This morning I was cycling past Muji in Kamakura and thought ‘GERANIUM’.
This is not an essential oil I use with any frequency. I don’t have a real affinity with that pungent minty green rose citronella the way I do a good quality frankincense ( there is a Japanese aromatherapy brand called Marks & Web whose Somalian essence is ethereal, translucent perfection- and deeply healing. On my very cut and bruised :swollen left knee after last week’s bike accident I used copious amounts at night neat on the area and was amazed by the results- the local doctor was too).
But that really pales in comparison with this morning’s derma-regeneration miracle while using geranium. The skin on part of my right hand was raw and grazed off, and because it has been difficult to keep dry – what with brushing one’s teeth and no longer feeling that I can legitimately get out of washing the dishes – it has been a bit wet, dark purplish and weepy.
Cue my instincts. The Giants Of Aromatherapy- Tisserand, Fosse, Lawless et al, always say that your body and mind will intuitively ‘reach’ for an essence in the same way you might crave citrus when deficient in vitamin c.
My body this morning said ‘geranium’. So I stopped off and bought a small bottle, checking beforehand online if it was supposed to be good for wounds. It is apparently one of the best. And smelling it from the tester bottle, my body gave its own immediate physiological approval and knew it was somehow right.
Back at home, I took a hot bath with about 15 drops of the essential oil; also applying some directly to each cut , as well as putting in a couple of packets of German apothecary powerhouse Kneipp’s Happy For Me Lotus and Jasmine : instantly mood boosting, I could feel, or imagined I could feel, the ancient sea salts and floral essences blending with the power of the geranium to get to some real inward business – I don’t always like the scent of pelargoniums, but today I loved it, a form of craving.
Perhaps more importantly, so did my skin.
I would say I was in the water for about 40 minutes. But upon emerging I looked at my hand and it was healing before my eyes at CGI speed – the dark red visibly pinkening and tightening – exposed flesh becoming brand new skin (I should have done before and after pictures). I am now letting it dry in the natural air rather than using any more bandages, thinking about applying some more before going to bed this evening. Honestly, I have experienced some aromatherapy miracles in my life but this was one of the most extraordinary.
Geranium-san. – I am SOLD
I am sorry you were injured but happy that you are healing! I do like inhaling the scent of geranium anyway but it is a very beneficial oil for wounds and even recommended for fungal conditions – so much pleasanter than tea tree (which I can’t abide!).
Tea tree: a ghastly amalgam of petrol and dill pickles – I can’t abide it either but I did get a TT/eucalyptus/hinoki blend the other day to night nurse myself – fairly effective healing-wise but nothing like today with the geranium which was insane. I felt like Natasha M from Solaris – although she was not human .
What an inspiring post and very recognisable! It took me some courage to apply essential oils on cuts or burns. Good quality lavender oil on burns works wonders for me. The pain disappears quickly and the skin heals quickly. Now I do trust my instinct and in a similar way I use fragrance as well, as an influence that adds to or assists.
You probably know, but not all geraniums are citronella/minty scented. I have a rose geranium in a pot, ‘attar of roses’, and its leaves smells more rosy than many a rose I have come across. A beautiful scent.
I have never come across a truly rosy rose geranium myself – surely there is something so GERANIUM there at the end of the day, something stomachy and too much, in the way of ylang ylang (though obviously of vastly differing personalities )
today I realized that you can ease into a genus : I am recently finally starting to understand lemongrass as well
Now I am intrigued with Marks & Web’s frankincense. Must get hold of it next time!
It is lovely.
Some frankincense oils are a bit goaty and shrunk. I like them crystalline as though with aldehydes, and this one really gives me joy.
Pay day tomorrow. Going to get some more
I have had great luck with Arnica as well. I bruise easily and have been using Arnica lotion (not the gel) for years, and it works quickly, if I apply it in the morning and at night.
Yes some people swear by it.
Such an interesting testimonial! I have used Arnica with good results.
Ya see that doesn’t do anything for me and I have tried several times
I think people definitely respond differently to botanicals (yarrow and hops make me slightly psychotic rather than soporific as does weed, which is absolute anathema to my system). G is usually not entirely my thing but weirdly today it felt… essential