Of the many pelargonium species, the rose-scented P. graveolens is the most popular, but some others such as P. odoratissimum, P. roseum, and P. radula are also used for distillation.
The almost colorless or green tinged essential oil is highly fragrant due to the many volatile compounds it contains, the main ones being geraniol, citronellal, nerol, limonene, linalool, isomenthone and myrcene. The oil has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, hemostatic and diuretic effect.
Geranium oil benefits and its uses
Not surprisingly, geranium oil is very popular in aromatherapy and herbal medicine for its health benefits, especially in relation to skin health and emotional well-being.
The oil is often used to adulterate the even more expensive rose oil. The oil pure geranium required for therapeutic use, and must be obtained from a reliable producer.
1. Can relieve stress and fatigue
Inhaling the sweet scent of geranium oil can lift your spirits, reduce fatigue, and provide a feeling of happiness and well-being. It has a positive effect on the body and mind, and you can enjoy this feeling with just a drop or two of this powerful oil.
When you feel stressed or depressed, or just need a stimulant, take a drop of oil on a palm and rub your palms together. Open your palms over your nose and inhale deeply.
It will instantly energize you and put you in a good mood. You can diffuse 2 to 3 drops of the oil in an essential oil diffuser to set the tone for the day.
2. Increases mental function
Along with geranium oil's anti-stress action, it can improve your mental functioning and can help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
The presence of a toxic deposit called amyloid plaques in brain tissue is a marker for neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease. The chronic inflammation that results from its presence inflicts additional damage to brain tissue and drives the rapid progression of the disease.
Geranium oil is able to reduce inflammation in the brain by interfering with the production of pro-inflammatory substances. Inhaling geranium oil vapors has been found to be beneficial in increasing cognitive function and slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients.
3. Geranium oil is detoxifying
Many toxins from the environment enter our body through food and through the skin and respiratory tract. Some are formed within the body during normal metabolic processes. Some of the toxins are eliminated through the digestive tract, and sweat also plays a minor role.
But most of the toxic substances in the bloodstream are filtered by the kidneys and eliminated through the urine. Geranium oil is a diuretic; increases the production and elimination of urine. This facilitates the removal not only of toxic substances, but also of excess salts and pathogenic bacteria from the body
Diuretic substances play many roles. They help prevent kidney and urinary stones, as they considerably dilute the urine. Removing uric acid helps prevent gout, a painful condition that results from the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints.
Removing excess sodium reduces water retention in the body and lowers blood pressure. It should be mentioned here that increased fluid intake should accompany the use of diuretics to avoid dangerous dehydration. It is also true in the case of geranium oil.
4. Geranium oil can stop wound bleeding
Geranium oil can be used to stop bleeding from cuts and wounds. When applied topically diluted in a carrier oil, the oil constricts the blood vessels and promotes the formation of blood clots to seal them. This helps control blood loss not only from wounds but also from bleeding hemorrhoids.
5. It is strongly antimicrobial
The strong antimicrobial property of geranium essential oil can protect you from pathogens and infectious diseases. It is particularly effective as an antiseptic to disinfect cuts and wounds on the skin. When applied to scrapes and cuts, it stops bleeding quickly.
Wash the area with water to which 2-3 drops of geranium oil are added. Follow with a spot application of just one or two drops diluted in a carrier oil and cover the area with a simple bandage. This prevents bacterial infections in the wound and facilitates faster healing. Repeat once or twice a day until the wound heals completely.
The antimicrobial property is effective against fungal infections, such as athlete's foot and itching. After a bath, wash the affected area with water to which 5-6 drops of geranium oil are added. After thoroughly drying the area, apply a mixture of geranium oil diluted in olive oil in a thin layer. Continue until after the rash disappears completely.
6. Geranium oil is excellent for skin care
Our skin cells are continually shedding and replaced with new cells, but age and certain disease conditions delay this process. Geranium oil promotes cell regeneration, ensuring that the skin is regularly renewed. The increase in collagen, the connective tissue protein that underlies the skin, helps maintain the smoothness and elasticity of the skin.
There was a time when protein shakes would have 50 to 100 grams of protein per shake. It wasn’t until this study came out that it was determined that per meal we can only ingest 20g to 30g of protein every 3 to 4 hours. Every person varies on timing and needs. Instead of having 2 chicken breast per meal (which has approximately 62 grams of protein), have 1 chicken breast per meal (31 grams).