Rose Geranium EO

Tonifies lymph and veins, pancreatic insufficiency, arthritis, anxiety, hemorrhoids

TCM

Nourishes kidney yin and establishes kidney heart communication, calms the shen
Regulates liver qi, PMS, fibrocystic breast, jaundice
Descends stomach qi for food stasis
Astringes fluid and blood loss in the lower heater

Organic Rose Geranium Hydrosol - Eden Botanicals

This oil should arguably be called Pelargonium. The true Geranium plant, Geranium macrorrhizum, a common plant native to the Balkans that is distilled to produce an oil called Zdravetz

There are hundreds of species of Pelargonium with thousands of varieties. The Pelargoniums readily cross and hybridize, creating a myriad of related plants. Botanical nomenclature is far from reliable. Rose Geranium is just one of the many. It is sightly Rosy in fragrance, there are Chocolate geraniums, Lemon, etc... . The Rose Geranium has an application in skin care products because it reduces the secretion of the oil glands, encourages drainage of the lymphatic system and encourages healing. It can be added to a powdered clay and used in the feet or in shoes to treat fungus. The smell is uplifting and reduces stress and anxiety.

Geranium essential oil is used topically as an astringent and as an additive to skin applications for broken capillaries, burns and for couperose skin. It encourages cellular regeneration and wound healing. Is often employed in a massage oil for cellulite, engorged breasts, to encourage lymphatic drainage or edema. Used as an inhalant to stimulate the adrenocortico glands, as an antidepressant and to reduce anxiety and stress.

Description: Geranium oil is steam-distilled from the aromatic green parts of the pelargonium, especially the leaves. The plant must be freshly cut just before the flowers open. About 300-500 kg (675-1,125 lb) of plants are needed to obtain 1 kg (21/4 lb) of geranium essential oil so it is quite expensive (though not as much so as rose). The worldwide annual production of the oil is estimated to be in the region of 300 tonnes, an enormous quantity, mostly used in perfumes (of which the oil is the most important ingredient). The oil is limpid, and fairly colourless, although there is a faint tinge of green. It has a wonderful aroma, and that of rose geranium is rather like rose oil: this also contains geraniol and citronellol, which is why geranium is often used to falsify the more expensive rose oil.

The principal constituents: Alcohols (terpenic geraniol, about 75 -80 per cent, borneol, citronellol, linalool, terpineol), esters (acetic, butyric, valerianic), ketones, phenols (eugenol) and terpenes (phellandrene, pinene).

Dangers: The best-quality geranium oil is quite expensive, so it in turn is often falsified with artificial esters,cedarwood, turpentine or lemongrass. These falsifications can easily be detected by an expert, but are sold as true geranium to the public. These falsified oils will obviously not give good results in therapy, so buy very carefully.

ITS USES

In illness

Geranium oil is one of the most important oils in aromatherapy and almost a first-aid kit in itself. It is vulnerary, a tonic, an antiseptic and a haemostatic, and is good for tiredness, general fatigue and convalescence. It can be used for children too, but as always, the remedies must be at half strength or less.

It is particularly useful for many skin disorders, and can help heal cuts and bruises, burns, frostbite, fungus infections, athlete’s foot and eczema. Apply neat on cuts and bruises as you would any antiseptic, and cover with a gauze. Repeat a few times per day when changing the dressing.

For haemorrhoids, add 1 drop geranium oil to a small jar of cold cream or 5 ml (1 tsp) wheatgerm oil. Apply with a gauze, leaving this in place if possible, and repeat several times a day or whenever painful.

Athlete’s foot remedy

Before applying the oil below, have a foot bath of warm water and sea salt, with 5 drops of geranium oil mixed in.

15 ml (1tbsp) soya oil
3 drops wheatgerm oil
10 drops geranium oil

Mix well and put in a dark bottle. Apply on the feet morning and night, massaging it in well.

Geranium tonics

Diffuse the tonic aroma of geranium through the room where you have to study or work late. Apply a few drops of essential oil on a piece of cotton wool or folded tissue, and leave beside the heat of the lamp on your desk. Take a deep breath from time to time.

If feeling very exhausted, and needing a pick-me-up before starting to work – or play – mix 10 ml (2 tsp) soya oil and 5 drops of geranium. Massage this into the temples, back of the neck, sinus area, back of the hands and clockwise into the solar plexus. Rest on the floor for 5 minutes, then you will feel refreshed, with renewed energy. This is particularly effective for when you return from work and haven’t time for a proper relaxing bath before dashing off out again.

(See also abscesses and boils, anthrax, bruises, bursitis, colds, cramp, dental abscess, headaches, pediculosis, shingles, stings and bites and throat, sore.)

In cookery

Rose geranium leaves can give a rosewater fragrance, but many other varieties of scented leaves are available – orange, lemon, apple and nutmeg. Elizabeth David uses leaves in blackberry jelly as a flavouring, and in lemon water ice. Use leaves fresh or dried in cakes and puddings.

Other uses

When travelling, geranium oil can be a wonderful insect repellant and rather more attractive than most proprietary products. Make a simple body oil in the proportion of 20 ml (4- tsp) soya oil to 16 drops geranium, and massage your body with it. If bitten, apply geranium oil neat to the bite, and repeat several times a day to stop the itching. (You can use this on the face but never too near the eyes.)

A few drops of neat oil can be left on a piece of cotton wool or tissue beside your bed at night to keep insects away.

Source

Studies

Antibacterial

Anti-Inflammatory

These results suggest rose geranium oil demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory activity.

Antifungal

Rose Geranium EO

TCM

Studies

Antibacterial

Anti-Inflammatory

Antifungal

Cancer

Diabetes

Dust Mites

Toxoplasmosis