Take a Look at Geranium

By Kathie Murphy

Historical Insights

Geranium flowers grow in many gardens throughout the United States and around the world. This fragrant perennial plant, taxonomically identified in the genus Pelargonium, is known for its distinctly powerful leafy-rose scent. There are over 250 natural species of Pelargionium with hundred of hybrids and thousands of cultivars (variety produced by selective breeding). Although commonly known as geranium, there is genus with the same name. The genus Geranium and the genus Pelargonium share the same family (Geraniaceae) but they are different from one another in their cultivation as well as their botanical features. Species of plant in Geranium are known to be hardy and can grow almost anywhere. Pelargonium species on the other hand are specifically cultivated and are of great commercial value. They can also be distinguished by their differing flower patterns.

Although geranium has been used for thousands of years going back to the Greeks and Romans, it was not until the late 17th century that this plant, indigenous to South Africa, was introduced to Europe. Soon after European introduction hybrid cultivars were created and distributed around the world. During the Victorian era, potted rose geranium was often kept in parlors in order to revive the senses. Another Victorian practice was to place geranium leaves in finger bowls at formal dining tables. Today, as in Victorian times, the most widely used Pelargonium species is Pelargonium grave lens, or rose geranium. The essential oil of rose geranium is prized by aroma therapists and cosmologists alike. P. graveolens is used in aromatherapy for its medicinal applications such as an antiseptic, as a haemostatic (stops bleeding), a tonic to regulate the nervous system, a diuretic (to treat edema) and a hormone balancer. In the perfume industry, rose geranium oil is often mixed in or even replaces the more expensive rose petal essential oil. Cosmologists also use this aromatic oil in lotion, soaps, shampoos and creams. One might presume that geranium essential oil comes from the flower alone, yet it is the leaves and branches where the oil glands are found and through a process of steam distillation the oil is extracted. In order to increase the yield of oil during this procedure, processors will often partially dry the plant.

The first geranium plants grown for the French perfume industry were planted in Algeria in 1847 and then in the 1880s extensive plantations were established in Reunion - an island in the Indian Ocean governed by France. Geranium oil is also cultivated in other parts of the world for its commercial value such as China, Egypt, Russia and Central America. The oil from China is thought to be similar to that of Reunion (known as Bourbon), while the Egyptian geranium is quite different. This is due to various soil and climatic conditions. The Bourbon variety, with its rich aroma, is considered to be the most important of the geranium oils.

Geranium Oil May Bring Hope to Hospitals

In the last decade there has been a rise in attention given to antibiotic-resistant microbes, especially ones that cause severe infectious diseases and lead to fatality. On the first day of this new year of 2010, researchers from the National University of Ireland in Galway announced to the world that disinfectants can cause bacteria to resist antibiotics. Their study, published in the January 2010 issue of Microbiology, looked at the response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to increasing levels of disinfectant. (P. aeruginosa is a bacterium that is a known occupant in hospitals, causing a wide range of infections in hospital patients. Standard hospital procedure is to use a surface disinfectant to prevent the spread of bacteria. If bacteria manage to survive and in turn infect patients, then antibiotics are administered.) The researchers found that P. aeruginosa adapted to increasing levels of disinfectant and even developed a resistance to an antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) without being exposed to the drug directly. More specifically, the researchers revealed that the bacteria had created a more efficient means of pumping out the antimicrobial agents (such as disinfectants and antibiotics) through their cell wall and developed a mutation in their DNA to resist ciprofloxacin-type antibiotics specifically. With such findings, the researchers concluded that such bacterial adaptations could be of great harm to hospital patients and advised to reconsider how disinfectants are used in hospital settings.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is wide-spread in soil and water and any surface in contact with soil or water. Yet, it is an opportunistic microbe and will only infect a compromised host or tissues of that host that have been compromised in some way. It is an epitome of an opportunistic host in humans. If a person's immune system is compromised, it can cause urinary tract infections, respiratory system infections, dermatitis, soft tissue infections, bacteremia, bone and joint infections, gastrointestinal infections and a variety of systemic infections, particularly in patients with severe burns and in cancer and AIDS patients who are immunosuppressed. As seen above, P. aeruginosa can be a serious threat to patients in hospitals, especially patients with cancer, burns and cystic fibrosis. The case fatality rate in these patients is near 50 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the overall prevalence of P. aeruginosa infections in US hospitals is approximately 4 per 1000 discharges (0.4%). According to one report, the gastrointestinal infection rates among hospitalized patients increases to 20% within 72 hours of admission. With such findings, it is clear that other solutions must be found.

