Rose Petal Remedy (Rose Oxymel)

Roses are not only edible, but are traditionally used for the following health benefits as well. They are:

  • cooling
  • astringent
  • anti-inflammatory
  • uplifting
  • nervine (beneficial to the nervous system)
  • emotion balancing
  • helpful for PMS & menopausal symptoms
jar of rose petals, vinegar, and honey

In the past, I’ve written about how you can make Rose Glycerite and Whiskey Rose Cough Remedy, but today I want to talk about how you can use your roses plus two more simple ingredients to make your own Rose Petal Remedy, or oxymel.

“Oxymel” is just another name for a sweet and sour herbal syrup. They’re excellent for all types of respiratory conditions and sore throats. If you’re interested in learning more about them, you might want to read this post: How to Make Medicinal Vinegars & Oxymels.

Whether you use fresh or dried rose petals, it’s important that they haven’t been chemically treated. Pesticides made for commercial roses are not approved for human consumption.

Pouring honey over rose petals

Making Rose Petal Remedy (Oxymel):

All you will need to make this is:

  • fresh roses (or dried petals)
  • raw honey
  • apple cider vinegar

First, fill a jar about 3/4 full with fresh roses (a little more or less is fine, use what you have on hand.) If you’re using dried petals, you won’t need as many – just fill the jar less than halfway.

You can use the whole rose or just the petals.

Next pour raw honey over the petals until they are saturated. How much honey you use depends on how sweet you want your mixture to be. I like sweet, so I fill the jar at least half way with honey.

Next, pour apple cider vinegar over the honey & roses until it reaches the top of the jar. Stir gently to get out any air bubbles and refill with a bit more vinegar as it settles.

Cover with a layer of plastic wrap and then cap your jar. Store in a cool place for two to four weeks, shaking occasionally. Then strain and store in a cool place (or your refrigerator) for about 6 to 9 months.

Lovely Rosebud

Using Rose Petal Remedy (Oxymel):

This is a great remedy to set aside until cold & flu season rolls around again. Take your finished oxymel by the spoonful as needed for coughs, congestion and sore throats.

The resulting liquid can be tangy, depending on how much vinegar you used, so if needed – you can mix with a little additional honey for dosing. (This is especially helpful for getting it in children.)

You can also drizzle a bit in ginger ale or use some when making Herbal Jello (or Healthier Herbal Jello.)

If you’re pregnant, nursing or on medication, be sure to check with your doctor before self-treating with herbs. While roses are generally safe for most people, they may or may not be for you.

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31 Comments

  1. Jan, this is a great post! I have a huge rise bush and keep having to cut off the low branches, so I’m totally going to use this! Thanks!

    1. That’s great! I’m glad you’re going to try it out! Roses have a ton of health benefits, so it’s wonderful to have some growing handy. :)

  2. Can this be used with any sort of roses? Or should it be used with only certain varieties?

    1. Hi Jenifer! You can use any type of rose that you have available. Traditionally, wild roses and deeply scented ones are preferred for medicinal purposes, but all roses carry beneficial properties in varying degrees.

      1. Okay, because I grow floribundas, and I was wondering if I was able to use them. :D Thank you!

  3. Thank you very much for the beautiful book! I have enjoyed the pictures as much as the information! I look forward to trying several of your ideas!

    1. I’m glad you like it Brooke – that makes me happy to hear! :) Have fun making lovely rosy things!

  4. Thank you so much for being so generous and allowing everyone the win of this great ebook!

  5. I have several bags of dried rosé petals. Some are several years old. Are they worth using?

    1. Hi Marcie, you can use dried petals, but I’m not sure about the ones that are several years old. Are any of them just a year old or less? I would try those first. There are a few other things you can do with those older petals though! A couple ideas: You can grind them up and mix them with epsom salts and a few drops of rose essential oil to make lovely bath salts. You can also use them in an herbal scouring powder: https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/herbal-scouring-powder/

  6. An age old Ayurvedic recipe for rose petals is GULKAND…..
    Gulkand, is a sweet preserve of rose petals originating in India. Gul means flower whereas kand means sweet plant.
    PReparation: Rose petals and sugar are placed in layers in a wide-mouthed airtight glass jar. The jar is exposed to sunlight for 6 hours per day for around 3 to 4 weeks. On alternate days, the contents of the jar are stirred with a wooden stick. When the process is complete, the gulkand is kept indoors in a tightly sealed container.
    Benefits and uses
    Gulqand is an Ayurvedic tonic. The National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine provides a list of the benefits obtained from eating gulkand.[1] This includes reduction of pitta and heat in the body, a reduction in eye inflammation and redness, strengthening of the teeth and gums, and the treatment of acidity.

    1. Thank you for sharing the information and instructions for gulkand, Reva! It sounds wonderful and I will certainly have to try it out. :)

  7. Jan, this will be the next thing I concoct from your book (which you already know that I LOVE!). My rose-infused witch hazel just finished “brewing” yesterday, and I made some rose water, part of which I used to make your marshmallow rose cleanser (I think I’ll freeze the rest). Since I’m using knockout roses, which are not as fragrant, I used a drop or two of geranium oil for a lovely fragrance. THANK YOU AGAIN for this wonderful book, Jan!

  8. My homeopath has told me to source organic rose petal oil to treat a huge gall stone. A couple of drops in honey helps to shrink the stone – cannot source the oil in South Africa – can you help
    Regards

    1. Hi Louise, I live in the US so am unfamiliar with sourcing items outside of the country. Perhaps if you found some through an online search and wrote the various companies offering it to see if they would set up a special shipping option for you? I wish I could help more!

  9. How can i view you book?? I love your simple ideas. Im def going to try the rose oxymel. Do you have the rose petal and apple cider vinegar drink i’ve been hearing about??
    Thank you.

    1. Hi Annie, It should be quite similar. Alcohol is a little stronger at extracting herbal properties, but vinegar offers up some bonus nutrients. So, both are good options!

    1. Hi Ashely! I think you could put a bit of fresh lavender in there and see how you like it! If you’re pregnant or have health issues or are on medication, do a double check with your health care provider before using lavender (or any herbs) internally, since it’s not recommended for everyone.

    1. Hi Amanda! For a premature 2 year old, I would definitely double check with a licensed health care provider about any home remedy ideas. They may likely consider some completely fine to try out, but with the littlest ones, I’m always extra cautious! :)

  10. Is the apple cider vinegar in the recipe raw or pasteurized, can raw apple cider vinegar be used?

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