The benefits and harms of geranium for humans and how to use it. Beneficial properties of indoor geranium

Geranium – indoor flower, which has become widespread. It can be found in almost every home. It is known that geranium (another name for the plant is zonal pelargonium) acquired not only thanks to its beautiful multi-colored inflorescences, but also for its healing abilities.

Useful properties pelargonium is determined by its composition. It contains vitamins (phylloquinone and ascorbic acid), starch, gum, anthocyanins, flavonoids, phytoncides, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, pectin, organic acids, carbohydrates, gallic acid, tannins And essential oils. All this helps to get rid of cellulite. The rhizomes also contain huge reserves of calcium, geranin and coloring substances.

Use in medicine

Official medicine has not yet recognized pelargonium. Therefore, it found application only in folk medicine, as well as in cosmetology. There is an opinion that geranium can harm the body. Let's try to find out what prevails: benefit or harm. Stems, leaves, flowers and rhizomes exhibit beneficial properties. They can be used both raw and dry. Flowers and leaves are collected in the summer, and rhizomes in the fall.

Effect on the body

Geranium extract has many beneficial qualities and comes in the form of tablets in foil blister packaging. It was first obtained from the stems and the oil obtained by distilling the geranium leaves and its stems. This substance is found mainly in Fragrant Geranium (Pelargonium Graveolens) and has the following properties:

lowers blood pressure;
stabilizes the activity of the circulatory system;
normalizes digestion;
dissolves salts;
stabilizes glycogen levels;
relieves pain (headache, dental, heart, neuralgic);
improves blood clotting;
stops bleeding (nasal, uterine, pulmonary, stomach, intestinal, hemorrhoidal);
helps get rid of cellulite;
relieves inflammation;
treats wounds, burns, ulcers, bedsores, ears;
neutralizes snake venom;
neutralizes toxins contained in low-quality food;
calms down nervous system;
relieves insomnia and chronic fatigue;
improves mood;
treats infertility.

The extract also helps get rid of diseases gastrointestinal tract And kidney stone disease. In case of poisoning, the stomach is washed with infusions and decoctions of indoor pelargonium. It is also used for otitis media, hypertension, neurosis, furunculosis, pharyngitis, rheumatism, pleurisy, thrush and cellulite. For hypertension, a leaf of the plant is tied to the wrist in the place where the pulse is felt.

How does geranium heal?

If you plant a plant in your home, you will see that the beneficial properties of the flower are manifested in the treatment of many diseases, and also relieve wrinkles and cellulite. To save yourself from toothache, a geranium leaf is applied to a sore tooth for a quarter of an hour. For conjunctivitis and blepharitis, the eyes are washed with the infusion, and lotions are also made from it, and for cataracts, the juice is dropped into the eyes.

At skin diseases(dermatitis, eczema) infusion is used to treat damaged skin and apply lotions to it. If boils have formed, purulent wounds, or skin ulcers, then a pelargonium leaf is wrapped around the wound, having previously been scalded with boiling water. The bandage is changed daily. To get rid of the itching that accompanies allergies, the leaves are washed well, crushed and rubbed on the itchy areas. The use of poultices helps to disappear calluses and get rid of cellulite.

Pelargonium will also have beneficial properties for colds. For a sore throat, gargle with a decoction of the plant, and for a runny nose, drop the juice into the nostrils. For joint diseases, crushed leaves are applied at night to the places where pain occurs.

Alcohol tincture will have beneficial qualities. It is taken for goiter. For thrush alcohol tincture used for douching. It also relieves heart pain. For pleurisy, it is recommended to chew the leaves of the plant (2-3 pieces) with honey twice a day, half an hour before eating.

The healing properties of indoor pelargonium also appear in diseases oral cavity(stomatitis, gingivitis). For tooth decay, chewing the powder obtained from the roots of the plant will help stop tooth decay.

For otitis, a geranium leaf is kneaded and placed in the ear. He will stop inflammatory processes and relieve pain. Pelargonium will also be beneficial if ear pain occurs when the temperature rises. atmospheric pressure. The crushed leaf should also be placed in the ear, previously lubricated with camphor oil. You can also place geranium in your child's ear, but be careful.