There is a potential solution to this growing concern of current hospital antimicrobial practices. In a 2006 study conducted by Loyola College in India (BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2006 Nov 30; 6:39) researchers found that geranium oil (along with several other essential oils) exhibited strong activity against selected bacterial strains, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Other bacteria strains shown to be affected by the in vitro (outside a living organism, usually in a test tube or Petri dish) application of geranium oil were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia , Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.

Conclusion

Geranium, a common plant found in many gardens, is also of historical and now medical significance. Its traditional uses are well accounted and its therapeutic actions used for centuries. The pharmacological and clinical studies of geranium essential oil are steadily increasing. It is no small concern that individuals seeking hospital care are greatly threatened by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Medical researchers are currently investigating alternatives to conventional microbial treatments, with great attention given to the antibacterial properties of essential oils. It is clear that modern medicine must confront its limitations and refer back to plants and how they have developed a system of defensive antimicrobial chemicals over millions of years. - 30427

About the Author:

Great News For Women - Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer

By Veronica Carrillo

There is overwhelming evidence that a woman's genetic makeup and the environment that we live in are closely related to some women being diagnosed with breast cancer. The positive and negative impact of a woman's lifestyle also greatly heightens the risk of this type of cancer. Here are a few issues to think about when looking at what you can do to lower your risk of this deadly disease:

Obesity after menopause increases the risk: With the growing number of protective measures being taken to cut down on the risks of breast cancer before menopause starts, studies show that obesity clearly increases the chance of cancer after the full phase of menopause is completed. Some doctors have even stated that finding the tumors while preforming an exam or a mammogram are harder to sense because of the tumors feeling or looking like fatty tissue rather than the tumor itself because of the obesity.

While it is a correlation between obesity and cancer, estimates show that being overweight counts for about one in seven men and astoundingly one in five women contributing to some form of cancer related deaths in the US alone.

Some women have also inherited 2 genes known as BRCA1 and BRCA2. These women are more susceptible to breast cancer. They need to get the treatment done in the initial stages itself, so they have to be on the lookout for symptoms of this cancer. So, naturally, you are on the lookout for all the possible breast cancer symptoms, which might forecast the prospective onset of this dread disease. These symptoms include an unexplained lump, which may be hard or tender, in the breast. You may possibly also find this lump underneath your armpit. You also need to look for other cancer symptoms like the skin getting red and itchy. You may find one breast swelling abnormally. That is because the cancerous cells in the body are absorbing all the blood supplied to the breast region.

Alcohol and Cancer: While it is true that a glass of wine a day reduces many health problems, other alcohols such as hard liquors, mixed drinks, etc., actually increases the risk of breast cancer. Yet even with lower doses of daily alcohol usage, breast cancer is increased by 35%. And that number increases by 7% with each drink per day in what is called as DDS (Dose-Dependant-State).. Good news however; studies have shown that decreasing your intake of alcohol or quitting altogether will reverse the risk.

In this respect, a US study in 2005 by the SWHR identified the widespread belief that breast cancer was by far the most feared disease amongst women notwithstanding the fact that the rate of mortality in women from heart disease is so much greater. It is noteworthy that evidence from doctors has suggested that many women greatly exaggerate their vulnerability to contracting this particular cancer. - 30427

About the Author:

Part One Of Our Breast Cancer Story

By Tony Ulrich

We received my wife's Breast Cancer diagnosis in March of 2009. And only seven months later I was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer, also called Renal Cell Carcinoma. Over the next few weeks, I will publish "Our Breast Cancer Story" in six chapters. Please note, that everything you are about to read is written from my perspective and not my wife's.

