Useful properties of geranium and its application in everyday life

The Geranium family, which includes numerous species of geranium from Europe and Asia and Pelargonium from southern Africa, has attracted since ancient timeshuman attention. In honor was not only the decorative geranium, the beneficial properties of plants with figured or lace dissected foliage and flowers of all shapes and colors were well known in ancient Greece.

The history of using the healing properties of geraniums

Many species of geraniums were famous as medicinal crops already in that distant era. They were made from tinctures, decoctions, received oil. Bundles of odorous greens were used to combat parasites, blood-sucking insects and unpleasant odors.

Botanists know about 400 species of wild geraniums, whose range extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from northern Europe to India. In folk medicine, several native geranium varieties are used. The richness of the biochemical composition affects almost all members of the family, including room geraniums and hybrid varieties.

A systematic study of the healing properties of geranium began only in the second half of the XIX century. Attention to culture attracted its popularity among the poor strata of the population, and the plant was used so widely that leaves and roots and geranium flowers were used.

Today, traditional medicine and homeopaths confirm the experience of ancestors and highly appreciate geranium for its beneficial properties, activity against pathogenic flora, anti-inflammatory and regenerating qualities.

came to the flowerbed from the forestIt is here that the maximum amount of biologically active substances and compounds is concentrated.

The main treasure of plants from the genus of geraniums is geraniol, a valuable aromatic spirit, which is part of the famous geranium oil. And besides him, in the composition of plant materials are present:

• glucose and fructose;
• flavonoids;
• saponins;
• catechins;
• a huge amount of tannins, the content of which in some cases reaches 4%;
• compounds with antibacterial and antiviral properties;
• carotene, vitamins K and C;
• macro and micronutrients;
• alkaloids;
• anthocyanins.

Mostly fragrant, meadow and blood-red geraniums are used for medical purposes. But not only wild plants are rich in nutrients, the fragrant room geranium has healing properties that are scarcely less than those of its peasant from the forest edge.

The healing properties of geraniums and their use

Geranium has strong antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, and antiviral properties. Drugs based on vegetable raw materials are able to actively soothe, beneficially affect performance, resistance to stressful situations, insomnia.

The therapeutic properties of geraniums include the ability:

• to prevent the occurrence of edema;
• to relieve pain and heat;
• to fight pathogenic microflora and inflammatory processes in the skin and mucous membranes;
• to lower blood pressure.

The plant has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, the digestive tract and the liver, urinary tract, genitalia and kidneys. In folk medicine, geranium is used to treat osteochondrosis and sciatica.

Geranium is an effective antidepressant that soothes, stabilizes the mental and psychological state, has a beneficial effect on the ability to work and the quality of sleep.

Geranium oil properties and its use

The product has strong anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties that cosmetologists and dermatologists have appreciated. Due to these properties of geranium oil it is used in the treatment of acne, pustular skin lesions, cellulite and other cosmetic problems.

The ability of a plant to influence cell regeneration processes and a mild disinfecting effect determined the benefits of geranium for the treatment of psoriasis. Today, vegetable raw materials and oil are used in therapy:

• difficult to treat eczema;
• effects of frostbite;
• severe burns.

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at home In addition, geranium oil is an effective remedy for migraines, insomnia, and also for irregular menses.

Use of useful properties of geraniums in everyday life

Sometimes plant activity in amateur growers causes a reasonable question: “Is it possible to keep geranium at home? Would not its impact on the indoor atmosphere be negative? ”

Such fears are completely in vain. Geranium plants really actively spread around themselves aromatic substances and phytoncides. This improves the air quality in the house, and the ability to neutralize toxic impurities and odors makes the flower indispensable in large cities and in the countryside.

Indoor plant not only decorate the interior, it will help to cope with pesky insects. For example, the smell of geranium is badly tolerated by mosquitoes and flies.

And people in the presence of fragrant geraniums:

• become calmer;
• sleep better;
• suffer less from headaches and migraines.

Useful properties of geranium appear on the plot of land. Garden species can be used as a means of combating pests and weeds. Geranium phytoncides inhibit the activity of both. As a result, time and effort is being saved on garden and garden processing.

Harvesting of geranium plant material and its storage

The aerial part of the plant and rhizomes of geranium can be collected and stored for future use. Greens are cut during flowering and gently dried in the shade or in special dryers at temperatures up to 45 ° C.

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It is better to dig up the roots when autumn accumulates the maximum amount of active and nutrient substances. After clearing from soil, rinsing and drying, rhizomes are cut into small fragments and dried at a temperature not higher than 60 ° C.

Useful properties of geraniums in dried roots last for two years, and in the green - only up to a year.

Contraindications for the use of geraniums

With a mass of medicinal properties of geranium, contraindications to its use for medical purposes may seem insignificant. Still, they are worth taking into account, especially if family members have a propensity for allergies, or it is a question of treating young children.

Some people experience an allergic reaction to the scent of geranium and its oils, which manifests itself in respiratory symptoms: sore eyes, runny nose, cough and sore throat. Even the most useful properties of geranium will not bring health, if the state of health worsens due to allergies.

For children, all geranium-based products intended for internal use should be used only with the permission of the attending physician. External use is limited only by individual intolerance. The same requirements fully apply:

• for pregnant and lactating women;
• to persons with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in the acute stage.

Do not abuse the treatment of folk remedies based on geranium and its oils for older people, as well as in the presence of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.

Video about the beneficial properties of

geraniums