CRANESBILL or CROWFOOT or WILD GERANIUM or WILD ALUM ROOT

(Geranium maculatum; GERANIACEAE)

Parts used:

Root; also the herb (the root possesses the greatest potency and astringency).

Therapeutic action:

Astringent, tonic, styptic.

Cranesbill is an excellent and effective astringent with pleasant tonic properties. Its astringent action is powerful and non-irritating, well-suited for relieving relaxed, atonic and enfeebled conditions of the mucous tissues debilitated by copious discharges. The astringent action is less than oak bark (Quercus alba) and black catechu (Acadia catechu), but is stronger than witch hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana). It is not nauseous, making it useful for infants and persons with sensitive stomachs. Cranesbill is moderately drying in action, strengthening and invigorating the stomach, kidneys, and the other internal organs. Dr. Shook wrote the following concerning its properties as a beauty aid for the skin: "We say, without fear of favor, that for removing wrinkles, astringing enlarged pores, checking the overactivity of the sudoriferous and sebaceous glands in the skin, contracting enlarged and engorged capillaries in the skin that are brought about by excessive stimulation with hot packs, steaming, massage, and irritants which are employed in the usual procedure in so-called beauty parlors, there is no remedy equal to GERANIUM MACULATUM when properly combined and compounded into creams and lotions and perfumed with non-irritating and astringent oils, gums, resins, etc." (Shook, op. cit., p. 118.)

Medicinal uses:

Chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery, menorrhagia, night sweats, catarrhal gastritis, inflammation, cholera infantum, hemorrhages, indolent ulcers, aphtha, ophthalmic, leucorrhea, gleet, hematuria, diabetes, excessive and chronic mucus discharges, mercurial salivation, relaxed uvula, chronic catarrh, internal wounds and hemorrhage of lungs (special strong decoction), internal ulcerations, relaxed vagina, relaxed rectum.

Preparation:

Decoction, fluid extract, infusion, powder, tincture.