fast FACTS
ORIGIN
Africa
EXTRACTION
Distillation
MAY HELP WITH
Aches and pains
Anxiety
Depression
Minor wounds
Skin conditions
Women’s health
fast FACTS
ORIGIN
Africa
EXTRACTION
Distillation
MAY HELP WITH
Aches and pains
Anxiety
Depression
Minor wounds
Skin conditions
Women’s health
Planters full of bright red geraniums hanging from a white porch railing can bring a smile to a face. Those colorful blooms aren’t the only uplifting thing this plant has to offer—geranium essential oil can relieve anxiety and depression and has the potential for first aid, skincare, and pain relief.
The geranium plant originates from South Africa but is now grown all over the world. Of the many varieties of geranium, only a few are used for essential oil, which is distilled from the plant’s broad green leaves.
Geranium oil is versatile in its emotional benefits and adapts to your needs.
Distilling geranium leaves results in green oil with an aroma just as beautifully sweet, floral, and rose-like as the plant’s flowers.
With an enticing aroma and an ability to adapt to the body’s needs, this gentle oil will help:
• Perk up. Geranium oil is versatile in its emotional benefits. It adapts to your needs by lifting the spirits, enhancing mental focus, or relieving anxiety and depression.
• Relieve aches and pains. The oil is powerful to both reduce general body aches and help ease the discomfort of more serious conditions, such as neuralgia and shingles.
• Protect your skin. Geranium oil can help reduce the appearance of blemishes, scars, and wrinkles, and has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties for wound healing and to prevent skin damage.
A Rose by Any Other Name
Geranium is often used in perfumes as a dupe for rose, which has to be pressed from the petals and is therefore much more expensive. With so many benefits, you might not mind the swap.
Take advantage of geranium oil’s many benefits by adding it to:
• Massage oils and compresses. Apply 1 or 2 drops of geranium oil to aching muscles and arthritic joints.
• Diffusers or inhalers. Add a few drops of geranium oil to a diffuser or inhaler and breathe deeply to balance your mood.
• Balms and salves. Use antiseptic geranium oil in your skin treatments to help speed wound healing.
• Soaps and lotions. Add 1 or 2 drops of geranium oil to your unscented face moisturizer to help tone your skin and keep it clear.
Antiseptic geranium oil can help speed wound healing.
The Woman’s Oil
Geranium garnered the nickname “the woman’s essential oil” for its balancing properties that relieve symptoms of PMS and menopause, such as breast discomfort, fluid retention, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes.
Some blending combinations for geranium oil include: bergamot, cedarwood, chamomile, lavender, lemon, juniper, marjoram, myrrh, neroli, orange, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang.
Geranium is an oil with no known safety issues. Use it responsibly as you would any essential oil. Complete a patch test if you are concerned about sensitivity.