A plant to take care of our health, or the medicinal properties of pelargonium

Geranium, or pelargonium, is one of the most common indoor plants. She is probably in the apartment of everyone who loves to grow indoor flowers.

There are many types of pelargonium, some grow well in the open field, and some will delight with their flowering only at home. Geranium is a completely unpretentious plant. For active growth and flowering, the plant needs a lot of light, because it is light-loving enough, a moderate amount of moisture, and also a temperature above 10 degrees.

If all the required living conditions of the plant are observed, pelargonium will actively grow and bloom for at least 5 years.

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Geranium bloom will not only delight the eye, but also bring other benefits. I'll tell you which one.

Geranium benefits and harms to humans

In addition to its unusual beauty, small size and unpretentious care, this flower is still very useful. Geranium, also called pelargonium, is able to purify the air of microbes. This amazing property works constantly and keeps the whole family healthy.

Scientists have conducted research on this issue. We took drops with staphylococcus microbes and dripped onto geranium leaves. In a couple of hours, all the bacteria died, the same thing happened not far from her. The air with microbes was processed and purified. Therefore, it is considered to be a homemade natural antiseptic.

To date, more than 300 species of geranium have been bred, they all have common features, different sizes, survival rates and, of course, colors. The plant feels great in a small pot, does not require maintenance and tolerates drafts on the windowsill.

Of course, in addition to the miracle of healing agents, there is also minor harm, even contraindications. The harm from geranium is as follows:

• It is an allergen - if a person has an individual allergy to this type of plant, then direct contact causes a runny nose, redness, swelling. It is worth noting that almost all allergy sufferers can inhale and smell it without harm.
• It thickens the blood - it's not a secret for anyone that a tincture is made from this flower and oil is obtained. In addition to its beneficial properties, it also thickens the blood. Therefore, preparations and oils based on it are contraindicated for people with high blood viscosity.
• The leaves have a hypotonic effect, you can not take the tincture for people with intestinal atony.
• Tinctures should not be taken by women in position, children and the elderly.

Contraindications for use

Means based on this plant, like any other traditional medicine, have certain contraindications that must be taken into account before taking the drug. For example, such products should not be taken by pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and young children. It should also be borne in mind that pelargonium can cause a serious allergic reaction, therefore, before using any means based on it, it is necessary to check the body for individual intolerance.

Means from this flower are contraindicated for people with stomach ulcers and low blood pressure, as well as for patients with thrombophlebitis or other diseases associated with increased blood viscosity.

The author of the video will provide additional information about the beneficial properties of geranium.

The healing properties of geranium

This unique plant has the following medicinal properties and positive qualities:

• You can prepare essential oil and tincture at any time, brew tea or apply to a wound. The raw material has anti-inflammatory, sedative and antiseptic properties.
• Perfectly relieves spasms and swelling, has no extraneous and pungent odors.
• The throat is treated with a tincture or extract, an effective remedy for tonsillitis, gingivitis, sore throat and stomatitis.
• Serves as an excellent fragrance in the house, removes extraneous odors.
• When using an ARVI mask, you can drop a couple of drops of oil, the antiseptic properties will increase.
• It is used in preparations to accelerate blood circulation, for example, in the fight against cellulite.
• Has a calming effect. Can be added to tea, inhaled vapors, added to other tinctures, brewed separately and taken for prophylaxis.
• They perfectly clean indoor air from bacteria and odors. One or more flowers in the hall, bedroom and living room will make the air much cleaner and safer. This is especially important if there are animals or insects in the house.
• Fight bacteria. The plant directly destroys bacteria that enter it or are nearby, in the soil and air. Walking pets often bring infection into the house, while it flies in the air, the plant actively fights germs.
• A natural remedy for flu and colds, best taken early in the disease, the oil can be dripped into the nose for a runny nose.
• It normalizes blood pressure, which is good for the elderly in particular.
• Accelerates wound healing, good remedy for burns.
• Treats infertility, it is better to consult a doctor first.
• Tinctures are able to dissolve kidney stones during the course of use, you can drink it like tea for a long time.
• The leaves, especially the young ones, help to cope with dysentery and speed up the treatment of the intestines.
• Essential oil helps to lower sugar levels, reduce cramps, relieve headaches, and improve sleep.
• The flower decoction is used as an effective remedy for toothache.
• Leaves with an open wound stop the blood and draw out pus, a folk remedy.

