Beneficial properties of geranium and its use for medicinal purposes

Botanical reference books call geranium "domestic pelargonium." Its ease of care and beautiful appearance have made the plant a leader among flowers for the home. Red, white, pink flowers on the windowsill delight the eyes of the owners almost all year round. But many people breed pelargonium not only because of its appearance. Geranium is known to have many beneficial properties. Traditional medicine experts are confident that the aromatic plant can help cope with almost any disease. Let's figure out how geranium is used in folk recipes, what limitations and contraindications these methods have.

Step into the past

The birthplace of geranium is the south of the African continent. It was brought to Europe by travelers at the end of the 17th century. Since then, geranium has been actively bred as a houseplant. It can also grow wild - this type of geranium is called meadow geranium. Its habitat is the mountainous regions of the European part of the continent, the Caucasus Mountains. Most geraniums grow in Alpine meadows. The fertile soils of this area, abundance of moisture, and bright sun are ideal for growth and flowering.

Initially, pelargonium played a purely decorative role. Its benefits became known only two centuries later.

At first, people noticed the positive effect of the flower on the air around them. It was cleansed, dampness and toxic impurities disappeared. The poorest segments of the population, having no other opportunity to improve their conditions, began to actively grow pelargonium at home. Because of this, geranium received the name “plant of the urban poor.”

Scientific evidence of the beneficial properties of geranium has only recently appeared. Its strongest bactericidal effect, capable of destroying all microbes around it, surprised scientists. Nowadays pelargonium is actively used to treat various diseases, as well as to get rid of insects at home.

Compound

The benefits of geranium are due to the presence of many essential oils in its composition. All parts can be used for medicinal purposes: roots, stems, leaves and flowers.

The plant contains:

• geranium essential oil;
• phenols;
• phenolic compounds;
• sucrose;
• triterpene saponins;
• hemicellulose;
• starch;
• vitamins;
• alkaloids;
• phenolcarboxylic acids;
• lemon acid;
• gallic acid;
• flavonoids;
• catechins;
• vitamins;
• ellagitannins;
• gum.

The highest content of beneficial acids and essential oils is in the leaves and flowers, so they are mainly used to make medicinal decoctions. The roots and stems contain natural phenol, one of the strong preservatives. Geranium is also rich in tannins and hemostatic substances. Therefore, the plant is effective for external and internal bleeding.

This is interesting!

Geranium does an excellent job of killing Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, it is actively used in the treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases caused by this microorganism.

Essential oil

Essential oil is obtained from the leaves of perennial house or meadow geranium by steam distillation.Its aroma is warm, floral, with oily notes, vaguely reminiscent of the smell of rose flowers. It is colorless, light, and has good fluidity.

The most popular use of geranium essential oil is the treatment of diseases of the ENT organs. Many limit themselves only to this, although the scope of application is huge.

1. It is a remedy for depression and increases mental and physical activity.
2. Relieves skin diseases: dermatitis, eczema. Heals burns and frostbite.
3. Effective pain reliever.
4. Improves blood pressure and blood microcirculation in the heart muscle.
5. Helps with neuralgia, neuritis, radicular syndrome.
6. Helps with diseases of the “female” sphere. Normalizes hormonal levels, alleviates premenstrual syndrome, relieves menstrual pain. Used for inflammation of the mammary glands.

Important!

Treatment with essential oils should not last longer than two to three weeks. After this, a break is required.

You can also obtain geranium-based oil yourself at home. To do this, you need to collect the young leaves with flowers of the plant and grind them into a paste. Then place the greens in a glass container and fill with medical alcohol in a 2:1 ratio. Close the lid tightly and leave to infuse in the sun. After two weeks, add olive or corn oil (proportion 1:1 to the total amount of infusion). Close the container tightly again and keep it in the sun for another two weeks. Now the mixture needs to be strained and poured into dark glass jars. Homemade oil should be stored out of the reach of children and animals.

Important!

Geranium should not be used internally on an empty stomach. A high acid content will negatively affect the condition of the mucous membranes.

Preparation and storage of geraniums

The most beneficial substances are contained in red meadow geranium. This plant uses leaves, stems, and roots. In other species, only the aerial part is collected.

The leaves, flowers and stems of meadow geranium are collected during its flowering. The raw materials are dried under canopies or inside special dryers at a temperature of 45⁰C. Then they are crushed and stored in glass or wooden containers for no more than a year.

The roots are collected in the fall (the best months for this are September and October). They are washed and dried at a temperature of 60⁰C. The roots are stored longer - up to two years - in bags made of natural fibers.

If you want to use your homemade geranium for treatment, you do not need to prepare it specially. Freshly picked leaves with flowers are suitable for preparing decoctions and infusions.

Beneficial features

The list of beneficial properties of geranium is very extensive. This is a multifunctional tool:

• bactericidal;
• antiviral;
• antiseptic;
• hemostatic;
• pain reliever;
• diuretic;
• decongestant;
• sedative;
• antidiabetic.

Geranium in an apartment purifies the air from pathogenic microorganisms and reduces the likelihood of respiratory diseases.

Application

Indoor geranium is used to treat many diseases. Here are the most popular applications.

