While it might be known as something of a luxury item thanks to its history as a perfume, rose water is not only a delightful flavour for culinary adventurers but is actually a surprisingly affordable medicinal substance. Indeed, people have been using it for hundreds of years in places as diverse as Iran and North America.

Not only are side effects of rose water (irritation and stinging) rare, but rose water has been proven to contain several powerful antioxidants and can even help to relax your central nervous system. This means it’s wonderful for those suffering from anxiety.

What is rose water?

As the name suggests, rose water is made by combining water and rose petals, with rose oil created by distilling the petals. This is then combined with fresh filtered water, with most rose waters containing around 10% to 50% rose water. The higher the concentration of rose oil, the more expensive the product.

The physical health benefits of rose water

As a medicinal compound, rose water can be used to treat the following:

Skin – Thanks to its natural antioxidants, rose water can not only protect the skin against UV radiation but also has anti-inflammatory properties too. This also means it can be swallowed to treat a sore throat. For those suffering from eczema and acne, it can be a great comfort in reducing soreness too.

Eyes – When used as an eye drop, rose water has restorative benefits for those suffering with everything from cataracts to conjunctivitis.

Cuts – As well as being antibacterial, rose water is also antiseptic, meaning it will help clean wounds and make them heal faster. This is true whether you’re looking at a cut or a burn.

Infections – Again thanks to its antiseptic properties, rose water creates histamines that can be useful for treating and preventing serious infections.

Headaches – The de-stressing effect of the fumes created when rose water is boiled has been shown to help in the treatment of headaches and migraines. It can also help when applied to a cloth and rested on the forehead.

Digestion – While rose water is perhaps most famous for being used as a laxative to treat constipation, it also improves bile flow to treat upset stomachs.

The mental health benefits of rose water

Perhaps the most crucial and famous benefit of rose water is how it can help improve the moods of those suffering due to mental health. Rose water vapours have a distinct antidepressant quality which is thought to be similar to the drug diazepam.

This means it can be used to help treat everything from depression and anxiety to tension. In some circles, it’s even known to help the treatment of dementia. This is because rose water acts as an amyloid inhibitor, with the amyloid being the proteins that can negatively affect our memories.

Thankfully, if you want to try rose water for yourself, it’s nowhere near as expensive as you might assume and can be purchased in many forms – from sprays and tablets to drops and drinks. So, why not experience the healing power of the rose for yourself today?