You might not have heard of pelargonium but you have probably admired them in a garden where, as a pot plant relative of the geranium, it is a pretty and colourful addition. However, this popular plant also has another use with its extract used in herbal medicine to get rid of respiratory illnesses and deal with the symptoms of the common cold.
Pelargonium sidoides is a native of South Africa – its Zulu name is “umckaluabo”, which means bad cough – and is prized for its natural antibiotic properties. Its use over centuries in Africa as a herbal medicine to treat chest infections led to it being introduced to the UK in the 19th century when respiratory conditions such as tuberculosis were at epidemic levels.
Today pelargonium is used all over the world as a natural aid to recovery from colds and flu, and for its fast action on ear, nose and throat infections, and chest and lung infections.
Clinical trials using pelargonium have shown that the plant extract is effect in treating acute bronchitis and is, in fact, as effective as using prescribed antibiotics for this condition. Children with tonsillitis and laryngitis can also be treated using pelargonium effectively and the remedy is particularly effective in helping those who don’t respond to antibiotics to recover more quickly.
Some studies have also shown that pelargonium may have the ability to boost our immune system, helping to fight against viruses and bugs.
Take pelargonium to relieve the symptoms of the common cold, such as runny nose, earache, sore throat and a cough. It is also known to help alleviate the symptoms of sinusitis, a condition where the nasal sinuses become painfully inflamed and cause pressure and pain, headaches and a blocked nose.
Taking pelargonium can also relieve the symptoms of asthma, the most common respiratory condition affecting both adults and children. Typical symptoms of the condition are coughing, wheezing, a feeling of breathlessness and excess mucus, all of which were shown to be reduced by taking pelargonium.
Pelargonium is considered to be one of the safest and most effective herbal remedies around.
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