Healing aroma of "geranium"

Pelargonium aromatic Pelargonium graveolens "Both's Snowflake"

Pelargonium (Pelargonium), which amateurs mistakenly call room geraniums, belongs to the Geranium family (Geraniaceae)... The genus name comes from the Greek word pelargos, which means "stork, crane". Pelargonium fruits really resemble the long beak of these birds. The genus has about 300 species, mainly inhabitants of South Africa.

The myriad of modern varieties come mainly from pelargonium zonal (Pelargonium zonale), pelargonium thyroid or ivy (Pelargonium peltatum), large-flowered homemade pelargonium or royal (Pelargonium x domesticum) and some others. Modern selection of pelargoniums has achieved truly stunning results. Today it is difficult to recognize the "grandmother's geranium" in the luxurious, magnificently blooming beauties. But apart from excellent flowers and sometimes brightly colored painted leaves, pelargoniums are valued for their special aroma, which is not only pleasant, but also useful. It will help maintain a good mood and health in your home.

Pelargonium aromatic Pelargonium graveolens "Lady Plymouth"

The leaves are especially fragrant aromatic pelargonium, or fragrant (Pelargonium graveolens)... It is enough to lightly rub the leaf between your fingers, and you will feel a strong pleasant smell. This is facilitated by the hairs located on the leaves associated with essential oil glands, which secrete aromatic substances. Small flowers, collected in multi-flowered umbrellas, are very diverse in color (from pure white through red to purple). Flowering is quite long, it can last all summer and autumn.

Pelargonium fragrant Pelargonium fragrans "Variegatum"

The aromas of different types of pelargonium are also varied. For example, fragrant pelargonium (Pelargonium fragrans) has a nutmeg smell, the most fragrant pelargonium, or fragrant (Pelargonium odoratissimum) - the smell of an apple. There are types with the aroma of rose, lemon, peppermint, lime, lily of the valley, ginger. You can create a rich collection of colors and smells of blooming pelargonium by collecting dried flowers in glass vessels.

Even in ancient times, aromatic geranium oil was highly valued for its healing power. The essential oil contains more than 120 components, mainly terpenoids. Its antimicrobial and antiviral activity is 6.5 times higher than that of phenol (carbolic acid), which is considered to be the strongest antiseptic.

Russian scientists have carried out a number of interesting experiments. When a few drops of a liquid containing millions of staphylococci were applied to the surface of a leaf of room pelargonium, after 3 hours most of the bacteria died. When the bacteria, applied to the nutrient medium, were placed at a distance of 0.5-1 cm from the leaves of pelargonium, then after 6 hours of proximity to the leaves, they all died.

Clinical studies have confirmed that staying for 10 minutes next to a flowering pelargonium bush (at a distance of 60 cm) has a beneficial effect on the functional state of the central nervous system: it soothes and improves sleep. The neighborhood with pelargonium is useful for people with neurotic reactions, insomnia, hypertension, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. It has a particularly good effect on patients with chronic gastritis with high acidity (A. Semenova, 2002).

Pelargonium fragrant Scented Leaf "Lilian Pottinger"

In aromatherapy, Pelargonium essential oil is used very widely: to regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism, improve liver function, treat diseases of the ear, nose and sinuses, regulate reproductive function, for the prevention and treatment of oncological diseases, and also as an antidepressant that improves emotional and the physical condition of the person.

The famous American aromatherapist S.Cunningham writes: “When we are weak, we are most likely to be hit by physical and 'mental' troubles. To resist them, put 1-2 drops of geranium oil on a cotton swab, or crush a fresh pelargonium leaf and inhale the pleasant scent. Allow his energy to enter you, spreading the state of health, peace, taking away depression. "

However, it should be remembered that the aroma of pelargonium can adversely affect people with asthma. You also need to make sure that a small child does not taste the leaflet "on the tooth".

N. Leonova,

MD, Phyto-aromatherapist

(Based on the materials of the magazine "Stylish Garden", No. 2, 2004)