Plants have long been helping people in the fight against certain diseases, so the "folk" first-aid kit of alternative medicine has always been highly valued by different categories of the population. A good example of useful vegetation is the beloved geranium, which, in addition to high decorative functions, also has a number of medical properties. How to use it in the treatment of ear diseases?

Brief description of the plant

Geranium (aka Pelargonium) is an ornamental plant with a soft, but peculiar aroma of flowers. It can be either annual or perennial, up to 50 cm high. Leaf plates are dark green in color, with white stripes or a border around the perimeter. If you wrinkle them a little in your hand, it is easy to notice a light mint-lemon aroma. Geranium flowers are small, collected in lush inflorescences.

Important! In ancient times, the fragrance of pelargonium was considered an excellent air purifier, which has been confirmed by modern scientists. The plant perfectly eliminates radionuclides, various poisons and microbes that are in the rooms.

Properties and chemical composition of geranium

Pelargonium has many positive characteristics, for which it is appreciated by flower growers all over the world. As for her healing abilities, it is known: in total, the plant contains more than 500 components, among which:

• tannin (used in medicine as an astringent);
• volatile (reduce the activity of harmful microorganisms, up to their complete destruction);
• flavonoids or plant polyphenols that can affect many enzymes inside the body;
• essential oils;
• organic acids;
• pectin;
• vitamins C, K, carotene;
• fructose and glucose;
• alkaloids and anthocyanins.

Geraniol is also present in geraniums. The so-called aromatic alcohol compounds are widely used not only in medicine but also in cosmetology. The main thing is to use this substance correctly so as not to cause an allergic reaction.

Plant benefits

• The general effect of geranium constituents on the human body is manifested in the following positive changes:
• increase mood and normalize emotional state;
• elimination of tension and depressive manifestations;
• normalization of the hormonal background;
• stabilization of blood pressure and stimulation of blood circulation;
• strengthening the body's immune forces (especially valuable during the period of activity of viral ailments).

Video: Geranium with ear pain, otitis media

• As for the treatment of otitis media, the following plant properties will be useful:
• slowing the spread of viruses and the rapid production of interferon;
• reduction of swelling and the elimination of stagnant processes in the body;
• analgesic effect;
• reducing the number of purulent masses and preventing their effects on the deep layers of the ear.

The calming effect of the plant on the human body helps to normalize sleep and reduce the fatigue that often accompany otitis media.

Given all the "skills" of pelargonium, the main indications for its use will be such conditions:

• bacterial and viral otitis media (especially if it is accompanied by sharp pain manifestations);
• chronic otitis media;
• colds that caused swelling and soreness in the auricle.

In any of these cases, geranium can not be considered the only means of treatment, but at the same time it is perfect for the role of auxiliary medicinal composition (especially in the initial stages of the development of the disease).

Did you know? Geranium planted on the site can serve as an excellent defender of the garden from snakes. No wonder in the old days people said: "Where geranium grows, there the snake will not creep."

Contraindications

Like any other medicinal plant, pelargonium has some contraindications for use and cannot be used to treat the following categories of people:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• infants up to the age of three;
• patients with chronic and somatic diseases of different origin;
• people with frequent allergic manifestations;
• patients suffering from asthma attacks.

Do not exclude the presence of any other contraindications associated with the individual characteristics of the body. In order to prevent possible unpleasant consequences from the use of decoctions and infusions of pelargonium, it is advisable to consult a doctor in advance and undergo a comprehensive medical examination (it will help determine hidden conditions that serve as a direct contraindication to the treatment described by the plant).

Causes of Ear Pain

Ear pain is a fairly common problem that does not depend on the age of the patient. There are many reasons for this violation, but among the most common there are the following:

• the development of inflammatory processes in the auricle or in adjacent organs;
• pathological changes in the auditory nerve and the nervous system as a whole;
• damage to the brain, blood vessels, neck, throat, nose;
• oncological processes;
• a large amount of accumulated sulfur (it often causes noise and a feeling of stuffiness, which is understandable, given the almost complete closure of the ear canal);
• insufficient sulfur production, due to which dryness and soreness in the ear canal develops;
• the appearance of a “painful bruise” caused by long walks in windy and cold weather (the skin in the ear acquires a bluish tint and begins to hurt greatly);
• softening and swelling in the ear due to constant contact with water ("swimmer's ear", or otitis externa).

