Geranium Essential Oil Profile

This blog was a labour of love which took more than 3 months to put together.  It was actually part of my second aromatherapy course assignment and involved me regularly using geranium essential oil to test its benefits.  I have to say quite honestly that the benefits that I gained from using geranium essential oil regularly were excellent.  I hope you enjoy and find this of use!

courtesy of Wikipedia

“Geranium” is the common name applied to the Pelargonium genus.  The name Pelargonium is derived from the Greek word palargos which is the Greek word for stork since the fruit of the plant is thought to resemble a stork’s beak.  There are over 200 different species in the Pelargonium genus.  The genus was introduced to Europe in 1690 via South Africa (it is indigenous to Southern Africa).  Since then it has become a common garden plant.  Geranium leaves were first distilled in 1819 by the French chemist Recluz.  From 1880 Rénuion become the major distillation center for the oil producing oil from the Pelargonium graveolens species which is thought to be the highest quality oil from the Pelargonium genus.  From 1900 Grasse became the major distillation center for geranium essential oil. 

Geranium essential oil became an important perfume ingredient, often used as a cheaper substitute for rose oil.  In the 1970s and 80s, an Italian doctor named Rovesti used geranium oil for the treatment of anxiety which is a common use for geranium still today.  Geranium is currently grown in southern Africa, Madagascar, the Congo, North Africa, Spain, France, Italy and Corsica.  Other species are grown in China, India, Russia, and Japan.

Geranium essential oil has many medicinal properties including: analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, calmative, cicatrisant, hepatic stimulant, phlebotonic .  It has been known to treat conditions where there is inflammation such as: gastritis, colitis, psoriasis, eczema, acne, impetigo, athlete’s foot.  Geranium oil has astringent and haemostatic properties which make it useful for treating wounds and bruises.[1] Geranium’s cytophylactic action make it good for the treatment of burns and wounds. 

At the Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai, India, researchers conducted an experiment using 21 different essential oils (including geranium) and found that most of the oils (including geranium) showed antibacterial activity against one or more strains of bacteria.[2]   

Geranium oil stimulates the lymphatic systems and has a diuretic effect.  It can help to treat cellulite, fluid retention and oedema of the ankles.

As an analgesic and antispasmodic, Geranium is useful for nerve, eye, and  joint pain and is indicated for conditions such as neuralgia, opthalmia, rheumatism.  In skincare geranium is used to balance the production of sebum.  It’s cooling, moist nature benefits dry and inflamed skin when applied at dilutions of 1%.

Geranium is also useful in the treatment of haemorrhoids, varicose veins, excessive menstrual bleeding because it acts as an astringent and phelobotonic.  In a study done at the University of Wolverhampton on pre-menstrual women, it was found that inhaling geranium essential oil lowered the participants anxiety and contributed to alleviating emotional symptoms of PMT.[3]

In oriental medicine, Geranium is used to clear heat from the Stomach and Intestines, Lungs, and Nerves.  It also tonifies the Lung-yin and Kidney-yin, restrains infections, benefits the skin, and alleviates Bi.  It is one of the few oils in oriental medicine that has both cool and moist energetic properties.  Geranium also strengthens Qi energy.  It encourages the circulation of Qi and blood. 

Geranium essential oil acts as a tonic to reinforce the Qi-energy of the Spleen and pancreas, and the yin-energy of the body as the whole.  The oil may be used to alleviate symptoms of lethargy, diarrhoea, and lymphatic congestion due to its action on the Spleen-pancreas.  Acting as a tonic of the yin, Geranium can help with chronic anxiety, infertility, and symptoms associated with menopause.

Geranium helps to relax the mind, calm agitation and ease frustration and irritability.  It also has a consolidating or ‘centering’ effect.  Energetically it is sedative and uplifting.  Its personality is that of calm strength and security which helps those people suffering from either acute or chronic anxiety.  Geranium is especially beneficial where there is nervous exhaustion due to stress and overwork.  Another facet of Geranium’s personality is its sensual and liberating nature.  Its aroma is exotic, floral, and slightly spicy and considered to be an aphrodisiac.  Geranium nourishes the feminine creativity of the Intellect (Yi) and the still, receptive aspect of the Will (Zhi).  This makes it the perfect oil for the perfectionist or someone who has lost themselves and forgotten imagination, intuition and sensory experience.