Folk recipes with geraniums

Earache

When your ears hurt, the help of pelargonium will come in handy more than ever, perhaps the best folk remedy for solving such a problem.

It is recommended to use:

• Acute otitis media of various etiologies;
• Inflammation of the Eustachian canal;
• Catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the middle ear;
• Relief of attacks in chronic otitis media.

Almost all pathogenic microflora provoking inflammation in the ears dies under the influence of phytoncides contained in the composition.

The saturation with biologically active useful components provides the therapeutic effect necessary for otitis media:

• reproduction of viruses is inhibited;
• the production of interferon is accelerated (stops the formation of harmful microorganisms);
• minimizes congestion;
• relieves puffiness;
• reduces suppuration;
• does not allow pus to enter deep into the ear;
• relieves pain;
• soothes.

For ear pains, the ability to calm down is an extremely valuable quality, because normal sleep in such a situation is rare. Severe pain, especially with exacerbations of otitis media.

Pelargonium's help for ear pain can hardly be overestimated; it becomes an excellent addition to conservative therapy.

If the initial stage, the disease is not started, then the crane is able to completely destroy the infection and eliminate the pathological focus.

Piggy bank recipes

• Poured foliage (20 pcs.) With boiling water for 12 hours, the resulting infusion, to stop the spread of infection, rinse the nasopharynx three times a day.
• Stir flowers and foliage for two tablespoons. spoons, add a quarter liter of sunflower oil. Mix thoroughly, leave in a dark place for ten days. Use the oil as an antibacterial agent, gently treat (lubricate) the ear canal.
• Grind the geranium leaf until smooth, wrap the resulting gruel in gauze. After making the turunda, gently place it in your ear overnight.
• Twice a day, drip 2 drops of juice squeezed from the gruel of the foliage into each ear. It is permissible to dilute with water, juice from three leaves per st. a spoonful of water.
• Apply a compress to the parotid area, use gruel, or a decoction of fresh leaves. Pain syndrome in most cases recedes within half an hour, the condition improves. However, a lot here depends on the quality of the raw material for the compress and the intensity of pain.

Sometimes, to stop an attack of pain, it is enough to place a pelargonium leaf in the ear. After an hour, the pain will subside, the inflammation will subside. Rinse the sheet thoroughly, dry to isolate the juice, rub lightly with your hands. Roll up a tube. The effectiveness will increase if an additional compress is applied on top. Change the sheet every three hours.

Important note

• It is required to use only freshly cut leaves, unless the recipe suggests otherwise.
• Be sure to insulate the affected area.
• In case of ear diseases accompanied by profuse bloody-purulent discharge, it is categorically unacceptable to put geranium foliage in the ear. Also, treatment is prohibited for ruptures or perforation of the eardrum, pregnancy, lactation, children under 10 years of age.

Headache, insomnia

Geranium aroma helps to eliminate sleep disorders, a similar quality is achieved by the combination of all the "components" of the composition. However, first of all, phytoncides and essential oils are trying to solve the problem of insomnia.

Esters contain more than a hundred valuable components, the amount depends on the variety and place of growth.

For example, geranyl acetate ether has an antispasmodic effect and harmonizes the nervous system.

Esters help to calm down, relax. The coordinated work of the ethers helps to cope with chronic fatigue, depression, eliminate anxiety and nervousness.

Not everyone perceives the pungent smell inherent in the plant normally. If he does not seem pleasant to you, this indirectly signals that the nerves are in order. On the contrary, if you immediately liked the geranium aroma, then you should think about it, maybe you are overexcited and it's time to calm the nervous system.

For the scent of geranium to help establish sleep, place the flower half a meter from the place of sleep. Every evening, for about ten minutes before bedtime, inhale the smells.

Immediately, we note that one-time actions will not help, regularity is required. Courses of such aromatherapy for at least two weeks, then it is permissible to expect positive dynamics.