I received a call from my wife Ann while I was in a hotel room down in North Carolina, attending a business conference. She just had been to her yearly mammography and was called back in for a biopsy. We didn't think much of it, it happened before. Also, her two sisters and her mom had biopsies done, too and they were always benign.

There was this weird two seconds of silence and then she told me, that I had to be very strong now. Her doctor called her and broke her news about her Breast Cancer diagnosis. I wasn't prepared for that. If someone had told me that I had cancer, yes, I would have been in surprised and maybe shocked. But learning about my wife and her cancer, that was too much for me. My throat clogged and my stomach began to hurt.

What really killed me in that very moment was the fact that I wasn't with her to just hold her in my arms. But here I was in this hotel room hundreds of miles away and no chance to get back to her before the next day, if I was lucky enough to catch a plane then. When I received my own cancer diagnosis, I was way more contained and calm. But my wife, no, that was too much for me to take.

Ann told me that she had already informed her brother Gary and he was waiting on the other line, so she had to say good-bye to me for now. As we hung up the phone, I collapsed immediately. Nobody should ever go through something like that.

When you get pushed into a situation like that, everything in life changes immediately. Things like your mortgage, the bills, saving for the kids, etc., are not top priorities any more suddenly. There is only one thing that mattered now, and that was my wife's health. I started to pray and I got under the impression that my prayers were heard. I calmed done and slowly got my senses back together.

But I realized that I had a lot of things to do. I went online and checked the flight schedule. And there it was; a flight going out back to Jersey at 10:00pm. This was my chance. I changed my initial reservation and booked me a seat on that plane. A few minutes later the airline called me to tell me that this flight is about to get cancelled due to an imminent storm on the East Coast. However, if I could make it within 40 minutes to the airport, they would get me on an earlier flight. So I had 40 minutes to get my stuff together, check out, get a cab and make it somehow onto that plane.

The hotel told me that there was no way to get a cab that quickly, so they jumped in and gave me a ride to the airport. That was fantastic. The only problem: my driver had not the slightest clue of the area since he was from Kentucky and just signed up for his new job a few days earlier. As a consequence, he missed the airport exit off of the highway we were on. That was it. Since the next U turn was miles and miles away, I had to say Good Bye to my plane.

I don't know how it was actually possible, but I still made it. I like to believe that the Lord had mercy with me and I know that this might sound corny to some of you. But anyway, I got on the waiting plane and a few hours later I was able to hold my wife in my arms. The first battle in our personal war on cancer was won. - 30427

About the Author:

A reality-check on the War on Cancer

By Tony Ulrich

President Nixon declared the war on cancer in the seventies and foresaw victory waiting around the door. Unfortunately, this goal was never achieved. We know that a cure for cancer is yet to be found.

When I asked my parents about how many people they knew with cancer when they were still children, they told me, maybe one or two. I am now 37 years old and I have to conclude that the situation has changed dramatically.

My point is: every 7th or 8th women today in the United States will get breast-cancer this year. Go back in time and you will realize it wasn't like that 20, 40, 60, 80 years ago.

You probably know one or more people diagnosed with cancer. And unfortunately, it is likely that there's even someone in your family who got diagnosed.

In March of 2009 my wife Ann was diagnosed with breast cancer. My mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer only a few months later. And after I encountered blood in my urine, a CT-Scan result came back with another cancer diagnosis for our family. A larger tumor was found in my left kidney.

After three surgeries, the margins finally came back clear for my wife's breast cancer. I just had my left kidney removed two weeks ago. Cancer used to be something remote. But nowadays it's simply everywhere you look.

