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Q: What are some ways to prepare rose for herbal medicine besides tea? A: Rose petal and rose hip teas are both lovely, but there are many other ways to enjoy rose. The petals, leaves, and hips can be tinctured in vodka, brandy, or grain alcohol to make an extract; add some honey to the finished extract to make a sweet rose elixir. Speaking of honey, dried and powdered rose petals mixed into local wildflower honey
makes a decadent rose electuary; fresh petals can be used instead. Petals can be infused in almond or coconut oil for a lovely massage oil. Or, try infusing rose petals or hips in vinegar for use in lieu of alcohol-based tinctures or in salad dressings. Fresh petals can be used on wounds as a bandage or poultice. If you’re feeling industrious, you can make a steam distiller at home with a few common household items and prepare rose hydrosol from fresh petals. FROM SCRATCH MAGAZINE