Piggy bank recipes

• Pour boiling water over 10 leaves, let it brew for an hour in a cool place. Drink the resulting broth before going to bed for an hour, then your dreams will be pleasant, and your morning awakening will be easy.
• Boil water, liter, let cool. Add a tablespoon of pre-chopped pelargonium roots. After boiling, let it brew for an hour. Take 2 tbsp. l., separately from food, every three hours.

Hypertension
For hypertensive patients, the crane acts as a natural helper, however, the effectiveness of the treatment process is largely determined by a number of nuances:

• the patient's age;
• stage and form of the disease.

The hypotensive effect is observed even with external use. Active bio-substances from the composition quickly penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, causing a decrease in blood pressure.

The therapeutic effect is explained by the “work” of essential oils, which bring harmony to the nervous system, normalize blood circulation in the heart muscle.

For the treatment of hypertension, it is permissible to use geranium oil directly. Put 5-6 drops on a napkin, inhale / exhale the smell for two minutes.

The result will not be long in coming, but using such a solution is permissible only after obtaining the permission of a doctor. The pressure can drop strongly, which can provoke other problems.

Important! In a row, it is not recommended to use geranium oil for more than three weeks.

Ingestion on an empty stomach is strictly prohibited.

Piggy bank recipes

• Put the pre-wrinkled sheet on the wrist, in the place of the pulsation. After 10-15 minutes, the pressure should start to decrease. Achieve a faster hypotensive effect by chewing a clean leaf of pelargonium for three minutes in parallel.
• The following recipe requires the preparation of an infusion. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over a dry leaf and flowers taken in a tablespoon. Add a fresh leaf (2 tablespoons), previously chopped to a mushy state. After mixing everything thoroughly, leave for 8 hours in a dark place. Consume the resulting volume a day, in equal shares, before meals. The course of treatment lasts 3 weeks.

Rhinitis

To treat a cold, grind a fresh leaf, squeeze out the juice through cheesecloth, drip 1-2 drops into each nasal passage. Repeat 3-4 times a day, the nasal congestion will weaken, or completely disappear.

Depression

Conduct sessions of cold inhalation, slowly inhale the esters of the flower, fatigue and apathy will recede.

Cough, sore throat

Grind the foliage, fill it with boiling water, a proportion of 20g per 200 ml. Cover with a lid and insist for 8 hours. After straining, rinse the throat with the resulting broth three times a day.

Eczema

Grind the fresh leaf, add hot water, a quarter of a liter, cook for a third of an hour. Strain the cooled broth, use in the form of lotions, process the problem area. We repeat the procedure three times during the day.

After chemotherapy

Grind a leaf of Robert's geranium (other varieties will not work), add boiling water, leave for forty minutes. Ratio: a tablespoon of the specified raw material per glass of water. We use the resulting infusion in small sips throughout the day. The duration of the course is two months.

Due to the ability to remove toxins and radionuclides, such a drink has a beneficial effect on well-being. Accelerate recovery from a heavy load of chemotherapy. Consultation with an oncologist is required before admission.

Hemorrhoids

Combine chopped foliage and boiling water, a quarter liter of water per 50 grams. We keep a quarter of an hour in a water bath, filter thoroughly. Gently apply the cheesecloth moistened with the resulting broth to the problem area (cones), once for five minutes.

We repeat the procedure twice a day.

Epilepsy

This recipe requires a crane rhizome, a list of necessary actions:

• thoroughly wash, grind;
• pour hot water (300 ml. per tablespoon of raw materials);
• bringing to a boil, simmer over low heat for 15 minutes;
• straining, drink the broth 3 times for 2 tbsp. l.

Toothache

For thirty minutes we apply a geranium leaf to a problem tooth, or an inflamed gum area. The pain will be weakened.

Eye diseases

There are recipes claiming the help of geranium juice with clouding of the lens, supposedly it is necessary to drip, they say, it will help slow down development.

Will not help! Unfortunately, in the fight against cataracts, geranium is powerless; the juice of the crane is not able to provide any tangible benefit. But it is very easy to harm the mucous membrane, create additional danger to the eyes.

Without consulting an ophthalmologist, it is absolutely not permissible to drip geranium juice into the eyes.