So there is no way to say it: Cancer is actually growing, even though research and sciences were provided with large amounts of money over the years. And we have to admit, that President Nixon's 'War on Cancer' is far from over. Needless to say, that the situation is the same everywhere in the Western World, it's not just the USA.

Is it only me imagining that all? Is it simply coincidental that both, my wife and I got diagnosed with cancer, plus my mom and another 10 folks I know - all that in just one year?

A lot of people disagree with me. They point out that especially in the area of breast cancer the situation has gotten much better, by referring to new studies and statistical data. According to those voices, we have a lower number of new incidents and mortalities.

Well, I got to admit that math wasn't necessarily my strongest subject back in the days but I do know how to read data and graphs, furthermore, I know how easy it to tweak numbers. Actually, you don't really have to tweak them, it's much rather a matter of how you present them.

'The War on Cancer' is far away from being over soon, even though some significant improvements were achieved by research, science and modern medicine. Hopefully, it won't take too long anymore until we have achieved President Nixon's declared goal, of eradicating cancer entirely. - 30427

About the Author:

Bladder Cancer! Can Alternative Medicines Really Work Against It?

By Grahaam A. E. Maartin

Bladder Cancer! Do herbal products like Graviola and Graviola Max actually work? That is the issue I am going to look at. But the initial results seem to say an emphatic yes!

"Bladder Cancer"! The thought of having this frightens many people. Indeed many are frightened by the very words 'Bladder Cancer' strong words, yes! Available now are two powerful natural herbal products, Graviola Max and Graviola, both appear to be showing some fine results.

Traditionally, the large majority of medical practitioners and doctors (though not all), frown on the use of herbal remedies like Graviola and Graviola Max for 'Bladder Cancer', often describing them as 'quack' or 'fringe' medicines, simply because they are outside the range of subjects taught in medical school.

The fact that many of these herbal remedies may really be quite beneficial to you is now supported by growing evidence. Graviola Max and Graviola are two in particular that are showing promising results in patients with Bladder Cancer, sometimes in case where traditional chemo doesn't work. Would you use it?

Way back in 2001 The HSI organisation (Health Sciences Institute) featured an article with the headline "Billion-dollar Drug Company nearly squashes astounding research on natural cancer killer". It goes on to say. "Cancer conquered with miracle tree from the Amazon found to be 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy". Can you believe that! 10.000 times stronger and yet some greedy pharmaceutical company tried to squash it because they couldn't patent a plant that could stop "Bladder Cancer". Shame on them! That tree was Graviola! ....OK, so what exactly is Graviola?

Graviola is an indigenous to South America and some parts of the Amazon Rainforests It's not exactly big either growing only 5 to 6 metres high. But in regards to having "Bladder Cancer" attacking properties, it's massive! Anyone interested in beating "Bladder Cancer" should know more about this life saver.

Plenty of research has already been done and has found that many of the phytochemicals or annonaceous acetogenins (These are the chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants) found in the leaves, seeds and stem of Graviola tree are cytotoxic against various cancer / tumour cells such as Bladder Cancer. All these plant parts are used in natural medicine.

Excellent news because, quote:- (Cytotoxic: Toxic to cells, cell-toxic, cell-killing. Any agent or process that kills cells. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are forms of cytotoxic therapy.) The HSI says in this article that the tree has undergone more than 20 laboratory studies and tests since the'70s, where it's been shown to: * Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 different types of cancer, including lung, Prostate, colon, Bowel, and Bladder Cancer. * Be 10,000 times stronger in killing Bladder Cancercells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug. * Without harming healthy cells, it can selectively hunt down and kill cancer cells, unlike chemotherapy.

A plant screening program back in'76 by the National Cancer Institute also demonstrated that Graviola showed active cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Many researchers who have been following up on this research have also found that Graviola was a cancer killing turbine. The use of herbal products worldwide has been there almost since the time when man first walked on the earth, well for a few thousands of years at least. So, If you or your loved ones suffer from cancer, then I would recommend that you read the Graviola and Graviola Max article by the HSI in full here. It's mind blowing!