To go further into detail about Geranium’s powerful effect on the emotions, there is a subtle difference in the calming aspect of Geranium when compared with Lavender.  Lavender oil is best used on an individual whose emotions are overwhelming the mind.  Geranium on the other hand is better for those individuals whose rationality and personal drive have overridden their emotions.  Geranium helps people to reconnect with our feelings, to our emotional sensitivity, relaxed spontaneity, and healthy thirst for pleasure and enjoyment.  This way Geranium helps us have a greater capacity for intimate communication.[4]

I selected geranium to profile in a diary to help balance out my water element which was clearly in disharmony (see question 1).  Also I felt that it might help balance out my emotions in terms of the pressure that I feel to be perfect (professionally, personally).  I used geranium regularly over a period of 3 months. Here were my observations:

Week 1

Method of application: in bath dissolved in carrier oil

Frequency: 3 times

I don't like the smell of geranium so in this regard I don't find it very soothing. I tried it in a few blends so the smell disguised which seemed to help. However it was difficult to detect a decrease in anxiety levels this week.

Week 2

Method of application: in bath dissolved in carrier oil, blended in an inhaler stick

Frequency: 3 times/as often as needed

This week I continued to use geranium oil in the bath in the evening to try to relax.  I also carried around an inhaler stick to smell during times of high anxiety, which unfortunately was quite regularly (around 5-6 times per day when I was at work).  I found that the inhalation had more immediate effect when dealing with stressful situations and would last around 20-30 minutes before I contemplated another smell of the stick, although I tried to wait as long as possible in between inhaling the stick.  I found the baths very relaxing and helped to put me in a less anxious state prior to going to sleep which helped me fall asleep quicker than I normally would.  I tried combining geranium with different oils this week before using in the bath so that the blend seemed less “geraniumy.”  I enjoyed the baths more as lavender seemed a good combination with the geranium.

Week 3

Method of application: in bath dissolved in carrier oil, blended in an inhaler stick, massage

Frequency: 3 times/as often as needed/once

This week in massage class I got a massage with geranium essential oil and it was really lovely.  The massage really made the difference in how the oil was administered because the benefits of massage alone are so great.  I continued to use geranium in the bath and used the inhaler stick with slightly less frequency (4-5 times per day). Overall anxiety levels felt better this week compared with last week.

Week 4

Method of application: in bath dissolved in carrier oil, blended in an inhaler stick

Frequency: 5 times/as often as needed

Unfortunately this week was one of the worst of my life from a work perspective.  My stress and anxiety levels were through the roof like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.  I used my inhaler stick almost double compared with last week and I bathed with geranium almost every night.  It is hard to subjectively comment on the effects of the oil due to the unusual and unprecedented  circumstances. 

Month 2

Method of application: in bath dissolved in carrier oil, blended in an inhaler stick

Frequency: Varied/As often as needed

The work-related stress carried on into the first few weeks of my second month using geranium essential oil regularly to help my anxiety levels.  By the end of the month I was noticing overall anxiety levels were reduced, less nervous tension in my stomach and reduced emotional levels.  Part of this was because conditions improved at work, but I do think that the geranium oil contributed.

Month 3

Method of application: in bath dissolved in carrier oil

Frequency: Varied

Compared to 3 months ago when I started regularly using geranium essential oil I feel  extremely calm.  It’s almost like being a new me!  I didn’t realise what an anxious person I was until I didn’t feel anxious anymore.  Apart from situational factors, I don’t think that the changes that I experienced would be the same had I not been using geranium essential oil so regularly.  In fact, I stopped carrying my inhaler stick since I don’t need it anymore!

---

[1] Battaglia, Salvatore. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. p207

[2] BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006, 6:39doi:10.1186/1472-6882-6-39

[3] Internet Health Library http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/Health-problems/Premenstrual%20Syndrome%20(PMS)%20-%20researchAltTherapies.htm

[4] Mojay, Gabriel. Aromatherapy for the Healing Spirit. P77.

Comments

[Lindsay]

Super cool! Thanks for sharing!