Pelargonium is a very popular flower among indoor plants. He deserved his attention appearance, simple care and useful properties. The plant contains essential oils, and the scent repels flies and moths.
Before you put this plant on your window sill, you need to study its properties, because they can harm a person.
About plant
Pelargonium is better known as geranium. Few people know, but this flower is suitable not only for home living, but also in the open field it feels good. Therefore, geranium loved and landscape designers. Read more about caring for pelargonium in the garden in this article, and you can learn about growing plants at home here.
The plant can be both annual and perennial. The height reaches 50 cm. The leaves are large with a dark green color with white stripes along the edges. The peculiarity of geranium is that it has a lemon, meadow and mint flavor.
Chemical composition
Due to its composition, pelargonium can bring both benefit and harm. The whole plant from a rhizome to a flower possesses healing properties. The composition of geranium contains different types of nutrients: calcium, essential oils, organic acids, starch.
Geranium in the house: the benefits and harm
What is useful pelargonium, whether it can cause harm. as well as poisonous or not? In the geranium, all parts of the plant benefit. Even the fragrance of a flower has healing properties, thanks to which the general condition of the body is improved. The presence of the plant in the house favorably affects the physical and mental activity of the household. Indoor geranium has antimicrobial effects. These data are confirmed by laboratory tests.
Liquid infested with staphylococcus was dropped onto the leaves of the plant. After some time, no bacteria remained on the leaves of the flower. In addition, geranium removes toxins and can even neutralize snake venom. The flower helps to fight puffiness and apathy, relieves nervous tension and stress. In pregnancy, geranium oil is used against stretch marks.
Important! Despite the usefulness of the properties of geraniums, it can be harmful. Poison of course it does not contain, but it is not recommended to grow this flower in certain cases.
Allergy-free flower contraindicatedIt can cause an asthma attack. Also, you need to carefully monitor the health of the child, if there is pelargonium in the house. Careful attention to children under 12 years old, treatment with preparations based on geranium is not recommended for them. It is not necessary to put a flower in easily accessible places for pets.
If the animal tastes the plant, it can easily get poisoned.
Medicinal properties
Often, geranium is used for colds and acute respiratory infections. Plant extract can gargle, wash the nasal passages, treat stomatitis. When otitis is enough to roll the leaf of the plant and attach to the inflamed ear. This will kill all germs and reduce inflammation.
A decoction of flowers eliminates toothache. And medicinal ointments from a flower help to calm the nervous system. Medicinal oils are used in the cosmetic industry. They stabilize hormonal levels and even out the complexion, promote healing, rejuvenation and hydration.
To normalize the pressure, it is enough to bind the leaf of the plant to the pulse of the left hand for 30 minutes. When neuralgia is enough to attach 2-3 leaf to the desired area and rewind a warm cloth. You can wrap a woolen scarf. After 30 minutes, replace the leaves with fresh ones. After 2-3 hours, the pain should pass. In addition to the already listed geraniums:
- lowers blood sugar levels;
- softens dry corns;
- improves the state of the intestine and stomach;
- treats eye diseases;
- removes salt from the body;
- improves blood clotting;
- eliminates inflammatory processes.
Use in traditional medicine
Geranium can be used to treat and prevent many diseases. To get rid of thrush and heart pain, use alcohol tincture. For its preparation, you will need a leaf of a plant (10 g), pour ethanol or vodka (100 ml). Insist for 12 days and apply for external and internal treatment. It can also be used for the prevention of colds.
How to make geranium oil?- Crushed flowers and leaves are poured with alcohol in equal proportions.
- It is necessary to place the mixture in a glass bottle that will be filled no more than half.
- Put the bottle in a bright place, after 15 days, pour vegetable oil to the top.
- Leave to insist on the sun for half a month. The tool is filtered and stored in a closed bank.
It can be used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the throat, ears and nose. You can also use for burns and frostbite to restore the skin, eczema and rash. The oil is famous for its analgesic properties, it puts in order the arterial pressure, improves the microcirculation of the blood. In addition, it is an excellent remedy for pain during menstruation.
- To prepare a decoction of pelargonium, you need 1 spoonful of the rhizome of a plant and pour 250 ml of cold water. The mixture is set on fire and boiled for about 10 minutes. Broth infused hour and filtered. The decoction can be used to dissolve kidney stones. Before taking it is diluted with water and taken up to 4 times a day.
- To normalize the bowels or eliminate the painful feelings of gout and rheumatism, prepare an infusion. 15 g of dry, shredded leaves pour 500 ml of boiled cooled water. Mixture infused for 8 hours. Apply 10 ml every 2 hours.
- For inflammation of the eyelids, it is recommended to wash the eyes with water with geraniums and honey. 10 g of crushed leaves with 200 ml of water. Mix with honey - 5 mg. All mixed and insisted night. The eyelids are washed twice a day.
How to make geranium oil?At the heart of all remedies are leaves, flowers and rhizomes. Therefore, it is necessary to procure raw materials in time. Leaves and flowers are harvested mainly in mid-June. Roots are collected in late summer or early fall. When drying, the temperature should not exceed 40 C. Raw materials are stored exclusively in wooden containers or in burlap.
Contraindications and risks
As previously mentioned, it is not recommended to use geranium for the treatment of children, especially under the age of 6 years. Children should not use tinctures, decoctions and juices, only means for external use.
Geranium oil has irritating properties, so you should not use it for a long period (more than 3 weeks) and on an empty stomach. In addition, there may be allergies in the form of cough, sore throat, runny nose, or even in the form of angioedema. If these symptoms appear, stop using the oil.
In addition to the already listed plant is contraindicated:
- pregnant women;
- people with low blood sugar;
- those taking contraceptives;
- people in old age;
- with a stomach ulcer;
- with constipation;
- with a tendency to thrombophlebitis.
- What pests and diseases can destroy a flower?
- How to water and how to feed?
- Features of landing and transplantation.
- Why do the leaves turn yellow?
- How to propagate a plant with seeds and cuttings?
Pelargonium - one of the flowers with healing properties. It is useful to have such a plant at home, because it will always come to the rescue. But remember all the contraindications and take care of yourself!