Essential oil

Sold in a pharmacy, free, the cost is due to a number of factors:

• manufacturer's brand;
• packing volume;
• plant variety.

Application options:

• compresses;
• medicinal baths;
• massage;
• warm inhalations;
• cold inhalation.

Signs and superstitions

In fact, there is not a single sign that would interfere or prohibit keeping this plant in the house. More and more people say that this miracle flower "listens" to the atmosphere in the house.

There is a sign that if rudiments began to appear on a flower, this is for a wedding, marriage, the beginning of a relationship or great love.

Pink pelargonium can help and bring together when a couple often quarrels, bored each other, or have reservations.

If a couple cannot have a child for a long time, then they buy white pelargonium. It should be placed in the bedroom of a married couple.

The red flower helps to find a lover, and for those who are already married, to find beauty and preserve it for years.

The flower will protect you from parting, protects the hearth, relieves you of evil talk.

If pelargonium blooms in the house, the young will marry her husband or the boy will marry.

In almost all peoples and beliefs, this flower is a symbol of love and home comfort.

Feng Shui geranium

According to Feng Shui, geranium can reduce the negative impact and bad energy in the house, replacing it with a good sense of humor and supportive relationships. In other words, it protects from quarrels and conflicts, strengthens family ties, brings people together.

The best place for this flower is the southern windowsills. When it comes to bedroom placement, opinions differ across cultures. Some believe that in such a place there should be no flowers at all, others that geranium and the like are possible. If the bedroom is on the south side, then the geranium will be the place there.

Geranium benefits and harms for the home

Considerable the benefits of geranium in the house, and it is better if it is placed in every room. Private accommodation or private home means frequent contact with animals, insects and birds. All of them can carry infection and infection. This small and beautiful flower is capable of not only purifying the air, but also killing germs.

In addition to antiseptic properties, it has an effect on the nervous state, soothes and improves the sleep of residents. With the help of raw materials, you can prepare a decoction, oil, apply to a wound, add to tea, or simply inhale a pleasant and delicate smell.

Window sills and hanging racks are well suited for pots, the climate can be changeable, you can not fill the soil. There is practically no harm if a person does not have an individual allergy or a disease associated with the thickness of the blood.

Geranium in the apartment benefit and harm

Which from pelargonium benefit and harm for an apartment, it is worth learning more. This is the place where the whole family most often lives, there are small children and pets. For children, the plant does not pose a threat, they cannot take tincture and essential oils. But animals are carriers of diseases. The flower helps to disinfect the room, purify the air and oxygenate a small room.

It is best to place the pots on light-colored windowsills, with average humidity. Beautiful and unusual blooms not only delight the eyes, but can also be an excellent gift for loved ones.

Keeping such a plant in an apartment is like a natural home first aid kit. It helps with inflammation, sleep disorders, bowel disease, colds and flu. You can take it in its natural form, add it to tea, make compresses and much more.

In conclusion, it should be noted that it is not difficult to find geraniums now, there are many varieties of this plant. They all have their own characteristics, but most importantly, these are general positive properties that will help the whole family.

Geranium, or pelargonium, is an unpretentious flowering plant, which is difficult to find equal in beauty and prevalence. It used to decorate every window sill, and only in recent years has its popularity declined noticeably. People choose tropical lianas, monstera and orchids, cacti, throwing away annoying flowers that are familiar to everyone from Soviet times. In addition, many generally began to wonder if geranium is harmful, whether it is possible to keep this plant at home.Let's figure it out together.

The most important thing is the weather in the house.

What else can geraniums offer you? The value of this plant in the house is difficult to overestimate. Some people do not like the specific aroma that it exudes, but it is thanks to essential oils that the plant can take on the function of an ecologist. It can help neutralize unpleasant odors, which is especially recommended for homes located near highways. This plant perfectly cleans dirty air, which means it is perfect for city apartments.

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The opinion of the older generation

Folk wisdom has been formed over the centuries, so it is necessary to listen to those who received knowledge directly from folk herbalists. They can tell a lot and will definitely advise you to buy geraniums for home. Is it possible to keep a flower at home, which is a home doctor, a magical plant and a real talisman? Of course, it is possible and even necessary. However, it should be borne in mind that the properties of this plant are diverse, it can bring both benefits and harm.

