PELARGONIUM SIDOIDES - bulk purchases Traditional names: Umckaloabo, Klawerbossie, Rabassam This is a traditional South African remedy for treating coughs, colds, bronchitis, TB, and other respiratory problems
Principal Proposed Uses Acute Bronchitis; Sore Throat Other Proposed Uses Colds and Flus; Sinusitis; Tonsillitis
Pelargonium sidoides are a plant in the geranium family that grows in South Africa. It has heart-shaped leaves and narrow flowers of deep, saturated red. It has a long history of traditional use in southern Africa for the treatment of respiratory problems. The root is the part used medicinally.
What is Pelargonium sidoides Used for Today?
Alcohol extract made from Pelargonium sidoides is very effective as a treatment for various respiratory problems, including acute bronchitis, the common cold, sinusitis, pharyngitis (sore throat), and tonsillitis.
Fairly large studies have been performed to substantiate some of these uses. For example, in one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 468 adults with recent onset of acute bronchitis were given either placebo or a standard alcohol extract of Pelargonium sidoides 3 times daily for a week.
The results showed a significantly greater improvement in symptoms in the treatment group as compared to the placebo group. On average, participants who received the real treatment were able to return to work 2 days earlier than those given placebo. Benefits were also seen in 2 other double-blind, placebo-controlled studies enrolling a total of almost 350 people with acute bronchitis.7-8,11
When researchers pooled the results of four well-designed, placebo-controlled trials, they found that a standardized extract of Pelargonium performed significantly better than a placebo at reducing the symptoms of bronchitis by the seventh day of treatment
Given this evidence, Pelargonium appears to be effective for acute bronchitis. Another double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 143 children aged 6-10 years with a nondangerous form of strep throat (technically, non-group A beta-hemolytic strep tonsillopharyngitis).
On average, the total duration of the illness was reduced by 2 days in the treatment group as compared to the placebo group. Note: Only a medical test can distinguish between the relatively nondangerous form of strep throat studied in this trial (non-group A strep) and strep throat of the potentially very dangerous A form (group A strep). For this reason, physician supervision is essential. See the Strep Throat article for more information. Finally, a double-blind study of 133 adults who had just come down with the common cold found that the use of a standardized pelargonium extract at a dose of 30 ml three times daily significantly reduced the severity and duration of symptoms as compared to placebo.
