August 14, 2026
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant global health issue, causing cognitive, motor, and psychological impairments while increasing neurodegenerative disease risk. Essential oil extracted from Pelargonium graveolens, also known as geranium essential oil, is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and classified as generally recognized as safe for use in the food industry. Geranium essential oil contains low molecular weight lipophilic compounds, which potentially traverse the blood–brain barrier and modulate brain functions.The therapeutic efficacy of geranium essential oil was demonstrated through multiple behavioral assessments and tests.
Oral administration of geranium essential oil after a traumatic brain injury (closed-head injury) for two weeks helped protect the brain and improve memory and learning after traumatic brain injury in a preclinical model. Subjects treated with the oil performed better on multiple cognitive tests, and those improvements lasted for at least a month after injury. Researchers also found less damage to brain tissue, greater survival of neurons in areas critical for memory, and reduced brain shrinkage. These benefits appeared to be driven by lower inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, and lipid peroxidation levels), reduced oxidative stress, and activation of pathways involved in brain repair and recovery (CREB signaling, pCREB, along with M2 phenotype immunomodulation).
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42547960/