepare
Infusion of rosehip and linden flowers
Dried flowers are used for it. 4 tsp. of each type, pour 200 ml of hot water and leave for at least 2-3 hours. The finished liquid is filtered, taken in a glass 3-4 times a day between meals (a quarter of the container is infusion, the rest is warm water).
Infusion of rosehip leaves for cough
Prepare and take it in the same way as in the previous recipe. For a glass of dry leaves or 3 tbsp. l. freshly chopped take 0.5 liters of hot water.
Decoction of rosehip rhizomes
Fresh rhizomes are thoroughly washed, crushed and dried. Take 4 tsp per glass of hot water. The broth is simmered in a water bath for 25-30 minutes, then cooled to body temperature, and filtered before use. Take it 100 ml 3-4 times a day after meals. The decoction helps remove phlegm from the lungs faster.
A decoction of rosehip rhizomes does not look very aesthetically pleasing, but it is extremely useful.
Rosehip infusion with expectorant herbs
Required ingredients:
- fresh rose hips – 50 g;
- marshmallow roots – 50 g;
- coltsfoot leaves – 50 g;
- licorice root – 30 g;
- anise stars – 15 g.
All ingredients are passed through a meat grinder or crushed in a blender. The mixture is poured with a liter of hot water and left for 2-3 hours. Drink 1.5-2 tbsp. l. three times a day after meals.
How to give rose hips to children for colds and coughs
For children under three years of age, rosehip products for colds are not recommended. Further, until adolescence, it is necessary to obtain the approval of a pediatrician for such treatment. Rosehip can be given either alone or in combination with other medicinal plants. Decoctions and infusions that are effective for colds are prepared according to the same recipes as for adults.
However, a single dose for a child under six years of age is reduced to a third, for 6-13 years old - to half of what an adult should drink. You are allowed to take the product a maximum of three times per day.
Contraindications
The list of contraindications for taking rosehip infusions and decoctions for colds is quite long:
- Individual intolerance. Rosehip is a strong potential allergen. Therefore, those who know that they have a tendency to such reactions should try infusions and decoctions with caution. The intensity of the allergy varies from mild itching, rash, redness of the skin to severe swelling and breathing problems.
- Bronchial asthma in the acute stage.
- Diseases of the stomach and intestines (gastritis, colitis, ulcers).
- Pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. The only exception in which the attending physician may allow you to take rose hips for a cold is hypotension. For hypertension, it is strictly prohibited, as it has the property of increasing blood pressure. It can all end in a cerebral hemorrhage.
- Thrombophlebitis, tendency to form blood clots. Due to the high concentration of vitamin K, rose hips “thicken” the blood even more.
- Liver or kidney failure, gallstones.
- Tendency to constipation.
An allergic reaction to rose hips is a fairly common occurrence.
If you overuse rose hips for a cold, the organic acids it contains in high concentrations destroy tooth enamel. Caries develops and ulcers appear on the mucous membrane. To avoid this, decoctions and infusions should be drunk through a straw and immediately rinse your mouth thoroughly.
Conclusion
Rosehip is a very effective remedy for colds, viral infections and coughs. Its benefits in this case are recognized even by official medicine and are due to the high content of vitamin C. However, it is necessary to start taking folk remedies based on it only with the approval of the attending physician. They also have contraindications; if they are not taken into account, you can get the opposite of the desired effect.