Why geranium

Of course, today we understand that its properties are due not at all to mystical features, but to its chemical composition. Let's take a closer look at what an ordinary geranium is. Whether it is possible to keep this plant at home, you can determine based on the individual characteristics of your household. Knowledgeable people say that it helps to cope with any disease, from colds to cancer. It should be noted that absolutely all of its parts are useful: these are flowers and roots, as well as leaves. They contain phenols, sucrose, glucose and starch, as well as vitamins, carbohydrates, pigments, phenol carboxylic acids, and more. Let's now see how this can be used to benefit human health.

Beneficial features

In fact, it is almost impossible to list all of them. However, our goal is to determine if geranium is good or bad for the home? Therefore, let's look at how the properties of this plant are reflected in the human condition. First of all, it is capable of providing antiseptic, bactericidal and antiviral effects. That is, the plant disinfects the air and protects your household from many diseases. Plus, it can be used for healing that few people know.

Healing properties

We will continue the conversation about how geranium is useful in the house. This flower helps to normalize blood pressure, for this it is enough to attach a leaf to the wrist. The plant stimulates blood flow and normalizes heart rate. Geranium can be used to treat acute respiratory infections and colds, for this you can use a tincture or freshly squeezed juice. The plant also helps with otitis media, to do this, just roll the leaf and put it in your ear. The flower helps with osteochondrosis and radiculitis, it can be used for insomnia and migraines, chronic fatigue and toothache, treatment of indigestion and purulent wounds. So for any misfortune it is very convenient to have a pot of pelargonium at home.

Application in traditional medicine

Geranium can be used to treat and prevent many diseases. To get rid of thrush and heart pain, use alcohol tincture. To prepare it, you 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. Can also be used to prevent colds.

• 
  How to make geranium oil?

  1. Crushed flowers and leaves are poured with alcohol in equal proportions.

  Place the mixture in a glass bottle that will be no more than half full.

• Put the bottle in a bright place, after 15 days pour vegetable oil to the top.
• Leave to insist in the sun for half a month. The product is filtered and stored in a closed jar.

It can be used to treat inflammatory diseases of the throat, ears and nose. It can also be used for burns and frostbite to restore the skin, for eczema and rashes. The oil is famous for its analgesic properties, improves blood pressure, improves blood microcirculation. In addition, it is an excellent remedy for pain during menstruation.

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• To prepare a decoction of pelargonium, you need to pour 250 ml of cold water into 1 spoon of the plant rhizome. The mixture is put on fire and boiled for about 10 minutes. The broth is infused for an 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 bowel function or eliminate painful sensations with gout and rheumatism, prepare an infusion. Pour 15 g of dry crushed leaves with 500 ml of boiled cooled water. The mixture is infused for 8 hours. Apply 10 ml every 2 hours.
• In case of inflammation of the eyelids, it is recommended to wash the eyes with water with geranium and honey. For 10 g of crushed leaves, 200 ml of water. Mix with honey - 5 mg. Everything is mixed and infused overnight. The eyelids are rinsed twice a day.

All remedies are based on leaves, flowers and rhizomes. Therefore, it is necessary to procure raw materials on time. Leaves and flowers are harvested mainly in mid-June. The roots are harvested in late summer or early fall. When drying, the temperature should not exceed 40 C. Raw materials are stored exclusively in wooden containers or burlap.

Energy

A lot of speculation is associated with this moment, and some call this plant a healer, while others, on the contrary, a vampire. Let's try to find out what geranium is in the house. Signs and superstitions are one thing, but folk wisdom, which for centuries has noticed the properties of various plants, very clearly says that geranium should be in every home. First of all, because it has a vigorous and active energy. Where it grows, there is no place for despondency, aggression and squabbles. Therefore, from the point of view of bioenergetics, it is a real keeper of the hearth, tranquility and peace. It teaches you to treat what is happening with humor, and to other people - with respect and goodwill. According to popular beliefs, this plant protects your home from evil spirits.