In folk medicine, not only geranium extract is used, but also geranium essential oil. It will stop inflammatory processes in the nose, middle ear and throat, relieve migraines and toothache, as well as cellulite, help with burns and nervous exhaustion. It can be instilled into the ear, nose, and used for rinsing and compresses.
Geranium essential oil relieves spasms from brain vessels, treats neuroses and depression, normalizes hormonal levels, increases performance (mental and physical), eliminates cellulite.

But the oil has contraindications. It cannot be used during pregnancy and lactation. In this case, pelargonium will not be beneficial, but harmful.

The most pronounced medicinal properties of meadow and blood-red geraniums. Meadow geranium can have a stimulating or depressant effect (depending on the dosage) on the central nervous system. In folk medicine, it has found use for the treatment of fractures and malignant neoplasms.

How to prepare medicinal preparations

Geranium exhibits medicinal properties in decoctions, tinctures, alcohol infusions and oil. Their useful qualities you can experience it for yourself.

Orchids, cacti, palm trees - now it’s fashionable to decorate an apartment with just such greenery. And the bright, but sharply smelling geranium remained on the windowsills only of grandmothers and in some public institutions. It’s a pity, because according to signs this plant is extremely useful for the home. In addition, it is characterized by a variety of medicinal properties. And for those who find small red flowers boring, we inform you that florists have developed many new varieties that are distinguished by their external splendor.

Types of geraniums

Botanists distinguish garden, meadow and indoor varieties of plants belonging to this family. There are about 400 varieties in total.

Of course, we will not consider all this diversity in detail. The object of this review is indoor geranium (genus Pelargonium).

First, a general description. These are herbaceous or semi-shrub plants with erect or cascading stems, their flowers are smooth or velvety in a wide variety of shapes and colors, the leaves are round or rugged, green or variegated.

Due to the abundance and diversity of varieties (there are 250 of them), it is impossible to provide a clear classification with detailed characteristics. Amateur florists usually grow the following varieties of pelargonium:

zonal;
ivy leaf;
royal;
angel;
unique;
fragrant;
fragrant.

Pelargonium zonalis is found most often. It decorates both window sills and flower beds. The name refers to the small spot in the middle of the leaves, which is usually lighter than the main leaf. Flowers different shapes They delight the eye with bright colors: white, orange, coral, purple. You can't list all the shades.

The ivy-leaved variety of geranium received this name because of its climbing shoots-stems and five-pointed leaves. The shape of the flowers is varied, the colors range from white to wine and burgundy.

The royal variety of geranium is the most capricious, but so beautiful! The petals are large (4-7 cm), fringed, the main colors are white, burgundy, pink and purple. Distinctive characteristic- bright contrasting spots or veins that give the flowers a regal splendor.

The Angel geranium variety is often confused with the variety described above. The main difference is the small inflorescences. Yes, and the “character” of such pelargonium is unpretentious.

Unicum flowers are also similar to royal ones, but smaller (up to 2 cm). Leaves are dissected. Some varieties have a pleasant peach scent.

For lovers pleasant aromas We recommend paying attention to the pelargonium of the last two in the above list of varieties. Yes, they look boring: the flowers are inconspicuous, usually white or pink. But as soon as you touch the plant, it smells like grapefruit, apple, pineapple, rose or even pine needles.

We hope that your ideas about pelargonium have already changed. But appearance And pleasant smell– that’s not all the advantages!

Medicinal properties of geranium

Geranium is a plant that not only pleases the eye, but is also useful.

Firstly, all its parts contain tannins.
Secondly, starch, carbohydrates, saponins, and antioxidants were found in the roots.
Thirdly, the leaves and inflorescences contain ascorbic acid, glucose and sucrose, healing acids, and pigments. It is noteworthy that the leaves contain a large amount of essential oil.

In pharmaceuticals, only the medicinal properties of meadow geranium are used. However, there is practically no official information on this matter. Recent studies have proven the plant's effectiveness in stopping bleeding. Manufacturers are considering the possibility of developing appropriate medicines.