If the causes of pain in a healthy person are caused by external factors, then in most cases treatment is not required, because unpleasant symptoms go away by themselves. However, with the development of otitis media, it is no longer necessary to hope for a similar outcome of events. Even in the absence of a correctly drawn up treatment regimen, a complication of the condition is possible with the addition of other problems (for example, hearing loss or damage to the nerve endings of the brain).

Important! The nature of the pain in different diseases will be different, but most often patients complain of shooting, throbbing, stitching or pressing pain, which you should tell your doctor about. Features of pain often become one of the decisive indicators in the final diagnosis.

Geranium Ear Pain Treatment

Treatment of ear pain with non-traditional methods is most often possible at the initial stages of the development of the problem, when a person only noticed a worsening of his condition. In this case, pain can be eliminated with the help of juice, pulp or even whole leaves of geranium. The main thing is to properly prepare all this for use.

The juice

Plant juice is obtained by squeezing pre-ground leaves of geranium, and is most often used for instillation into the ear canal. On each ear should be no more than two drops of slightly warmed up juice, after which it is recommended to “warm” the auditory canal with a small piece of cotton wool. If the procedure is performed at night, it is better to additionally wrap the affected ear with a warm bandage. With the correct procedure, after 3-4 sessions, the shooting pains should disappear.

Alternatively, you can moisten a cotton swab in the juice of the plant and, squeezing it well, lay it in the ear canal. If the pain syndrome is not associated with serious changes in any part of the organ, then after a few procedures you can get rid of it.

Gruel

Geranium gruel is obtained by grinding the leaves of a plant. The finished product is either wrapped in gauze and made turundas for the ears (or mixed with other components and used as a useful “lining” on the ears). In the latter case, the recipe for creating a “medical test” looks like this: 5-10 g of crushed geranium leaves must be mixed with 40-60 g of rye flour (you can simply sprinkle a leaf with it), and then knead the dough on the basis of 1 tbsp. tablespoons of camphor alcohol. The finished mixture is rolled up and the sore ear is wrapped from the outside.

Solid sheet

In order not to search for recipes and not think for a long time how to help a sick ear with geraniums, you can simply roll a softened leaf into a tube and place it in the ear canal. However, before performing the indicated action, it is worth rinsing and drying the plant well so as not to bring pathogens into the inflamed organ. If you believe the reviews, then such treatment helps to get rid of otitis. The main thing is that the juice comes out on the leaf before use.

Other geranium effects

Pelargonium is a unique plant that can be used not only for medical, but also for domestic purposes. So, the geranium grown on the windowsill will serve as an excellent deterrent for flies and harmful insects, and the juice of the leaves of the plant will help save pets from fleas (just rub it into the wool).

A fifteen-minute rest next to the pelargonium bush will help improve mood and get rid of bad thoughts, especially with regular therapy for 1-2 weeks.

To clean the air from infection (for example, during epidemics), it is enough to pour 3-4 drops of plant oil into the aroma lamp, which can be prepared independently or purchased in a pharmacy ready-made. It also regulates hormonal metabolism in the body and can be used for diseases accompanied by hormonal imbalance.

In the old days, pelargonium was considered a good way to attract good luck and protect the house from bad energy, which is another reason for growing a flower in your home.

Did you know? Both plant names (geranium and pelargonium) come from the Greek language and literally mean “crane” and “stork”. If you look closely, the fruits of the plant really resemble the beak of this bird.

Precautionary measures

Along with obvious contraindications to the use of geranium juice, there is a list of restrictions associated with the use of plants for medical purposes. First of all, it includes:

• the possibility of bleeding (due to a tendency to them);
• the appearance of a large amount of exudate from the ears;
• perforation of the eardrum;
• the appearance of bloody impurities in the secreted purulent masses.

In all these cases, the use of geranium will have to get the approval of a doctor, otherwise instead of a positive effect, you will achieve only complications of the general condition. Do not forget that geranium is only an additional tool for eliminating pain in the ear, and to evaluate how it can help (and in general, whether it helps in treating a specific ailment), you have to decide depending on the complexity of the case.

In general, geranium is a unique houseplant. Like others, it has certain negative characteristics that must be taken into account when developing a treatment regimen. In order to maintain health and not harm yourself, it is better to consult with your doctor in advance regarding the use of pelargonium.

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