Choosing a color

There are a lot of varieties of this plant, and the benefits and harm in the house also depend a little on what color the geranium blooms. So, red geranium is a powerful source of vitality. She is able to give you a huge supply of internal energy. People with whom it grows are less likely to be stressed, almost never lose heart. Red geranium heals household members from chronic fatigue and overwork, laziness, as well as most fears.

The mascot of lovers is pink pelargonium. This is a great gift for a person who seeks to find a soul mate or, conversely, carefully preserves the created happiness. Previously, girls wore pink geranium flowers in bags to attract their betrothed.

Not everyone likes the purple color of the petals, but this plant fills the human soul with spirituality. Purple flowers distract from worldly affairs and daily hustle and bustle. Under the influence of its energy, a person is able to delve into the spiritual sphere.

White geranium is a symbol of pure love and fertility; it is customary to give it to brides on their wedding day. If a couple intends to conceive a child, then they are advised to keep pelargonium in the bedroom.

Let's sum up

That is, we can say that this is a universal plant that should be in every home. It will help not only clean the air and disinfect it from all kinds of bacteria and viruses, but also normalize the atmosphere in the house.It is geranium that is recommended as a universal plant for the bedroom and living room, nursery, as it is able to calm and reconcile all household members. Beautiful flowers can rekindle the cooled feelings of spouses and connect people who are separated. In addition, geranium is able to increase the creative cognitive abilities of children, eliminates quarrels and other children's conflicts. Thus, if you do not have pelargonium yet, be sure to get several copies.

Geranium is one of the most popular indoor plants. It can be seen on the windowsill of almost any home. First of all, it fell in love with its unpretentiousness in care and, of course, its pretty appearance. But besides this, geranium flowers and leaves have properties that have a beneficial effect on human health and the atmosphere in the house.

Residents of foreign countries call the plant differently. For example, in Germany such a name as "stork's nose" walks on the lips, in England - "crane" (from Lat. Geranium), and in resort Bulgaria - "health resort". But still the most delicate definition, of course, in Russia - "crane".

This splendor appeared a long time ago in England. Gardener George Tradescan bred several varieties that he lovingly called "butterfly" or "angel."

The miraculous use of oil

The essential oil of room geranium is isolated by steam-water distillation. The floral scent of the resulting liquid is distinguished by the warmth and richness of the aroma. The essential oil is characterized by lightness, good fluidity and colorlessness. It perfectly heals any ENT diseases.

Geranium oil is known to be an excellent antidepressant, which works in a similar way to well-known plants such as peppermint and lemon balm. It is enough to put a few drops on the aramolamp, and very soon your nerves will calm down, sleep will normalize. Regular sessions of inhalation of essential vapors help to increase physical and mental activity.

Why you need to plant geraniums at home

✿ Fragrant leaves have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. They disinfect and clean indoor air. Thanks to this, pathogenic bacteria are destroyed - you and your loved ones will be under invisible protection from colds and flu.

✿ Protects against unwanted insects: mosquitoes, flies, moths, garden pests, etc. And the essential oil of the plant is considered a powerful natural repellent.

To protect against insects, a composition of 10 drops of ether, diluted in 1 liter of water, is prepared. The finished product is poured into a container with a spray bottle and used to treat the entire room.

The diluted oil is non-toxic and will not harm animals.

The product can also be used to protect against lice and fleas.

✿ The scent of a houseplant improves the energy in the house, protects it from scandals, quarrels and other negative emotions.

In addition, it relieves fatigue, improves mood, and gives a feeling of calmness and well-being. To ease the signs of stress and depression, rub the leaf in your hands and inhale its scent deeply. It quickly energizes, relieves irritation and relaxes the body.

✿ Geranium is considered to be a symbol of love. Therefore, it is advised to put pots with a plant in the bedroom to strengthen relationships in a couple or find a soul mate for single people.

✿ The plant has been used since ancient times as a talisman that saved from black power. With the help of geranium flowers, women adorned their hats, and men put them behind the cuffs of their sleeves.

Also, the flower was handed over as a talisman against evil forces, applying juice to the belly of a woman expecting a child.

