Rose hips

Rose hips are also known as Cynorhodon, Cynosbatos, Dog Rose, Fruit de l'Églantier, Gulab, Heps, Hip Fruit, Hipberry, Hop Fruit, Persian Rose, Phool Gulab, Poire d'oiseaux, Rosa, Satapatri, Rosae pseudofructus, Rose des Apothicaires, Rose de Provins, Rosier de Provence, Satapatrika, Shatpari, Wild Boar Fruit, and many other names.

Rose hips are the round part of a rose flower, just below the petals, where the seeds are found. Fresh rose hips have high levels of vitamin C, but dried rose hips and rose seeds have less vitamin C. Because of this, supplemental vitamin C is often added to rose hip herbal products.

Rose hips have been used in alternative medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis, fever, diarrhea, upset stomach, infections, the common cold, and other conditions. However, research has not proven that rose hips are effective for treating these conditions.

It is not certain whether rose hips are effective for any medical condition. The FDA has not approved the medicinal use of this product. Rose hips should not be used instead of medication prescribed by your doctor.

Rose hips are commonly sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards for many herbal products, and some supplements on the market have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. To reduce the risk of contamination, herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a trustworthy source.

Rose hips may also be used for purposes not mentioned in this product guide.

When thinking about using herbal supplements, ask your doctor for advice. You may also want to talk to a practitioner who is trained in herbal or health supplements.

If you decide to use rose hips, follow the instructions on the package or those given by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than what is recommended on the label.

Do not take topical (for the skin) rose hips by mouth. Topical forms of this product are meant only for use on the skin.

Do not use different forms (tablets, liquid, tincture, teas, etc.) of rose hips at the same time without medical advice. Using different forms together raises the risk of an overdose.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Follow all instructions on the product label and package. Inform each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you take.

Before using rose hips, talk to your healthcare provider. You may not be able to use rose hips if you have certain medical conditions, especially:

• sickle cell disease;
• a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency;
• diabetes;
• iron deficiency, or an iron storage disease such as hemochromatosis; or
• a hemoglobin blood cell disorder such as anemia, sickle cell, or thalassemia.

Do not take rose hips without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. It is not known whether rose hips will be harmful to an unborn baby.

Do not take rose hips without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. It is not known whether rose hips will be harmful to a nursing infant.

There is no information available regarding the use of rose hips by children. Do not give any Herbal products to a child without first talking to the child's doctor.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Although not all side effects are known, rose hips are thought to be possibly safe when taken at recommended doses.

Using rose hips in large amounts may cause a blood clot. Stop using this product and call your healthcare provider immediately if you have:

• sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), problems with vision or speech;
• sudden chest pain, coughing up blood; or
• pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs.

Common side effects of rose hips may include:

• heartburn, stomach pain;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
• headache; or
• sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Skip the missed dose if it is nearly time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra rose hips to compensate for the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Do not take rose hips with any vitamin or mineral supplement that has iron. You should also avoid foods that have a lot of iron, because the vitamin C in rose hips could increase how much iron your body takes in.

Do not take an antacid within 4 hours before or 2 hours after you have taken rose hips. Antacids that contain aluminum can make it harder for your body to absorb the vitamin C in rose hips. Antacids that have aluminum include Acid Gone, Aldroxicon, Alternagel, Di-Gel, Gaviscon, Gelusil, Maalox, Maldroxal, Mylagen, Mylanta, Rulox, and others.

Do not take rose hips without talking to your doctor if you are using any of the following medications:

• fluphenazine;
• lithium;
• warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
• birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy; or
• medicines to treat iron deficiency--ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with rose hips, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and Herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this product guide.