Evidence supporting the use of: Rose hips
For the health condition: Colds (prevention)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Rose hips have a long history of traditional use for the prevention and treatment of colds, primarily due to their high vitamin C content. In various cultures, particularly in Europe, rose hip tea or syrup was commonly prepared during the winter months to help ward off colds and boost immunity. This traditional use is based on the belief that vitamin C can enhance immune function, and rose hips are indeed one of the richest natural sources of this vitamin. However, scientific studies evaluating the effect of rose hips specifically for cold prevention are limited and results are mixed. While some research demonstrates that vitamin C supplementation may slightly reduce the duration and severity of colds in certain populations (such as those under physical stress), the overall effect on cold prevention is minimal for the general population. Moreover, most clinical trials on vitamin C and colds use pure ascorbic acid rather than rose hip preparations, making it difficult to directly attribute any benefit to rose hips themselves. Overall, while the traditional rationale for using rose hips against colds is clear and supported by their nutrient content, rigorous scientific validation is lacking. Thus, the evidence rating is moderate, based more on longstanding use and plausible mechanism than on robust clinical trials involving rose hips specifically.

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