The bactericidal property is also widely known. People have long noticed that microbes located near the plant die, plus it repels harmful insects. These features justify the benefits of geranium for the home, and not just for health.

Use in folk medicine

Unlike pharmacists, healers value geranium. On its basis, compositions are prepared that have the following medicinal properties:

antiseptic;
hemostatic;
diuretic;
antiviral;
antispasmodic.

Decoctions of the plant normalize blood pressure and heart rate.

The simplest recipe for hypertensive patients: crumple a pelargonium leaf and apply it to the wrist (in the area of the pulse). After 10-15 minutes the pressure will decrease.

Decoctions of the leaves will help with problems with the genitourinary and digestive system. Even the presence of a plant in the house itself will improve the condition, acting as a mild antidepressant.

Coping with symptoms colds Tinctures, decoctions and juices help. So, if you gargle with geranium tincture as often as possible for several days, you will notice clear improvements. Read what else you can do to gargle. Two drops fresh juice, dropped into each nostril, will relieve a runny nose.

Geranium leaves help with pain of various etiologies. For example, for otitis media, it is recommended to slightly crush one leaf, roll it up and put it in the ear. If you're worried toothache, apply a geranium leaf to the cheek on the appropriate side.

Decoctions from the root help with indigestion, postpartum uterine bleeding.

For ulcers, wounds, and ulcers, infusions are used to lubricate damaged areas of the skin.

Among the beneficial properties noted positive influence on the balance of hormones and menstrual cycle. People prone to stress and depression are advised to grow this plant at home.

Everyone knows grandma’s geranium, which constantly blooms and exudes a strong aroma. There are about 430 species of this plant. But not everyone is aware of its healing properties.

For the first time, geranium fell into the hands of breeders of the Royal Gardens of Great Britain in the 16th-17th centuries. It was brought by sailors from South Africa. Flowers began to be grown in gardens and parks. And then indoor varieties of this plant were developed. D. Tradescan was engaged in the selection of geraniums.

Homemade geranium has medicinal properties

We know from history that even Peter was the first to treat his sore leg with geranium. This plant helped him numb the pain. And the courtiers wore this flower as decoration. Magicians and sorcerers in the Middle Ages believed that it drove away evil spirits. They made amulets in which they placed geranium flowers. These days the oil of this fragrant flower added to essential oils and used in aromatherapy.

Scientists have proven that geranium can even kill staphylococci and streptococci. Also, when indoors, geranium can purify the air of germs.

Medicinal properties of geranium

Geranium heals wounds

Rose geranium is used to treat wounds. It has an anti-inflammatory and healing effect. The leaves of this plant are used for.

Geranium for insomnia

If you come up and breathe in the aroma of geranium, your well-being and mood improve. Geranium also helps get rid of insomnia. Geranium oil is rubbed into the temples to relieve headaches.

Geranium treats runny nose and otitis media

Freshly squeezed juice from geranium leaves treats otitis media and runny nose. Sometimes the juice is mixed with essential oils.

Geranium for hypertension

To lower blood pressure, take a decoction of geranium. You can also apply the leaves to your wrist.

Geranium for toothache

The leaf is applied to the painful tooth until the pain goes away.

Treatment with geranium - contraindications

But despite everything healing properties geraniums, you must remember about contraindications. Children can only use it for external procedures. To people old age and pregnant women should approach treatment with geranium preparations with caution. If you are suffering chronic diseases, it is worth consulting a doctor. Patients with stomach ulcers may also be harmed by this treatment.

Contraindications of geranium and signs

Indoor geranium - signs

IN folk beliefs It was believed that geranium protects the house from snakes. The pink variety helps in love, the red variety improves health, and the white variety helps to conceive a child. Pink geranium flowers were placed in the closet to get rid of moths.

Geranium is also widely used in the production of cosmetic creams and oils. These are products for body, hair and facial skin care. Massage therapists use geranium oil.

And simply, being in the house, geraniums do not stand idle. It is believed that this protects the inhabitants of the house from negative impact ill-wishers and is the protector of your home.

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