A new clinical study published in the medical journal EXPLORE -- The Journal of Science and Healing shows that a medicinal extract of Pelargonium sidoides roots, available in the U.S. as Umcka Coldcare is a treatment of acute bronchitis, which is commonly associated with worsening of a common cold. In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 124 adult patients with acute bronchitis were treated with the Pelargonium sidoides extract or placebo for seven days. Within the first four days, over two-thirds (68.8%) of the Pelargonium sidoides treatment group reported improvement, compared to only one-third of the placebo group. After seven days, nearly 80% of the Pelargonium sidoides group was able to resume their daily activities, whereas less than half of the patients given placebo could do so. The study concluded that treatment with pelargonium sidoides extract resulted in complete recovery or major improvement in 85% of patients, compared to just 30% for placebo. Pelargonium sidoides was well tolerated with no major adverse events reported during the trial.

Different Species of Pelargonium
Pelargonium sidoides
Pelargonium graveolens
Pelargonium hortorum
Pelargonium peltatum
Pelargonium zonale
Pelargonium radula

Pelargonium Research Update
A new approach to pharmacological effects on ciliary beat frequency in cell cultures--exemplary measurements under Pelargonium sidoides extract (EPs 7630).
Phytomedicine. 2005 Jan;12(1-2):46-51.
The ciliary beat frequency (CBF) is an important parameter of the defence mechanism of the mucociliary system. We present a new method to determine pharmacological effects on CBF in vitro. Ciliated cell cultures of human nasal epithelium were obtained from partial resection of hyperplastic inferior turbinates in rhinosurgery. An adherent monolayer culture of ciliated cells was present after 10 days in vitro. This study exemplary examines, if a special extract from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) has an effect on the CBF in vitro. The influence of three concentrations of the extract (1, 30, 100 microg/ml) was tested. Pelargonium sidoides significantly and concentration-dependently increased CBF to 123% at 30 microg/ml and to 133% at 100 microg/ml compared to the equilibration phase (100%). After rinsing with extract-free medium the CBF of cultured cells returned to nearly the normal range. In future, drug manipulation of the CBF by local application of rhinologics could be a new therapeutical concept in the treatment of upper airway diseases.

Efficacy of extract of Pelargonium sidoides in children with acute non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus tonsillopharyngitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Sep-Oct;9(5):68-79. Pediatric Department II, Academy for Continuing Medical Education, Kiev, Ukraine.
Clinical trial data suggest that antibiotics are not indicated for the treatment of acute non-group A beta hemolytic strep (non-GABHS) tonsillopharyngitis. Nevertheless patients are symptomatic and effective alternatives for its treatment are needed that have been evaluated in clinical trials. To confirm that treatment with an extract of Pelargonium sidoides (EPs 7630) is superior to placebo for the treatment of non-GABHS tonsillopharyngitis in children. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Pelargonium sidoides was superior compared to placebo for the treatment of acute non-GABHS tonsillopharyngitis in children. Treatment with Pelargonium sidoides reduced the severity of symptoms and shortened the duration of illness by at least 2 days.

Antimicrobial activity of flavonoids from Pelargonium radula (Cav.) L'Herit.
Acta Pharm. 2005 Dec;55(4):431-435.
Flavonoids from Pelargonium radula (Cav.) L'Herit were purified by column chromatography. Two fractions were obtained: F1 (main flavonoid isoquercitrin) and F2 (main flavonoid rutin). In vitro antimicrobial activity of F1 and F2 were tested against eleven species of bacteria and eleven species of fungi. Both fractions demonstrated strong inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus rettgeri, Candida tropicalis and Microsporum gypseum. Staphylococcus sp. (coagulase-negative) and Candida lusitaniae were strongly inhibited only by fraction F1 and Fusarium graminearum only by fraction F2.

Pelargonium questions
Q. In doing a search on pelargonium extract, it referred me to an article that you had written. However, I don't see that this pelargonium product is available on your website, so can you tell me where I can get it from? A friend of mine brought me back some from Pakistan, the brand name KALOBA, which is actually made in Germany, and it works great, but it was only a small bottle, so I need to order more. Pelargonium helped myself and my nephew tremendously with sinuses.
   A. We have not come across a good source yet for pelargonium but we are looking.

Q. Hello, you have an article on pelargonium and one of the users asked a question about where they can get this product. They can get the product over the counter and is sold under the name of Umcka by Nature's Way.