In addition to the above it has been shown that taking additional herbal products such as "Immune Support" to boost the immune system may be beneficial!

So, could Graviola and Graviola Max help you in the fight against Bladder Cancer? It appears that the answer is a resounding yes!

Health Disclaimer! The information provided here must NOT be taken as professional or personal medical advice or instruction. You should take NO action based solely on the contents of this article. The readers should always consult with an appropriate health professional on any matter relating to their personal health and well-being. The opinions given here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment and information available to the author at the time. But readers who fail to consult appropriate medical and health authorities "assume the risk of any injuries". The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. - 30427

About the Author:

Stomach Cancer! Can it be Beaten Using Traditional Herbal Remedies?

By Grahaam A. E. Maartin

Stomach Cancer! The question we are going to ask is. Do herbal products like Graviola Max and Graviola Really work? The results seem very positive, enough to sayYes!

Many people are worried at the thought of developing Stomach Cancer! Does the phrase "Stomach Cancer" worry you? Powerful words are they not? Graviola and Graviola Max both seem to be very good herbal products, and they are available to youNow!

Usually, the large majority of doctors and medical practitioners although to be fair, not all, do not support the use of natural products like Graviola and Graviola Max in treating "Stomach Cancer". Often calling them "fringe or quack" remedies, simply because the medical institutions don't teach the students about them.

There is growing evidence to support the fact that many of these herbal remedies may really be quite beneficial to you. Two of these in particular 'Graviola' and Graviola Max are showing some quite remarkable results, often, in cases where traditional treatment and or chemotherapy don't work. What would you do if you had Stomach Cancer?

Way back in 2001 The HSI organisation (Health Sciences Institute) featured an article with the headline "Billion-dollar Drug Company nearly squashes astounding research on natural cancer killer". It goes on to say. "Cancer conquered with miracle tree from the Amazon found to be 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy". Can you believe that! 10.000 times stronger and yet some greedy pharmaceutical company tried to squash it because they couldn't patent a plant that could stop "Stomach Cancer". Shame on them! That tree was Graviola! .OK, so what exactly is Graviola?

Graviola is an indigenous to South America and some parts of the Amazon Rainforests It's not exactly big either growing only 5 to 6 metres high. But in regards to having "Stomach Cancer" attacking properties, it's massive! Anyone interested in beating "Stomach Cancer" should know more about this life saver.

Plenty of research has already been done and has found that many of the phytochemicals or annonaceous acetogenins (These are the chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants) found in the leaves, seeds and stem of Graviola tree are cytotoxic against various cancer / tumour cells such as Stomach Cancer. All these plant parts are used in natural medicine.

That is the very good because, quote:- (Cytotoxic: Toxic to cells, cell-toxic, cell-killing. Any agent or process that kills cells. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are forms of cytotoxic therapy.) The HSI article says the tree has been studied in over 20 laboratory tests since the 1970s, and it has shown to: Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 different types of cancer, including pancreatic, lung, colon, prostate and Stomach Cancer. Be 10,000 times stronger in killing Stomach Cancercells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug. Selectively hunt down and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells, unlike chemotherapy.

Also a plant screening program back in 1976 by the National Cancer Institute also showed that Graviola showed active cytotoxicity against cancer cells and various researchers have been following up on this research ever since and have found that Graviola was a cancer killing dynamo. Herbal products have been used worldwide almost since the time when man first walked on the earth, (well for thousands of years at least.) If you or your loved ones suffer from this terrible ailment, then I would strongly recommend that you read the HSI article on Graviola and Graviola Max here. It's a real eye opener!

Other Herbal products that could also be used help assist the above are "Immune Support" to boost the immune system. Both have shown to be off great help!

Graviola Max and Graviola, could they help you in the fight against Stomach Cancer? The answer it appears is yes, it can!

