With its alluring looks and robust yet delicate scent, geranium is one of the more underrated natural healing substances to find at any health food store or herbalist’s shop, in large part because it’s mostly thought of as a decorative plant.
The truth is that geranium has been used to treat and prevent numerous health conditions for centuries, and is one of the most potent oils or supplements to have on hand for a wide variety of disease conditions. Geranium’s healing benefits come from its flowers and leaves, which are often distilled into a highly concentrated form to produce a healing serum that is useful both topically and internally.
Here are just a few reasons to add geranium to your daily supplement routine and/or medicine cabinet.
Geranium for Stress and Anxiety
According to the medically-reviewed website VeryWellHealth, geranium oil is effective in aiding sufferers of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even post-herpetic neuralgia, a condition that affects nerve fibers and skin causing burning pain.
Geranium has an uplifting effect that is able to dispel these conditions through both aromatherapy and internal consumption.
A serum of geranium oil is a boon for emotional well-being, and is capable of alleviating pain, stimulating the healing of burns and wounds, and enhancing mood while healing inflammation in the body. Using geranium as a cologne or perfume can also aid in recovering from conditions like depression and anxiety as well. Geranium also helps to dissolve stress.
Mainstream medicine may not pay a whole lot of attention to flowers as medicine, but these benefits of geranium show just how powerful and useful they can be in any natural wellness routine.
Geranium for Healing the Lungs
With its ability to provide antibacterial, antifungal and antimicrobial affects, geranium oil also bestows a healing effect on the lungs in several ways.
It is often used in Southern African cultures for respiratory disorders, as detailed in the journal Pharmaceuticals (Basel), which recommended more research into the practice. This effect is provided in large part due to the active component pelargonium found in the geranium flower, which can help to treat deep, persistent coughs and even bronchitis by aiding in the removal of unhealthy secretions.
Geranium serves as a gentle yet effective expectorant that works without the need for harsh chemicals or unhealthy sweeteners that are often found in over-the-counter cough syrup products.
One study on geranium found that this humble decorative and medicinal flower can help to lower blood pressure as well, which can have lasting benefits for the heart, lungs, and a person’s entire cardio-pulmonary system. It should be noted that geranium oil is not a substitute for doctor-prescribed treatments for lung disorders such as asthma and COPD, and that a naturopathic doctor should be consulted first.
It also is not advisable for pregnant women.
That being said, geranium is a useful natural supplement for aiding in the above functions, and both long and short-term lung and respiratory health.
Geranium for Natural Immunity
As noted by 1MD.org, geranium has long been used to heal and provide immunity to the common cold, and recent research shows that it may have the ability to kill bacteria and viruses.
Regular supplementation with geranium helps to keep these harmful invaders at bay, allowing your immune system to do its job by locking on and destroying them on contact.
“With regular supplementation of this beneficial herb, you can reduce the risk of catching a cold in the first place,” the aforementioned medical site concluded after reviewing scientific literature on this effect presented in the journal Explore(NY). Aside from these benefits, geranium may have the ability to slow down and eliminate one of the most harmful forms of bacteria out there.
As noted by Healthline.com, “geranium essential oil was about as effective as amoxicillin at fighting bacterial strains, such as Staphylococcus aureus.”
From its long history of safe and effective use to modern studies backing up its effectiveness, the science is clear: geranium works, and is one of the most unsung immune system boosting agents on the market among plant-based substances. If you haven’t added it to your daily routine yet, now may be the perfect time, as science is just now rediscovering this hidden floral treasure for its wide array of healing properties.
For these reasons and many more we included Geranium flower essential oil in our botanical blend Radiate Immunity. This blend is 18 botanical extracts from all over the world to create a more adaptive immune system, combat oxidative stress, improve lung and respiratory health and more. You can learn more about this fantastic blend at RadiateImmunity.com here.
