Pelargonium sidoides as a Pulmonary Medicine

4/10/25 3:06 PM
Anno.Domini.144K

April 10, 2025

Recently, I read about the epidemic in Russia of people developing lingering coughs with bleeding—an illness testing negative for COVID-19 and flu and apparently impervious to antibiotics. I felt so sorry for the sick and wondered what could help these people. I asked the Lord if there existed a helpful natural treatment to give patients some relief and healing.

As the Holy Spirit often does, He answered not instantly, but a few days later, when I had completely forgotten what I asked for and was busy focusing on something very different. While typing on the computer, I kept on hearing the word “PELA” in the spirit. The word kept on repeating, and I did not realize that God was sending His answer. “PELA” was the beginning of the word, but I had difficultly hearing the rest of the word. The Holy Spirit finally led me to the two-word Latin botanical name for a plant—Pelargonium sidoides—a Southern African plant rich in proanthocyanidins (particularly delphinidin) introduced into Europe in the 1890’s as a treatment for tuberculosis. The extract from this plant, once named “Stevens’ Cure” in the UK and now also known as Umckaloabo, is a phytopharmaceutical approved for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections.

According to the site Healthspan: “Dubbed as a natural antibiotic, Pelargonium is thought to work by preventing bacteria and viruses responsible for respiratory infections from attaching themselves to the cells of the nose’s mucus membrane. It helps ease nasal symptoms by loosening the mucus, which helps clear airways and makes breathing easier.” In addition, the ScienceDirect article “Potential of herbal products in prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Literature review” states, “Pelargonium sidoides inhibits replication and cytopathogenicity of coronavirus.”

Link:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332221009343?via%3Dihub

By far the most comprehensive article regarding the documentation of the many studies of Pelargonium sidoides’s effects against a long list of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites in vitro and in vivo studies is “Medicinal properties and conservation of Pelargonium sidoides DC”.

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874114000373?via%3Dihub#bib5

The many scientific articles on Pelargonium sidoides published by researcher and professor Herbert Kolodziej of the Division of Pharmaceutical Biology at Freie University in Berlin are the best resources to explore the medical applications of extracts from this plant. Kolodziej is currently the world’s authority on Pelargonium sidoides. Below are links to 12 of his research articles on Pelargonium sidoides:

1. “Aqueous ethanolic extract of the roots of Pelargonium sidoides—new scientific evidence for an old anti-infective phytopharmaceutical”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18203051/

2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259841952_Evaluation_of_an_aqueous-ethanolic_extract_from_Pelargonium_sidoides_EPs_76309_for_ist_activity_against_Group_A-streptococci_adhesion_to_human_HEp-2_cells

3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247475398_Characterization_of_the_anti-adhesive_principle_of_a_Pelargonium_sidoides_root_extract_EPsR_7630_in_the_interaction_of_group_A-streptococci_and_human_laryngeal_epithelia_cells?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/250879584_Distinct_fractions_of_Pelargonium_sidoides-extract_EPsR_7630_inhibit_adhesion_of_group_A_streptococci_to_epithelial_cells?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247473904_Antiviral_activity_of_EPsR_7630_as_assessed_in_a_fibroblast-virus_protection_assay?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247472749_NO_TNF_and_IL12-inducing_activity_of_fractions_of_EPsR_7630

7. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6866711_Nitric_oxide_synthase_and_cytokines_gene_expression_analyses_in_Leishmania-infected_RAW_2647_cells_treated_with_an_extract_of_Pelargonium_sidoides_EPs_7630

8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/12065184_Immunomodulatory_principles_of_Pelargonium_sidoides?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

9. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247963073_Composition_of_the_essential_oils_of_Pelargonium_sidoides_DC_and_Pelargonium_reniforme_Curt?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

10. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/13795084_Antibacterial_Activity_of_Extracts_and_Constituents_of_Pelargonium_sidoides_and_Pelargonium_reniforme?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

11. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279711345_Pelargonium?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/296128811_Pelargoniums_of_Southern_Africa_as_medicinal_plants_Research_on_Pelargonium_sidoides_and_Pelargonium_reniforme?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InByb2ZpbGUiLCJwYWdlIjoicHJvZmlsZSJ9fQ

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for pointing out a natural and God-created plant-derived treatment for lung infections. Thank you for protecting us and showing how God loves us and heals us. All glory be to God. Amen.

Scriptures:

Exodus 15:26 (AMP)

26 “If you will diligently listen and pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep [foremost in your thoughts and actively obey] all His precepts and statutes, then I will not put on you any of the diseases which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”

Psalm 91:9-10 (AMP)

9 Because you have made the Lord, [who is] my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.

Matthew 7:7-8 (AMP)

7 “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.

Mark 11:24 (AMP)

24 For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.

Photos courtesy Depositphotos