Eucalyptus Essential Oil: A Guide to Uses and Benefits
Botanical Name - Eucalyptus Globulus
Note - top
Country of origin:
Australia, Mediterranean
Primary Benefits
Cooling effect
Cleansing
Immunity booster
Relieve muscular aches and pains
Colds and respiratory
Concentration
Aromatic Description
Camphoraceous, herbaceous
Collection Method
Steam distillation
Plant Part
Leaf
Please note: this article is for information only and in no way should replace the advice of a health professional.
Like many of our plants and folklore remedies, civilisations have been using these for millennia. They are known to work. Modern science is taking more interest in this ancient knowledge and starting to prove exactly how and why they work. I think this is very exciting.
Let’s take a look at eucalyptus essential oil and see where we go with it !
History
What is the History Behind Eucalyptus
Australian Aboriginals used eucalyptus leaf infusions as a traditional medicine for treating body pains, sinus congestion, fever, and colds.
Dennis Considen and John White, surgeons on the First Fleet (Australia), distilled eucalyptus oil from Eucalyptus piperita found growing on the shores of Port Jackson in 1788 to treat convicts and marines. Subsequently many of the early colonists extracted eucalyptus oil although it was not commercially available for some time afterwards.
Eucalyptus oil became an important industry during the post gold-rush era of the 1870s. The oil was often described as Australia's natural wonder and was exported internationally, largely for medicinal purposes. Eucalyptus oil was in particularly high demand during the global influenza pandemic of 1918-19.
The eu and kalypto is from the Greek meaning “well” and “cover”, which refers to the blossom’s covered stamens.
7 Amazing Uses For Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Silence a Cough
The eucalyptol in eucalyptus essential oil works as a natural decongestant and cough suppressant. It helps your body break down mucous and phlegm so your cough is productive.
Add 1 drop in a small amount of carrier oil and rub on the chest and throat area.
Reduce Pain
Eucalyptol has anti-inflammatory properties and has been reported effective in reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation. A study conducted with patients after knee replacement surgery had one group who inhaled eucalyptus daily measured against a group that inhaled almond oil. On day three pain was significantly lower in the group inhaling eucalyptus than that group inhaling almond oil.
Keep Bugs Away
Add a drop each of eucalyptus and lavender to some carrier oil and apply to skin when you’re in Bug City.
Soothe External Wounds
Especially those that heal slowly - cold sores, the blisters from shingles, ulcers. Try a compress over these beasties. You might like to use a cloth you could throw away afterwards. I’m thinking that pathogens from these kind of wounds can hang around and aren’t always killed by laundry detergent.
If you’re unsure what a compress is or how to use one, I’ve outlined that under “How to Use Eucalyptus Essential Oil” below.
Breathe Easy
Cineole is a main constituent of eucalyptus oil. It has known anti-inflammatory effects and has shown notable improvement in lung function. One study arrived at the hypothesis that asthma patients would benefit from therapy with cineole.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22978309/
The simplest method here would be to add around 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to water in a diffuser and turn it on. Diffusers are wonderful to aerate an entire room gently and effectively.
Ease Joint Pain
Eucalyptus essential oil’s anti-inflammatory action can help ease the ache of arthritis and other joint pain. A compress is a wonderfully soothing application method here.
Scalp Health and Head Lice
Eucalyptus essential oil is effective at reducing dandruff and promoting the health of your scalp. It is also an excellent remedy to kill lice. Combine a drop of eucalyptus essential oil, tea tree essential oil and your usual shampoo to improve scalp health. To kill lice, when my kids were little, I used to add the eucalyptus and tea tree to hair conditioner, rub that thoroughly through the hair, leave on for 10 minutes then shampoo out. Followed by the tedious lice comb !
How to Use Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil is another of those must-haves in your home first aid kit. Here are some ideas of where you can use eucalyptus essential oil.
For colds and ‘flu, asthma, bronchitis - try inhalation or in a diffuser
For muscle aches and pains, it’s great in a massage blend
As an immunity booster - try in a massage blend, in the bath or diffuser
To clear the head and improve concentration - try diffusing. Or blend in a small amount of carrier oil and rub on the temples or forehead
Worms and ulcers - use it in a compress
Compresses
These are so simple and they can feel quite comforting. You can inhale the oils at the same time. They’re great to use for aches and pains, acute injuries, or just for cleansing your skin. They can even be used for women in labour.
Simply soak a washcloth, muslin cloth, handkerchief or similar piece of cloth in a bowl of hot or cold water with around 5-10 drops of essential oil. Wring out the cloth and place over the affected area. No degree or qualification needed !
Hot compresses are best for things like muscle aches and pains, PMS etc.
Cold compresses are best for headaches, migraines, bruises, eye ache and tension.
Caution
People have asked if eucalyptus essential oil can be taken internally. NO !
While making tea from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree is fine to drink, do not take eucalyptus essential oil internally. It’s toxic.
If you take eucalyptus essential oil internally, it has been known to cause epilepsy and seizures.
It’s not recommended to take any essential oil internally unless under the instruction of a qualified professional. But I thought I might add here that other essential oils to be avoided internally are basil, rosemary, sage and peppermint. And for the same reason - that they have been known to cause seizures.
Remember - essential oils are extremely concentrated. A handful of the plant’s leaves brewed in hot water will be tolerated well, have a completely different and beneficial result and not upset the poor old human organism like their essential oil counterpart. Keep your essential oils on the outside of your body !
For a bit of scientific background, these oils mentioned above contain thujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor, or pinocamphone, which have been identified as convulsive agents. More research is needed to confirm their mechanisms of action, but it appears that they have the ability to modulate some neurotransmitters in the brain.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31239862/
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