Herbal Medicine 101, Lesson 22: Rose Of Sharon

Herbal Medicine 101, Lesson 22: Rose Of Sharon
In this lesson I discuss the many medicinal uses of this member of the Hibiscus and Mallow Family.
https://youtu.be/_CC4hX0rn7A

Thank you. I was looking on YouTube for text, and I found the closed captions which normally means there's a transcript too. But I could not find the transcript .. if there is one, could you link to that too?

(It's estimated 25+% of people, like me, get on better with plain text information than audio-visual.) Many thanks!

Ac Baker wrote:Thank you. I was looking on YouTube for text, and I found the closed captions which normally means there's a transcript too. But I could not find the transcript .. if there is one, could you link to that too?

(It's estimated 25+% of people, like me, get on better with plain text information than audio-visual.) Many thanks!

I haven't been able to figure out how to do that yet, but I will try int he future

I am also a reader. Mr. A. Baker.   Thank you for that.  All I kept doing was scrolling looking for it written.   It stimulates my brain better.   Thank you so much for this information sir.  That's an idea.   I would have kept your video playing if I could have scrolled down and read the information.   Your a genius Mr. A.  Baker!

Jaclyn Thompson wrote:I am also a reader. Mr. A. Baker.   Thank you for that.  All I kept doing was scrolling looking for it written.   It stimulates my brain better.   Thank you so much for this information sir.  That's an idea.   I would have kept your video playing if I could have scrolled down and read the information.   Your a genius Mr. A.  Baker!

From what i can tell, they won't let me use the transcript feature until I reach a certain number of subscribers and hours viewed.  So, I just have to hope people watch my videos or listen to my podcast on youtube, because I am a long way away from 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours watched!

I also don't watch videos and use several online tools to get transcripts (although frankly the quality varies wildly-- today's had no punctuation whatsoever, so I ran it through an automatic editor to summarize). NOTE there may be inaccuracies, I'm providing this just because I personally was curious about what was in the video.
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This week's lesson is about the **Rose of Sharon**, a beautiful flower currently in bloom. It's a member of the mallow family, specifically a subcategory called the **hibiscus family**.

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### Appearance and Characteristics

The Rose of Sharon has distinctive features:

* **Flowers:** The example shown has white petals with a beautiful red center. They come in various colors, including pink and lavender. These flowers close up very quickly after picking, often within an hour, and the bud will drop off by the next morning.
* **Buds:** The buds are unique, appearing rolled or curled up before opening. Several buds typically grow at the end of a stalk.
* **Leaves:** The leaves exhibit characteristics of the mallow family, somewhat resembling a combination of a mallow and mint leaf. They have a unique soft texture, and the whole plant has a noticeable softness.
* **Growth Habit:** Rose of Sharon grows as a bush and is considered an old-fashioned ornamental landscaping plant. While similar to other hibiscus flowers, which can be as large as dinner plates, the Rose of Sharon is easily identifiable. It's noted as a very underutilized herb.

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### Medicinal Uses and Indications

The Rose of Sharon is a versatile herb with several medicinal properties. The useful parts include the **flowers, leaves, and bark**.

#### Leaves

* **Diuretic:** Helps remove excess fluid from the body.
* **Expectorant:** Aids in bringing up mucus.
* **Stomachic:** Settles the stomach.

#### Flowers (Decoction)

* **Diuretic:** Similar to the leaves, helps with fluid removal.
* **Ophthalmic:** Can be used as an eyewash to soothe the eyes.
* **Stomachic:** Settles the stomach and can help with gas.
* **Treatment for Skin Issues:** Effective for itch, rashes, and bug bites. A poultice can be made from the flowers for topical application.
* **Astringent:** Helps with diarrhea and even bloody stools. It's described as a gentle herb that can be very helpful in cases of severe diarrhea.

#### Bark (Root Bark Decoction)

The bark contains several medically active constituents, including mucilage, carotenoids, and anthocyanins.

* **Antiphlogistic:** Reduces inflammation.
* **Emollient:** Soothes and softens the skin.
* **Febrifuge:** Helps bring down a fever.
* **Hepatic:** Supports liver function.
* **Vermifuge:** Kills worms.

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### Traditional and Modern Relevance

This plant is often found in old homesteads, and the speaker notes it's a shame it has fallen out of favor in landscaping in recent years, suggesting it's an old-fashioned plant that grandparents might have had.

The **Doctrine of Signatures**, if believed, would suggest that the plant's overall softness indicates its soothing properties for the skin, stomach, and eyes.

The leaves are present most of the year, while the flowers bloom for about a month or two. The Rose of Sharon is used in the treatment of various conditions, including:

* Diarrhea
* Dysentery
* Abdominal pain
* Leukorrhea
* Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)
* Dermatitis