Parts Most Frequently Used: Flower, Flower Bud, Crushed Leaf

Flavors/Temps: Sour, Slightly Sweet, Cool, Warm

Caution: Hibiscus of either variety is considered safe. Not recommended in high doses for pregnant women as it can increase the flow of blood.

Key Constituents: Citric acid, Malic acid, tartaric acid, Hibiscus acid (Allo-hydroxycitric acid), Alkaloid, Anthocyanins, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Calcium, Chromium

History/Folklore: The two varieties of hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and H. sabdariffa) can be used interchangeably. They both have edible flowers and have similar medicinal properties.

Hibiscus (H. sabdariffa, aka roselle) has a long history of use in Egypt, Sudan, Iran, and North Africa to support respiratory function and improve heart health by managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, encouraging fluid balance, and improving circulation. In Africa, hibiscus flower tea has been used to treat constipation, cancer, and liver disease. A pulp made from the leaves is applied to the skin to heal wounds.

The Ancient Egyptians used hibiscus to lower body temperature and treat nervous system disorders.

Hibiscus is a good treatment for sunstroke and hangovers. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), it is used externally as a poultice to treat shingles.

Hibiscus has a long history of use in Indian Ayurvedic Medicine, where it has been used to treat, among other ailments, menstrual disorders, skin conditions, and to enhance fertility. It is believed that consuming hibiscus can help purify the mind and soul.

In the Hindu tradition, hibiscus symbolizes the heart chakra, embodying compassion, emotional healing, and the Divine feminine. The flower is offered to the goddess Kalli. The bright red color represents her blazing energy, representing power, transformation, and change. The deep red hue of its protruding center stamen mirrors her outstretched, blood-red tongue.

The flower is also offered to Lord Ganesh as a prayer to remove obstacles and bring good fortune. Offering the flower is a symbolic act of surrendering one’s desire and ego to the deity. Since the blossoms last but a few days, they remind one of the brevity of human life and encourage selfless devotion during our short lifetime. It is believed that consuming hibiscus can help purify the mind and soul.

Similar to cranberry, hibiscus extract can be used to treat bacterial and urinary tract infections. Compared to cranberries, hibiscus has a stronger antimicrobial effect, particularly against Candida albicans.

Hibiscus is an excellent source of Vitamin C, contributing to the herb’s antioxidant and immune-enhancing properties and making it an excellent tea or poultice for promoting healthy skin. Hibiscus is often an ingredient in skin and hair products.

The flower’s petals are edible and can be enjoyed either fresh or dried. They make a wonderful garnish for desserts.

In the Caribbean islands, hibiscus (H. sabdariffa, aka roselle) is called sorrel. It is commonly used to make a cooling summer drink enjoyed on hot days. It is also a drink that is traditionally enjoyed during the Christmas season. It is known as Agua de Jamaica and is made by steeping the calyx of the plant, the plump, cup-like formation at the base of the flowers that contains the seed. Once harvested and the seeds have been removed, the calyces are used fresh or dried in teas, jams, and cordials.

With its bright ruby-red color and tart, cranberry-pomegranate flavor, it is used globally in beverages, savory dishes, and desserts. The steeped, rehydrated petals can be sautéed with onions and spices to create a tangy vegetarian meat substitute for tacos and enchiladas. It is also used to make jellies and chutneys.

The plants were brought to the Caribbean islands with the slave trade, and their presence provided not only memories of home for the African slaves but was also a source of food and medicine that many slaves already knew how to make use of. Food historians theorize that hibiscus drinks became the basis of “red drinks” associated with Kool-Aid and other old-school carbonated red drinks. In Black cultures, as food and medicine, hibiscus, and especially hibiscus drinks, are celebrated as a symbol of African American joy, culture, and survival.

In Africa, the hibiscus flower is a symbol of a perfect wife or woman. In Victorian times, it meant the giver was acknowledging the receiver’s delicate beauty. In China, the flower symbolizes the fleeting nature and beauty of fame or personal glory. The flower has traditionally been given to both men and women.

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is known as China hibiscus, or China rose. It is used in the Pacific Islands as an edible flower in salads and as a tea for washing hair. In China, it is used as a hair dye. H. rosa-sinensis is the national flower of Malaysia.

In certain parts of India and China, the flowers are used to polish shoes. Its name in Indonesia translates as “shoe flower”. In India, it is also used in the worship of Devi (the female goddess). It plays an important role in tantric practices (breathing, yoga, and meditation that increase sexual and life-force energies)