Health Disclaimer! The information provided here must NOT be taken as professional or personal medical advice or instruction. You should take NO action based solely on the contents of this article. The readers should always consult with an appropriate health professional on any matter relating to their personal health and well-being. The opinions given here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment and information available to the author at the time. But readers who fail to consult appropriate medical and health authorities "assume the risk of any injuries". The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. - 30427

About the Author:

Lung Cancer! Can It be Beaten Using Traditional Herbal Remedies?

By Grahaam A. E. Maartin

Lung Cancer! Do herbal products like Graviola and N-Tense actually work? That is the issue I am going to look at. But the initial results seem to say an emphatic yes!

Many people are worried at the thought of developing Lung Cancer! Does the phrase "Lung Cancer" worry you? Powerful words are they not? Graviola and N-Tense both seem to be very good herbal products, and they are available to you Now!

Usually, the large majority of doctors and medical practitioners although to be fair, not all, do not support the use of natural products like Graviola and N-tense in treating "Lung Cancer". Often calling them "fringe or quack" remedies, simply because the medical institutions don't teach the students about them.

Evidence is growing however, in support of the fact that many of these botanicals may be really quite beneficial. Two of these herbal remedies in particularly, 'Graviola' and 'N-Tense are showing some quite remarkable results in "Lung Cancer" patients. Often in cases where chemotherapy and traditional treatment didn't work. Would you use it?

The Health Sciences Institute (HSI) featured an article, In 2001, headlined "Billion-dollar Drug Company nearly squashes astounding research on natural cancer killer". It goes on to say Cancer conquered with miracle tree from the Amazon found to be 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy". Can you believe that! 10.000 times stronger and yet some unethical pharmaceutical company tried to squash it because they couldn't patent a plant that just might stop Lung Cancer! That tree was Graviola! . So what exactly is Graviola?

This tree Graviola is indigenous to the Amazon and various regions of South America. It's not a big rainforest tree by any means, the fact is it' relatively small in Rainforest terms growing to only 5 or 6 metres tall. But the "Lung Cancer" fighting properties it has are amazing; in fact it's an absolute monster.

Much of the research already completed has found that plenty of the annonaceous acetogenins or phytochemicals (chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants) found in the seeds, stem and leaves of Graviola tree are cytotoxic against various cancer cells and tumour cells. In herbal medicine, all these plant parts are used.

Excellent news because, quote:- (Cytotoxic: Toxic to cells, cell-toxic, cell-killing. Any agent or process that kills cells. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are forms of cytotoxic therapy.) The HSI says in this article that the tree has undergone more than 20 laboratory studies and tests since the 1970s, where it's been shown to: Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 different types of cancer, including lung, Prostate, colon, breast, and pancreatic cancer. Be 10,000 times stronger in killing colon cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug. Without harming healthy cells, it can selectively hunt down and kill cancer cells, unlike chemotherapy.

A plant screening program back in 1976 by the National Cancer Institute also demonstrated that Graviola showed active cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Many researchers who have been following up on this research have also found that Graviola was a cancer killing turbine. The use of herbal products worldwide has been there almost since the time when man first walked on the earth, well for a few thousands of years at least. So, If you or your loved ones suffer from cancer, then I would recommend that you read the Graviola and N-Tense article by the HSI in full here. It's mind blowing!

In addition to the above it has been shown that taking additional herbal products such as "Immune Support" to boost the immune system and also Lung Support to help the lungs may be beneficial!

So, could Graviola and N-tense help you in the fight against Lung Cancer? It appears that the answer is a resounding yes!

Health Disclaimer! The information provided here must NOT be taken as professional or personal medical advice or instruction. You should 'always consult with a professional health practitioner' on important matters relating to your own health and well-being. The opinions given here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment and information available to the author at the time. Please Note. Any reader, who fails to consult with the appropriate medical and health authorities, "assumes ALL responsibility of any resulting injuries". The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. - 30427

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here