Pelargonium is a traditional herbal medicine which is produced from the extract of the root of a gernanium plant, Pelargonium sidoides and Pelargonium reniforme grown in South Africa. Pelargonium is licensed in the UK under the Traditional Herbal Registration scheme to treat upper respiratory tract infections.
The Pelargonium sidoides plant has dark maroon-red to black petals with bright red rhizomes. It is a perennial plant of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and the adjacent Lesotho highlands. The roots of the plant have been used locally for many years as a traditional remedy for the treatment of diverse group of conditions including diarrhoea, gastritis, tuberculosis, cough, menstrual complaints and gonorrhoea.
Stevens' Cure
The origins of Pelargonium in the UK date back to the early part of the 20th Century. Charles Henry Stevens from Birmingham (UK) was sent by his doctor to South Africa in 1897 to recover from pulmonary tuberculosis (consumption). There he was treated with a root concoction. He returned to the UK and was declared well and free of TB . Stevens then began commercialisation of the product using the name Umckaloabo. The name is derived from the isiZulu language, umkhulane, a term for ailments with symptoms including cough and fever, and uHlabo, meaning stinging breast pain. It is sometimes referred to in historical texts as “Stevens’ Cure” or "Stevens' Consumption Cure". A more detailed account of Stevens' exploits can be found in an article by Dr Newsom in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
The upper respiratory tract is the first part of the airways. It includes the nose, pharynx and larynx down to the trachea. Any or all of the components of the respiratory tract can become infected. This can lead to symptoms we experience such as the common cold, coughs, sore throat, and sinusitis. Most infections of the airways are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, that is why Pelargonium is recommended to relieve the symptoms of these infections.
What does Pelargonium contain and how does it work?
Pelargonium contains at least 20 chemicals obtained from the root of the plant. These are known as phytochemicals. They include phenols, coumarins and flavonoids. These chemicals play key roles in the function of plants. They all have a role in plant health especially in the defence against infections. Therefore, it is not surprising that these health related properties are exploited in Pelargonium for humans.
Pelargonium extract works by preventing viruses getting into our cells. It stops the enzyme that the virus uses to get into our cells as well as making our cells produce defence proteins. Pelargonium increases the activity of some of our white blood cells that are important in the immune response. Pelargonium is effective against a number of viruses including those that cause the common cold and flu.
Similarly, pelargonium makes our bodies cells increase their immune reactions against bacteria.
Side effects
There is a standard way of reporting the frequency of adverse events for medicines. All medicines can cause side effects but not everybody get them.
The following have been reported for Pelargonium:
Rare (affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000): Mild bleeding from the gums or nose. Allergic reactions e.g. skin rash, nettle rash, itching of the skin and mucous membranes
Very rare (affects less than 1 user in 10,000): Serious allergic reactions with swelling of the face, shortness of breath and decrease in blood pressure (anaphylaxis)
Unknown/single cases: disturbances of liver function or hepatitis
All side-effects of medicines should be reported to your qualified healthcare professional and the the MHRA via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.