RemedyAtlas
Back

Pelargonium

Symptomatic relief of acute and chronic bronchitis and upper respiratory tract infections.

Evidence · Grade B
Meta-analysis availableHuman trial evidenceTraditional useInteraction risk

Evidence suggests Pelargonium may provide clinical benefits for respiratory conditions including chronic bronchitis and ENT infections, potentially reducing symptom severity through immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effects.

Last reviewed June 13, 2026 · AI-assisted, human-reviewed
Pelargonium sidoides, commonly known as South African geranium, is a medicinal plant that has been utilized in traditional medicine for respiratory conditions. In modern phytotherapy, standardized extracts of its roots are employed primarily for management of acute and chronic airway infections. Research within the field of otorhinolaryngology suggests it may serve as an alternative to conventional treatments for specific inflammatory conditions of the respiratory tract, potentially reducing the duration and severity of symptoms associated with bronchitis and related ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders.

Quick answer

What it is: Pelargonium sidoides, commonly known as South African geranium, is a medicinal plant that has been utilized in traditional medicine for respiratory conditions.

May support:Chronic Bronchitis

Evidence:Evidence · Grade B

Evidence Summary

Evidence · Grade B

A 2017 meta-analysis focusing on otorhinolaryngology practices indicates that phytotherapeutic agents like Pelargonium can offer tangible benefits in treating respiratory and ear-nose-throat infections. The data suggests that its use may contribute to faster resolution of symptoms in conditions like chronic bronchitis compared to placebo groups.

Last reviewed · Jun 2026

Have you tried Pelargonium?

Vote in 5 seconds. Add details if you want.

Your experience for Chronic Bronchitis:

Commonly Combined With

Other remedies frequently used alongside this one — from curated relationships, community reports, and shared protocols.

Community signal breakdown

Where this remedy is being discussed across the web and community.

See Community Mentions

People Like Me insights

As more members share outcomes, RemedyAtlas will show which remedies helped people with similar conditions, symptoms, goals, and lab patterns.

Community Discussions

What people say about Pelargonium

Search on Reddit →

Latest News

Latest news on Pelargonium

More on Google News →

Health Videos

Health videos on Pelargonium

More on YouTube

Why It Works

Pelargonium is thought to exhibit antiviral, antibacterial, and immunomodulatory properties, specifically increasing the ciliary beat frequency of respiratory cells and enhancing immune response.

How to use

Always consult a qualified clinician.

Editorial guidance

Suggested dosage
The typical dosage for standardized Pelargonium sidoides extract (EPs 7630) is 20-30 drops of a 1:8-1:10 liquid extract, three times daily for adults.
Typical forms
liquid extract, tablet
Medication interactions
  • anticoagulants (potential due to coumarins)
Avoid if
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • known allergy to Pelargonium

Community tips

No community tips yet — be the first to share what worked for you.

Suggested dosage

The typical dosage for standardized Pelargonium sidoides extract (EPs 7630) is 20-30 drops of a 1:8-1:10 liquid extract, three times daily for adults.

General guidance — discuss specifics with a clinician.

Active medicinal compounds

Key active compounds in Pelargonium sidoides extracts are believed to include coumarins (e.g., umckalin, scopoletin), tannins, and flavonoids, which are thought to contribute to its traditional medicinal properties.

Traditional use

Pelargonium sidoides has a long history of traditional use in South African folk medicine, particularly for treating respiratory infections, gastrointestinal complaints, and wounds. It was traditionally used to alleviate symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and fever.

Safety

Safety warnings

Individuals with liver disease or those taking anticoagulant medications should exercise caution, as potential interactions or adverse effects have been noted in historical safety surveillance. Consultation with a healthcare provider is recommended before use.

Avoid if

  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • known allergy to Pelargonium

Medication interactions

  • anticoagulants (potential due to coumarins)

Reported side effects

  • gastrointestinal upset
  • allergic reactions

General guidance — discuss specifics with a clinician.

Evidence ecosystem

Scientific literature, clinical guidance, government sources, ongoing research, traditional use, and lived experience — grouped by source type and quality.

Overall grade (B)

A 2017 meta-analysis focusing on otorhinolaryngology practices indicates that phytotherapeutic agents like Pelargonium can offer tangible benefits in treating respiratory and ear-nose-throat infections. The data suggests that its use may contribute to faster resolution of symptoms in conditions like chronic bronchitis compared to placebo groups.

Meta-Analyses(1)

Pooled analyses across multiple human trials.

Very High Quality

  • Benefits, pitfalls and risks of phytotherapy in clinical practice in otorhinolaryngology.

    Laccourreye O, Werner A, Laccourreye L, Bonfils P · European annals of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck diseases · 2017 · n=10

    To elucidate the benefits, pitfalls and risks of phytotherapy in the clinical practice of otorhinolaryngology. The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched using the following keywords: phytotherapy, phytomedicine, herbs, otology, rhinology, laryngology, otitis, rhinitis, laryngitis and otorhinolaryngology. Seventy-two articles (18 prospective randomized studies, 4 Cochrane analyses, 4 meta-analysis and 15 reviews of the literature) devoted to clinical studies were analyzed. Articles devoted to in vitro or animal studies, biochemical analyses or case reports (including fewer than 10 patients) and articles dealing with honey, aromatherapy or minerals were excluded. Per os ginkgo biloba has no indications in tinnitus, presbycusis or anosmia following viral rhinitis. Traditional Asian medicine has no proven benefit in sudden deafness or laryngeal papillomatosis. Per os mistletoe extracts associated to conventional treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma does not increase

    Meta-AnalysisPubMedVery High Quality

Limitations: While meta-analyses indicate benefits, clinical outcomes can vary based on extract standardization. Further high-quality research is necessary to define precise efficacy levels across diverse populations and to compare it directly against pharmaceutical standards.

This page is educational. Statements use phrases like "may support" and "has been studied for"because no remedy here is approved to cure, treat, or reverse any condition. Discussion happens on the ailment pages — community statistics here are derived from those reports. Always consult a qualified clinician.

Tried Pelargonium?

Help others see what actually works.