Once upon a time, geranium, or fragrant pelargonium, also known as angina, grew in a pot on every second window sill, exuding an unusual lemon scent around it. Today we have already forgotten a little about this plant. It is a pity, because it has remarkable antibacterial and antiviral properties, which places it among the most valuable medicinal plants. See why it is worth growing geraniums.

Geranium - what is this plant?

Geranium, or fragrant pelargonium, is a plant that many people probably remember from early childhood. It was enough to slightly move its leaves to make the smell of lemons spread throughout the room.

But geranium has been present in many Polish homes not only because of the scent of citrus, branchy leaves with an unprecedented decorative shape or the color of flowers: this plant has been valued for its healing properties for centuries, because of which it gained another name - angina, or also angina.

Our ancestors willingly used geranium leaves to prepare medicinal infusions to help with various infections of the respiratory tract. The freshly plucked and ground leaves also served as a remedy for skin diseases, middle ear infections, and as an ingredient in skin care formulas.

What are the varieties of geraniums?

Geranium is usually associated with only one specific plant - while there are several varieties of fragrant pelargonium. The most famous is the popular "anginka". But apart from it, in the apartment or on the terrace, you can also grow rose geraniums (due to the fact that its leaves emit a rose scent).

Fragrant geraniums also include hybrid varieties, incl.Pelargonium quercifolium , also known as almond geranium (the leaves of this plant have a characteristic, peppery scent), andPelargonium tomentosum(mint geranium), the leaves of which, like the name suggests, they smell like mint.

What healing properties does geranium have?

Geranium (anginka) has a number of healing properties thatfolk medicine has long appreciated. Scented geranium leaves contain essential oils with antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and also have a slightly anesthetic effect.

Geranium, aka anginka:

  • alleviates respiratory infections
  • reduces a sore throat
  • reduces swelling of the nasal mucosa during a runny nose
  • relieves earache in acute otitis media
  • relieves rheumatic pain
  • relieves headache and neuralgia
  • disinfects small mornings
  • reduces swelling and itching after insect bites
  • refreshes your breath
  • relieves toothache
  • reduces scars
  • helps to relax and calm down.

How to use geranium oil and leaves?

The medicinal raw material for geraniums is geranium oil available in herbal stores (you can also make it yourself), as well as leaves of this plant, which can be used in many different ways, depending on the effect you want to achieve.

Geranium oil works primarily in the fight against infections - including colds and flu. You can use it for inhalation (then pour a few drops of the oil into the nebulizer, following the manufacturer's instructions), and also in an aromatherapy fireplace or pour it directly into a bathtub filled with warm water.

It can also be added to baby oil or other massage preparation, and then massaged into sore spots (in case of rheumatism) or applied to scars. However, it must not be applied to the skin without diluting it first.

Freshly picked geranium leaves help with a sore ear or severe rhinitis: just crush the leaf to release the juice, and then place it shallowly in the nose or ear.

In the case of headache, neuralgia or rheumatic pain, and to reduce the effects of insect bites, crush geranium leaves (preferably in a mortar), and then apply a compress from such pulp directly to the sore spot.

They can also be used to prepare an infusion, which will serve both as a remedy for skin diseases and as a rinse for a sore throat and inflammation in the mouth, also with accompanying toothache.

To do this, pour boiling water in a glass for a few freshly picked leaves, let it brew for a quarter of an hour, covered, and when the infusion is slightly cool, drain it through a strainer. Such an infusion can be used both as a gargle for the throat and as a base for healing compresses - then you need to soak a cotton fabric with it.

The aroma of geranium leaves can also be simply inhaled - then it has a relaxing effectreassuring. You can put several pots of geraniums close to each other, or tear a few leaves, crush them and put them in a muslin sachet or cotton bag, and then place, for example, on a pillow.

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