Traditionally, a piece of dried root was gently boiled in water for about fifteen minutes, then filtered before consumption. This preparation was reserved for occasional and supervised use. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Fresh leaves were crushed and then applied directly to the skin as a poultice, renewed once or twice a day according to reported tradition. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
The tuberous root was peeled and then cooked in water, like an edible tuber, before being consumed as traditional food during times of scarcity. Dosage must be validated with a healthcare professional or recognized pharmacopoeia before use.
Pelargonium triste is found primarily in the wild in semi-arid regions of South Africa, as well as cultivated in some botanical gardens and scented pelargonium collections in Europe.
The root is traditionally harvested at the end of the dry season, when the plant enters dormancy, while the leaves are picked fresh in spring.