Geranium is commonly called pelargonium. This happened due to the fact that the famous naturalist Karl Linney, who was engaged in the systematization of the plant world, attributed geranium and pelargonium to one genus. Pelargoniums were isolated by a separate genus after its death. Now it is a well-known perennial indoor plant from the family of geranium. It comes from Africa, in Europe, pelargonium was first grown from imported seeds as early as the 16th century in England, and now it is very popular as a houseplant all over the world. She especially fell in love with the British - in the 19th century in England there were already about a thousand cultivated varieties.
What parts of geranium are used for medicinal purposes
The leaves of this indoor plant contain a large concentration of healing essential oils, comparable in their properties with onion or garlic phytoncides, but with a much more pleasant aroma. The presence of even one Pelargonium scrub on the window-sill of a small room serves as an excellent disinfection and kills about 70% of the microbes.
Essential oil is extracted from the leaves, stems and flowers of this popular plant by hydrodistillation, which has a number of healing properties and is used in cosmetics and perfumery. Its smell is an excellent antidepressant, enhances perception, invigorates and gives strength.
Did you know? Royal Geranium got its name due to the fact that helped the English King Charles I in the fight against insomnia.
Owners of geraniums in pots can not buy this oil, and arrange a course of aromatherapy right at home. What is enough to sit near this fragrant plant at a distance of about half a meter and breathe deeply with the nose for about 15 minutes. Such a procedure will help relieve fatigue, and a course of 10 procedures will help fight depression.
Celid pelargonium (Pelargonium sidoide) root extract is used in the manufacture of drugs for the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract and infectious otitis media.
In general, for medicinal purposes, you can use all parts of the plant.
Chemical composition
Pelargonium leaves contain:
- various essential oils;
- phytoncides;
- pitch;
- flavonoids;
- tannins;
- pectins;
- gum;
- glycosides;
- pectins;
- tannins;
- organic acids;
- phenolic acids;
- vitamins;
- minerals (most of all - calcium);
- carbohydrates;
- saponins;
- coumarins.
It will be interesting to supporters of traditional medicine to read about the healing properties and the use of ambrosia, bitter wormwood, swimsuit, derbennik, thistle, gentian.
According to various studies, This plant contains up to 500 different components and has great bioactivity. A volatile substance with a pleasant odor, geraniol, which has antimicrobial properties and is used in the manufacture of cosmetics and perfumery products, was found in this plant.
Pelargonium roots also contain phenols, and the stems - phenolic compounds, sucrose, starch, hemicellulose.
Useful and healing properties
Indoor geranium possesses anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, hemostatic, antiparasitic, anthelmintic, diuretic, rejuvenating, oncoprotective, astringent, tonic and anti-edematous action. It reduces the level of sugar, normalizes blood pressure, has a positive effect on hormones, increases libido.
Important! Not everyone can smell Pelargonium. Inhale the smell of flowers, crumpled leaves - if you feel irritation, a migraine will appear, which means you should not use this plant for aromatherapy and treatment, and also keep it in the house.
This heat-loving plant is used to treat such human ailments:
- weak immunity;
- cold and flu;
- ENT diseases;
- neuralgia;
- depression, headache, insomnia;
- stones in the kidneys;
- some gynecological diseases;
- gout;
- pediculosis;
- nail fungal infections;
- skin diseases;
- diseases of the mouth;
- heart diseases.
Also, immunity is positively influenced by: safflower, horseradish, garlic, savory, wild garlic, fir, black walnut, aloe, almond, white sturgeon, viburnum, dogwood, Chinese magnolia, mint, basil, lemon balm.
Several of these flowers, put on the window, scare away mosquitoes and other insects, their esters and phytoncides will also protect nearby houseplants from pests and diseases. Pelargonium leaves are placed in a sachet of moths. Her leaves can be added to drinks, sweets and pastries.
Use in traditional medicine: recipes
Leaves are commonly used in traditional medicine This amazing indoor plant, as well as the fragrance that the whole plant exudes.
Did you know? Geranium came to the Russian Empire under Catherine the Great as a gift from King George III of England in 1795. He sent a number of greenhouse plants, which at first could only be grown by aristocracy. Due to simplicity, resilience and ease of reproduction, geranium was grown as a houseplant by all classes.
From insomnia
The aroma of pelargonium - a great remedy for insomnia. To normalize sleep, it is recommended to put a few pots with this plant in the bedroom on the windowsill. You can also drip 3-4 drops of geranium essential oil before bedtime in the oil burner. If there is no such lamp, you can simply rub a drop of such oil with your fingertips and inhale its aroma.
Catnip, verbena officinalis, white mulberry, goji berries, elder, sweet clover, St. John's wort, sweet potato will help you to cope with insomnia
You can also steam up one finely chopped geranium leaf with one cup of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes. Use the infusion 2 times a day, 100 ml before meals.
Toothache
Geranium leaf helps to relieve toothache. To do this, it is torn off and slightly crumpled in the hands, so that he quickly squeezed the juice, and then it is placed near the diseased tooth.
From a cold
From rhinitis with colds helps the following recipe: squeeze the juice from the leaves of this plant and drop two drops into each nostril. This should be done three times a day.
A rose, propolis tincture, zabrus, sunberry, black nightshade, Indian onions, pinnate Kalamo, chamomile, lime honey will help you cure a cold.
Otitis
For otitis, put a torn leaf of geranium in your ear. Beforehand, it should be slightly wrinkled in the hands, in order for the leaf to start up the juice. This procedure relieves pain and inflammation.
With a tendency to otitis, it is recommended to do leaf maceration: two tablespoons of the crushed raw materials pour 100 ml of vegetable oil, tightly close the lid, put in a dark place for ten days and shake occasionally. Then strain and store in the refrigerator. Use 4 times a day for instillation into the sore ear, preheating.
For constipation
For constipation, the following remedy can help: two teaspoons of crushed leaves are poured with two glasses of cool boiled water and infused for eight hours. Take sips throughout the day.
From high blood pressure
It is recommended to fix a fresh sheet of pelargonium on the wrist in the area of the pulse for about half an hour from overpressure with a bandage.
For skin diseases
For skin diseases (dry eczema, rashes, itching) helps decoction of torn leaves of homemade geraniums. They are boiled for five to ten minutes, and then used as compresses or lotions on the affected skin.
For the treatment of various skin diseases, cornflower, ivy-shaped bud, celandine, longan, yucca, echinacea, marsh wild rosemary, black radish, elecampane
Pelargonium leaves steamed with boiling water are applied to dry calluses (changed every three hours). Also come with boils, purulent wounds
Contraindications and harm
Geranium is a plant useful to humans, but there are a number of contraindications to it:
- pregnancy and lactation;
- gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers;
- thrombophlebitis (geranium has the ability to thicken blood);
- allergy and idiosyncrasy.
Important! Allergies can manifest as edema, rash, cough, runny nose, asthma, tearing of eyes, and so on. If these signs appear, it is better to consult a doctor immediately.
Before treating geraniums you need to consult a doctor, to avoid unnecessary complications.
Geraniums have long enjoyed the useful properties of our grandmothers. Now also in many homes, apartments and offices you can often find this amazing potted plant on a windowsill. They can not just admire, but also use, including for medical purposes.
