Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Cabbage rose: guidance on petals, with the uses and precautions specific to documented preparations.
Also known as: cabbage rose
Rosa gallica and R. damascena are also included in the monograph; rose hips are distinct.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Mouth and throat
Traditional local use of a petal infusion as a mouth rinse for mild mouth and throat inflammation; this is not an indication to drink rose water.
Use considered plausible in a traditional-use monograph. That status alone does not demonstrate clinical efficacy.
Read the sourceSkin
Traditional use of a petal infusion applied to the skin for minor skin inflammation; clinical benefit is not established.
Use considered plausible in a traditional-use monograph. That status alone does not demonstrate clinical efficacy.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications & precautions
- Source-listed contraindicationAllergy to the active substance.Source
Medicine interactions
- No interaction reported in the sourceNo interactions are reported in the monograph for the specified preparations; this does not establish compatibility with every medicine.Source
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- No known adverse effects in the monograph; remain alert to reactions.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Medicinal use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended because adequate data are lacking; safety has not been established.
SourceChildren & adolescents
Medicinal use is not recommended below 12 years because adequate data are lacking; follow the preparation-specific leaflet.
SourceIf symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Forms & how they are used
DOCUMENTED FORMS
One plant, several preparations.
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
Infusion for external usePetals · Route: topical
Mouth rinsePetals · Route: mouth
Preparations: ingredients & steps
DOCUMENTED PREPARATIONS
Preparations & recipes.
A DOCUMENTED PREPARATION
Rose-petal mouth rinse
Traditional relief of mild mouth or throat inflammation; clinical evidence is insufficient.
Plant part: Dried petals of Rosa centifolia L.
Ingredients & quantities
- 1–2 g dried medicinal-quality Rosa centifolia L. petals.
- 200 mL boiling water.
Preparation steps
- Pour the water over the petals in a clean container.
- Steep for 5–15 minutes and strain: the EMA glossary’s general method when no specific time is stated; the product leaflet takes priority.
- Allow to cool fully before contact with mouth or skin.
Use: Rinse the mouth and spit out, up to three times daily. Do not swallow.
Storage: Prepare immediately before use; no shelf life for the prepared liquid is established here. Follow the dried-herb packaging and expiry date.
Before you start. Adults only. Contraindicated with allergy to the plant. Not recommended during pregnancy/breastfeeding because data are insufficient. Stop if a reaction occurs. No reported interaction does not guarantee compatibility with all medicines. Seek advice if worse or persisting beyond one week. Use medicinal-quality petals, never florist roses.
A DOCUMENTED PREPARATION
Rose-petal compress — intact skin
Traditional relief of minor skin inflammation; not a treatment for infection.
Plant part: Dried petals of Rosa centifolia L.
Ingredients & quantities
- 1–2 g dried medicinal-quality Rosa centifolia L. petals.
- 200 mL boiling water.
Preparation steps
- Pour the water over the petals in a clean container.
- Steep for 5–15 minutes and strain: the EMA glossary’s general method when no specific time is stated; the product leaflet takes priority.
- Allow to cool fully before contact with mouth or skin.
Use: Moisten a clean dressing and apply to a small area of intact skin, up to three times daily. Keep away from eyes.
Storage: Prepare immediately before use; no shelf life for the prepared liquid is established here. Follow the dried-herb packaging and expiry date.
Before you start. Adults only. Contraindicated with allergy to the plant. Not recommended during pregnancy/breastfeeding because data are insufficient. Stop if a reaction occurs. No reported interaction does not guarantee compatibility with all medicines. Seek advice if worse or persisting beyond one week. Use medicinal-quality petals, never florist roses.
Understanding the plant’s actions
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
How does the plant act?
Cabbage rose is covered here for its dried petals, in a shared monograph with Rosa gallica and Rosa damascena. The scope is traditional local care for minor oral or skin inflammation. Rose fragrance is not the proposed mechanism. A petal infusion, a hydrosol, a perfumery absolute and an essential oil are different products to which the same data cannot be attributed.
Mouth and throat
Petals in local preparations are recognized on a traditional basis for mild inflammation of the mucous membranes.
Use considered plausible in a traditional-use monograph. That status alone does not demonstrate clinical efficacy.
Read the referenceMinor skin irritations
The use concerns a petal preparation; the monograph does not, by extension, validate all rose-scented lotions.
Use considered plausible in a traditional-use monograph. That status alone does not demonstrate clinical efficacy.
Read the referenceWhat this means for preparation.
Choose petals intended for the use concerned, with the species and quality stated. Material sold for fragrance or decoration is not an oromucosal preparation.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Do not transfer a trial from another rose
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
- Type of research
- EMA assessment of a small randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- Preparation concerned
- Mouthwash with an aqueous extract of Rosa damascena in people with recurrent mouth ulcers.
- Observed results
- A favourable effect was reported with this preparation.
- Limitations to consider
- The report finds no clinical trial on Rosa centifolia flowers; this trial supports only the plausibility of the shared dossier and does not prove an effect specific to cabbage rose.
What can we take from this?
A detailed chemical profile specific to R. centifolia is not sufficiently documented in the passages used; constituents of R. damascena are therefore not copied here.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — Rosae flos: dossier and documentsAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — document officiel relu : usages et sécurité, Rose de maiAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — scientific assessment report: Rosa centifoliaAccessed on 09/10/2026
- EMA — Glossary on herbal teas, §4: freshly prepared infusionsAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.