Geranium in the streets of Italy

Geranium - allergenic or not

Perennial garden geranium - planting and care

Pelargoniums rarely cause allergic reactions.Many people wonder why people react differently to the smell and touch of geranium leaves, and geranium itself is allergenic or not? The fact is that the predisposition of different people to geranium substances is different. For some, geranium essential oil is an allergen, for others it is not.

Important! If there are many geranium flowers in the room, it is difficult to determine which one causes a negative reaction of the body, since different varieties secrete essential oil with a different set of substances.

Types of allergic reactions to touching plants:

• redness and itching of the skin;
• papular rash, accompanied by itching;
• very rare urticaria.

Types of adverse reactions from the eyes and respiratory system:

• redness of the eyes and watery eyes;
• clear nasal discharge, itching.

Important! If you have symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should see a doctor and have an examination of the body.

Geranium is dangerous for pets. For example, cats from its smell can cause panic, the animal rushes about and does not find a place. They are unlikely to try to chew it, although they can sniff quite often.

The healing properties of home geranium

Popularity in traditional medicine is due to the presence of a large amount of nutrients. The plant contains active plant compounds such as geraniol, linalool, nerol, citronellal and limonene. Geranium also contains tannins, organic acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids and many essential oils.

For medicinal purposes, all parts of the plant are used. And the range of medicinal properties is striking in its vastness:

compresses - to draw out pus, juice - to treat ear and headaches, a few drops instilled into the nose, save from a runny nose

The juice of this flower, in combination with various oils in the skillful hands of healers, has long been transformed into balms for the treatment of burns and wounds. Even Emperor Peter I used flower ointment to treat pain from an ingrown toenail.

Why geranium is good for health

Pelargonium is a genus of heat-loving plants common in indoor floriculture and landscape design. The potted flowers, which many call geraniums, actually belong to the genus Pelargonium. True geraniums from the genus Geranium are not interbreed with. The differences are easier to see by comparing photos of indoor flowers, for example, zonal and large-flowered pelargonium, with a natural species - meadow geranium.

Who is who

Lack of attention to the systematic position and details gave rise to a real boom associated with the beneficial properties of room geranium. Almost all the medicinal properties that are now attributed to indoor plants are actually known for a long time. However, they are characteristic of natural species of the genus Geranium - meadow and blood-red.

All of the above does not mean that indoor and garden geraniums are not beneficial. Plants contain valuable chemicals and are used in folk medicine and everyday life. Only the intake of the preparations of these plants inside is not well understood, therefore it is not recommended.

The names of two different genera of the geranium family reflect the similarity of the fruits of plants with the beak of a stork and a crane. Meadow geranium is also called a crane. One flower of the same genus, growing everywhere, was called the common stork. The word pelargós in translation from Greek means "stork". If you observe the maturation of seeds of indoor geraniums, it is easy to see that they resemble the long and thin beak of a stork.

The confusion in the names has a long history, it is due to the fact that the founder of the botanical classification Linnaeus initially attributed geraniums and pelargoniums to the same genus. Much later it turned out that the family ties between these plants are not so close. These are two different genera within the same family.

The flower of geraniums and pelargoniums consists of 5 petals (except for semi-double and double varieties of indoor plants). Corollas of geraniums are actinomorphic, regular in shape, like a star.Pelargonium flowers are slightly asymmetric: the upper 2 petals differ in shape and location from the lower 3.

In nature, plants belonging to different genera do not interbreed. Therefore, geraniums are those flowers that bloom in forests, fields, meadows and wastelands. Pelargoniums flaunt on window sills and flower beds. The most popular varieties are derived from species P. zonal, P. royal, P. fragrant.

The benefits of a houseplant

Earlier, zonal geranium was called "bourgeois flower". There was no such window in the houses of the poor and the middle class, where pots with rounded flowering "heads": red, pink, white, were not standing. The reason for this popularity should be sought in the studies of biochemists and doctors of the past century. Experts have found that essential oils and phytoncides of room geranium kill bacteria, even tubercle bacillus.

The antimicrobial properties of geranium phytoncides have been verified in modern experiments. Researchers applied drops containing millions of Staphylococcus bacteria to geranium leaves. After 3 hours, most of the bacteria died. At a distance of 5 mm from the leaf, the bacteria died within 6 hours.

