Pelargonium sidoides (Umckaloabo)

What is Pelargonium?
Pelargonium ( Pelargonium sidoides ) has been very popular in Europe for years, and has a long history of traditional use that dates backs to the
Middle Ages.

Pelargonium sidoides is a member of the geranium family. It has long stalked leaves that are mildly aromatic, heart shaped and velvety. Like all MedicHerb products Pelargonium is manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, therefore ensuring that the product is of the highest quality.

Taking Pelargonium

Adults: Our recommended dosage is one tablet three times daily for up to 10 days. Do not chew but swallow whole. The tablets should be taken with a little cold water at meal times.
You can take MedicHerb Pelargonium with most supplements and medicines. However if you are taking warfarin, you should not take MedicHerb Pelargonium.

MedicHerb Pelargonium is not recommended for women who are breastfeeding or are pregnant.

We are not aware of any harmful side-effects from taking MedicHerb Pelargonium.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist if:
• you are taking any other medicines
• your symptoms persist or worsen
• for any reason, you feel you have experienced
side-effects
• you need advice

Active ingredient per tablet:
MedicHerb Pelargonium tablets contain 20mg of Pelargonium sidoides dry extract.

Storage instructions: Keep all medicines out of reach and out of sight of children. They should be kept in a cool, dry, and safe place. Do not store above 25ºC. The shelf life is clearly marked on the pack. Out of date or unwanted medicines should be disposed of carefully.

Pelargonium sidoides forms a rosette-like plant with crowded leaves. It is very similar to some forms of P. reniforme, but is easily distinguished by its blackish, rather than pink petals. The long-stalked leaves are mildly aromatic, heart-shaped and velvety. The distinctive dark, reddish-purple (almost black) flowers are present almost throughout the year, but occur mostly from late spring to summer (October - January) with a peak in midsummer (December). The system of thickened underground root-like branches is a special adaptation which enables the plant to survive grass fires which occur almost annually over much of its range. It is from this tubular root system that the active ingredients are procured.

Chemistry & Pharmacology:
The bioactive ingredients in both P.sidoides and P.reniforme are the tri- and tetra-oxygenated coumarins, gallic acid and gallic acid methyl ester (polyphenols), various flavonoids, as well as significant levels of calcium and silica. P.sidoides contains two distinct coumarins: umckalin and its 7-O-methyl ester, together with four other methoxycoumarins and three unique coumarin sulphates that are not found in P.reniforme. The highly oxygenated coumarins, fraxinol,isofraxetin and fraxidin, together with a unique trimethoxy coumarin are found in P.reniforme. Scopoletin and 6,7,8-trihydroxycoumarin are found in both species. Most of the coumarins found in these two pelargonium species contain a methoxy function at the C7 position and an OH group at either the C6 or C8 positions; functionality that is responsible for their antibacterial activity.
Gallic acid and its methyl ester present in large amounts in P. sidoides and in its active extracts, were identified as the prominent immunomodulatory principle for this herbal medicine. Macrophage activation was confirmed by an in vitro study based on Leishmania parasites ( Phytother Res 2001 Mar;15(2):122-6). The same authors, Kayser, O. and Kolodziej, H. (Planta Medica 63, 508-510) also studied the antibacterial performance of the various coumarins and gallic acid compounds found in p.sidoides and p.reniforme and found that with the exception of the ineffective (+)-catechin, all the potentially active compounds exhibited antibacterial activities with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 200-1000 micrograms/ml. These results provide for a rational basis of the traditional use of umckaloabo.


Application:
The Englishman Charles Stevens already acknowledged the successful treatment of tuberculosis with umckaloabo in the early 1920’s. Extracts of the root have been available in German pharmacies since 1983 without prescription and have found widespread usage against infections of the sinus, throat and respiratory tract. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies on patients with acute bronchitis confirmed that extracts of p.sidoides were effective in treating this ailment. Similar studies have also shown the effectiveness of p.sidoides extracts for treating tonsillopharyngitis in children in the age group 6-10 years (Phytopharmaka VII, October 2001). Encouraging results have also been achieved with children, especially those who have not responded well to repeated treatment with antibiotics.
The alcoholic extract of the root has been shown to have a three-way effect: 1.) Anti-bacterial: The Umckaloabo extract prevents bacteria from attaching to cells in the mucous membranes. 2.)Antiviral effect: Similarly, Umckaloabo prevents viruses from attaching to the mucous membrane cells and stimulates the body’s immune system in such a way that both bacteria and viruses are prevented from multiplying. 3.)Expectorant: the extract acts as an expectorant, allowing the body to expel contaminated mucous making conditions less suitable for the multiplication of the bacteria and viruses. The three-way effect attacks the acute infection at its root, the stabilization of the immune system prevents a re-infection and the vicious circle of infection, short recovery phase and new infection is broken. Due to its bacteriostatic and immune-modulating characteristics Umckaloabo appears to be a good alternative to the conventional therapy of treating respiratory illnesses with antibiotics
Dosage
Adults in the acute stage of infection should take 20 to 30 drops three times daily. Children of 6 to 12 years take 10 to 20 drops three times daily, while children starting from 6 months 5 to 10 drops daily.

Contraindications
Not to be taken during pregnancy, if inclined to experience bleeding or during liver and kidney illnesses.