1. Heart and cardiovascular system. The medicinal plant normalizes the functioning of the heart muscle and evens out the heart rhythm. If you apply a geranium leaf to your wrist, you can normalize your blood pressure. Flowers and leaves will help relieve headaches caused by vascular spasms.
2. Diseases of the upper respiratory tract: acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, tonsillitis. Pelargonium relieves symptoms (runny nose and cough), relieves sore throat.To do this, you need to gargle with an infusion of leaves, and you can drip freshly squeezed plant juice into your nose.
3. Gastrointestinal tract. Geranium reduces the acidity of gastric juice and alleviates chronic gastritis.
4. Diseases of the liver, gall bladder, biliary tract. Simply the presence of a medicinal flower in the house alleviates the condition of a chronic patient.
5. Otitis. For treatment, you need to lightly knead the leaf in your hands, roll it into a tube and place it in your ear.
6. Toothache. Crushed leaves of homemade geranium are applied to a sore tooth. Essential oils and phenol compounds will relieve discomfort. But a plant cannot cure caries, so a visit to the dentist is indispensable.
7. Rheumatism. Compresses with essential oil and taking an infusion of fresh leaves internally relieve pain. For a compress, grind the leaves into a paste and apply to the sore spot for one hour. After this time, the greens need to be replaced.
8. Stones and salt deposits in the kidneys.
9. Sedative. Geranium decoction is used to normalize the nervous system. Pour a tablespoon of dry meadow geranium into a glass of boiling water and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Let the broth brew for an hour, strain, and bring the volume to the original volume with cooled boiled water. Drink two tablespoons up to five times a day.
10. Geranium can also stop mild bleeding. For example, if your nose bleeds.

The plant can alleviate the condition of many diseases. However, in acute cases it is better to consult a doctor.

Recipes based on geranium

There are incredibly many ways to prepare geranium stems, leaves, and flowers. We list the proven and most popular methods.

Decoction of leaves and roots

For preparation you will need dry raw materials (it is sold at the pharmacy).

1. Pour a tablespoon of dry crushed geranium into 200 ml of boiling water.
2. Boil for five minutes.
3. Cool and strain through cheesecloth.
4. By adding boiled water, bring the volume of the decoction to 200 ml.

This decoction is taken orally three times a day with meals. It helps with diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Eye drops

Eye drops made from geranium juice relieve inflammation and pain, normalize eye pressure. But before using them, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Preparation procedure:

1. finely chop the leaves with a knife;
2. squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth;
3. dilute it with warm boiled water in a 1:1 ratio.

Drip the diluted juice daily, two drops into the corner of each eye once a day. The course of treatment is a month. Diluted juice can alleviate the condition of cataracts, clouded eyes, as well as inflammation and suppuration.

Recipe for otitis media

In addition to a rolled geranium leaf, a compress will help against otitis media.

1. Grind five to ten grams of leaves into a paste.
2. Add rye or oat flour (40-60 g) and a tablespoon of camphor alcohol.
3. Knead the dough.

Roll the resulting mass with a roller and wrap the ear from the outside. You can drip freshly squeezed juice inside. Cover the ear with compress paper, insulate it with cotton wool or a towel, and secure it with a bandage. The compress should be left overnight. A complete cure will require 3-4 procedures.

Infusion of leaves

To prepare the infusion you will need two tablespoons of freshly picked leaves. Fill them with two glasses of chilled boiled water. Leave for about eight hours. The resulting liquid is the daily dose for an adult.

The infusion is used for the following pathologies.

1. Gastritis.Drink a tablespoon every two hours daily.
2. Diarrhea. Divide a glass of infusion into three parts and drink them the day before relief.
3. Rheumatism and gout. Drink the infusion in small portions throughout the day. This will reduce joint pain.

Root decoction

A decoction of geranium roots helps dissolve kidney stones. It's easy to prepare.

1. Pour a tablespoon of raw material into a glass of cold water.
2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and leave for another hour.
4. Strain.
5. Add cooled boiled water to the broth so that the total volume of liquid becomes equal to one glass.

For kidney stones, you need to drink half a glass of this decoction up to four times a day. The duration of the course of treatment is no more than three weeks.

Contraindications

Like any medicinal herb, geranium has contraindications. If used incorrectly, it can cause harm.

Particular care must be taken in the following cases.

1. When treating children. Decoctions, infusions and juice can only be used externally. Geranium can only be taken internally after 18 years of age.
2. During pregnancy and breastfeeding. The harmful effects of pelargonium juice on the fetus and breast milk have not been studied by scientists. Therefore, it is better not to use geranium during pregnancy. During lactation, careful external use under medical supervision is permissible.
3. For stomach ulcers. Acids from geranium juice can cause aggravation.
4. With thrombophlebitis, geranium can cause a blood clot to break off.
5. For constipation. People with impaired intestinal function should not experiment with geranium: the condition may worsen.

Pelargonium should be used with caution by people with chronic diseases and elderly patients.Before using traditional recipes, you should consult your doctor. He will tell you in detail whether geranium infusion will harm you if you have existing problems.

Homemade geranium not only pleases the eye, but also helps treat many diseases. Place it on your windowsill and give yourself the most important gift – health.