Rose Scented Geranium for cracked skin and callouses
Rose scented geranium, Pelargonium capitatum (syn. P. drummondii), is also called wild rose geranium and must not be confused with the similarly named rose geranium (P. graveolens) and in fact, neither plant is in the genus Geranium, despite the common name.
Rose scented geranium is an evergreen (though frost tender) shrub which reaches a height and spread of 2 feet (60cm). It will grow in any type of soil so long as it is well drained, whether moist or dry. It will not grow in the shade.
The whole plant or just leaves are used for home remedies; leaves can be picked whenever needed. If you live in an area where winter is prolonged and frosty, you may wish to grow it in a pot, so that you can bring it into a cool greenhouse, porch or conservatory during the coldest months and use the leaves when they would otherwise be unavailable because of snow. The whole plant, in particular the leaves, is rose scented, so this would add fragrance to the area where you keep it (you can also dry the leaves to use in pot pourri).
Make a standard infusion from 3 handfuls of fresh leaves (in extremis you could use 30g/1 oz of dried leaves instead) added to 570ml (2.5 US cups, 1 UK pint) of boiling water. Allow to brew for between 15 minutes and 4 hours, then strain before use. The dose for internal use is up to 1 US cup (240 ml, 8 fl oz) per day, split into 3 doses.
You can use the standard infusion to treat minor digestive problems, kidney and bladder disorders. Externally, it can be used to treat rashes, callouses and cracked skin.
As with all plants grown for use in herbal remedies, rose scented geranium should be grown organically to prevent any adulteration of its active constituents. To find out more about growing organic herbs visit the Gardenzone.
Related Posts
Rose Geranium
Apple Geranium
Spotted CranesbillRelated posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
