The culture of geraniums, as essential oil plants, is widespread in almost all tropical and subtropical regions of the globe: in Bulgaria, Algeria, Italy, Spain, India, Morocco, USA, Japan, China, on about. Reunion. The main oil importer is France, which consumes 90-95 tons of essential oil annually. It is part of such famous perfumes as Brut (Faberge), Caleche (Hermes), Egoist (Chanel), Jazz (Sent Loren). The total market for this product is 220 tons per year. Pelargonium pink (Pelargonium radens, outdated name - Pelargonium roseum Will.,in some sources - Pelargonium radula), the most fragrant pelargonium (Pelargoniumodoratissimum), fragrant pelargonium (Pelargoniungraveolens) and a hybrid species of hard pelargonium (Pelargoniumxasperum Ehrhart ex Wildenow), type Bourbon. Real geranium large-rhizome is also grown in Bulgaria (Geranium macrorrhizum).
To be honest, there are strong discrepancies with the taxonomy of these species in the literature. Sometimes geraniums pink and fragrant are presented as one species, some authors separate them. In recent years, it is generally accepted to consider pink geranium as an interspecific hybrid. Pelargonium capitatum x Pelargonium radens or Pelargonium capitatum x Pelargonium graveolens, which is probably not far from the truth, judging by the lack of seeds. Some authors attribute Bourbon to pink geranium.
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Pelargonium, or pink geranium (Pelargoniumradens) - perennial shrub of the geranium family (Geraniaceae)... It is more correct to call it pelargonium, but the essential oil is usually called geranium oil.
The first plantations of this plant were established in France in 1847, and later transferred to Algeria and to the island of Reunion, which was called Bourbon at that time, hence one of the names of geranium oil - Bourbon.
The root system of the plant is fibrous. The bulk of the roots is located in the soil layer at a depth of 15-60 cm. The height of the plant is 100-120 cm. The stem is green, branched, the lower part is lignified. Young stems are covered with glandular hairs. The leaves are alternate, five-lobed, strongly dissected into 5-7 main lobes, dense, with a pronounced columnar and spongy tissue, light green, covered with glandular hairs. The latter are clavate extensions, consisting of 5-7 cells. Flowers are rare, pink, collected in an umbrella, 5-12 pcs. 7-10 stamens, fused at the base. The pollen in the sacs is not viable, and the plant does not form seeds without artificial pollination. The main breeding method is vegetative.
In total, there are more than 170 varieties of pink pelargonium. The essential oil content of one form or another depends not only on weather conditions and care, but also on the characteristics of the plant, primarily the number and size of essential oil containers, which in pelargonium are represented by single and multicellular glandular hairs, the number of which can be from 10 to 80 per 1 mm2 ... Another feature of pelargonium is that the hairs of leaves and stems are superficial and easily destroyed - it is necessary to lightly stroke the leaves with your palm, and an intense aroma appears. Therefore, when drying, the leaves greatly lose essential oil. The maximum oil content was noted in the afternoon, the minimum - at night. As the leaf ages, the amount of oil decreases.
There is one more problem with the reproduction of Pelargonium pink. With long-term vegetative reproduction, a mutation gradually accumulates, which is responsible for the nasty rancid smell of oil. And given that mutated plants take root even better, the pleasantly smelling rose-smelling plants are gradually being replaced by mentonic forms with an unpleasant odor. Interestingly, modern research has shown that those plants that smell like roses have 66 chromosomes, and those that smell like rancid mint have 88 chromosomes.
Geranium essential oil and its properties
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Pelargonium pinkwas grown in the former USSR on the territory of Tajikistan, Armenia and Georgia as an industrial essential oil crop, and varieties with a high content of essential oil and a pleasant pink aroma were even bred: Pink, Jubilee, Aist-4, Fragrant, etc. Young leafy shoots. The essential oil is obtained from the whole fresh plant by hydrodistillation. In Morocco, tot produce concrete and absolute.
The content of essential oil in fresh raw materials reaches 0.1-0.3%. The oil contains up to 270 components, including citronellol (50-60%) and geraniol (up to 25%). Its most valuable components are citronellol (42-64%) and geraniol (14-25%). Citronellol can partially replace the more expensive rose oil.
Geranium essential oil is widely used in perfumery, in the food industry - for flavoring drinks, confectionery and tobacco products; in medicine - as a pharmaceutical agent with antiseptic and bactericidal properties. It is used to make rose-scented perfumes, added to cosmetics, and also used as a spice. As a medicine, it has been known since ancient times. It has bactericidal, antispasmodic, soothing, tonic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. Due to its bactericidal properties, geranium oil is used in the treatment of certain infectious diseases. Geranium bactericidal activity ranges from 125-400 μg / ml. Actively against mycoplasma pneumonia. Has a positive effect on the phagocytic activity of macrophages (5 μg / ml). Stimulates the adrenal cortex.
Application of geranium oil
Geranium oil increases efficiency, increases attention, and labor intensity. According to rheography, it improves the tone of the cerebral vessels. Shows itself as a relaxant. Effective for burns, wounds, fractures, frostbite, dermatoses and stomatitis. In combination with other oils, it is used for diabetes mellitus. Stimulates the function of the liver and pancreas. Effective in the form of drops and ointments for otitis media, sinusitis, tonsillitis. Essential oil, on the one hand, is a good antiseptic, and on the other hand, it is not aggressive towards the skin, does not cause irritation. It, as well as tea tree essential oil, is recommended to be applied externally in the form of ointments for shingles, a rather painful viral disease - chickenpox. Ointments with essential oil are a good remedy for eczema and dermatitis, poorly healing wounds, cuts, scratches, as well as for acne and pimples. Geranium is very active against candidiasis. Outwardly, also in a mixture with warming oils, it is used for arthritis and myositis.
In aroma lamps they are used for asthenia, neurasthenia and other functional disorders of the nervous system. The scent has a regulatory effect, weakening the stress response. This action is associated with the regulation of the production of stress hormones. In addition, essential oil has a regulating effect on the cardiovascular system, primarily on blood pressure and heart rate. Not being a hormone, rose geranium essential oil has a harmonizing effect on the endocrine system, especially in women. Therefore, in the form of inhalation, oil is useful for PMS and dysmenorrhea.
This oil, such as rose or lemon oil, can be taken 1-2 drops by mouth. It has a regenerating effect on the liver.
Contraindications: Geranium oil is not toxic, but in very rare cases, individual intolerance and allergic reactions occur.