The phytoncidal properties of indoor plants are useful in homes with children, often sick elderly people. The aroma of geranium helps relieve headaches, nervous tension, fatigue, and normalize sleep.

There is a belief that unfaithful spouses do not like the smell of zonal geranium. The plant makes it possible to carry out the simplest "test for treason", but does not guarantee the accuracy of the result. Fragrant geraniums are also believed to repel flies.

A strong, pungent smell appears when you touch the leaves of zonal pelargonium. The aroma of royal geranium is subtler, more pleasant. If you rub the leaves of fragrant pelargonium, you can smell lemon, mint, ginger, lemon balm. Geranium (pelargonium) and its oil are used in aromatherapy. The sap of the plant is a local remedy for the treatment of otitis media.

To take advantage of the benefits of a houseplant, you need to purchase geranium oil from a pharmacy. Applied externally for dermatitis, burns, ulcers, eczema. Geranium oil is suitable for air disinfection for upper respiratory tract infections, inflammation of the pharynx, middle ear, and sinusitis. In oriental medicine, the remedy is prescribed topically for cervical cancer.

Geranium oil mixed with other substances treat varicose veins, added to cosmetics for skin and hair care. You can simply mix a few drops of the scented liquid with a face cream, shampoo, or balm.

Chemical composition

Geraniol is one of the main useful components in the composition of the leaves of fragrant indoor geranium (pelargonium). It is a light yellow aromatic liquid, volatile alcohol, a substance from the terpenoid group. Geraniol has a rose scent and is found in the essential oils of geranium, palmarosa, lemongrass, and rose.

Other organic compounds in the leaves of aromatic pelargonium:

1. tanning agents, tannins;
2. organic acids;
3. flavonoids;
4. glycosides;
5. phytoncides;
6. coumarins;
7. saponins;
8. pectins;
9. starch;
10. gums;
11. resin.

The leaves of a wild medicinal plant meadow geranium are rich in mono-, di- and polysaccharides. Contains alkaloids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamins C, K, carotene, saponins. Carbohydrates, flavonoids, tannins and saponins are also found in the roots of the plant. The chemical composition of underground organs is enriched with catechins, phenolcarboxylic acids.

Those who are going to take advantage of the healing properties of geraniums should be attentive to the characteristics of different species. In most publications, far from official and traditional medicine, geraniums are credited with miraculous properties, without specifying which plant in question.

If we talk about geraniums in the room, then these are plants belonging to the genus Pelargonium. The medicinal herbs described in herbal medicine handbooks and manuals are basically two species of the Geranium genus.Plants are completely different, with different composition and properties.

It is also necessary to remember that when obtaining varieties and hybrids of pelargonium, some chemical components characteristic of natural species were lost. Or, substances that are not characteristic of plants of these types of substances have appeared. For example, varieties of fragrant geranium have been bred that smell of apple, rose, caramel, peach, mint, nutmeg.

Experts classify interspecific varieties as Pelargonium x hortorum. Nobody is studying their chemical composition and medicinal properties. They are not bred for medical purposes.

Meadow geranium is found in nature on forest edges, in river valleys, in the shade near fences. Blood red geraniums prefer drier areas, southern slopes of mountains and hills. Herb is a medicinal raw material, roots are used less often. Real geraniums, their decorative forms and varieties, are also used in floriculture, but less often than pelargoniums. The flowers of the plant are lilac, purple with stripes, the leaves are carved, often reddish-brown.

Healing properties

The smell of fragrant pelargonium soothes the nerves, relieves headaches (not all types). The leaves of this plant, or rather essential oils, have bactericidal, antispasmodic, decongestant and wound healing properties.

Meadow geranium is a plant with disinfecting, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antitoxic effects. Used for insomnia, neuralgia, lung diseases. Alcohol tincture in folk medicine is prescribed for heart disease.

Pelargonium sidoides is a plant native to South Africa. The Zulu tribes have been treated with it for many centuries. The English physician C. Stevens brought the plant to Europe. Later, researchers at a German pharmaceutical firm created an antimicrobial drug based on a plant extract.